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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> May 8,2023 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Benson asked about the bonding for the public works building that included $3 million for the fire <br /> department. <br /> Olson said in December, 2021,the City sold$16 million in capital improvement bonds with$13 million <br /> for the public works facility and $3 million for fire department facilities. That$3 million is still set aside. <br /> Benson asked in that case how will the City pay for overages on public works facility. <br /> Olson said one option would be to loan money from the utility funds,the water, sewer and stormwater <br /> funds,to the construction fund. Part of the rationale for that is the water, sewer and stormwater <br /> departments and vehicles and equipment will be housed in that building, he explained. Like all enterprise <br /> funds,they operate more as a business than a governmental fund, so it would be proper for interest to be <br /> paid back. He said what he would suggest if the City does loan money between the funds, it charges the <br /> other fund the going interest rate. <br /> 22. LONG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT OVERAGE <br /> This item was added to the consent agenda for approval. <br /> FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT <br /> 23. FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT <br /> Chief Van Eyll said the purpose of the report was to answer questions and receive input from Council on <br /> the draft fire department needs assessment as well as establish a process moving forward for final <br /> versions and decisions based off it. He went through the history of the fire department review beginning <br /> in 2021 when the City of Orono notified the City of Long Lake that it would not be extending the fire <br /> service agreement,to September of 2022 when the City Council passed a resolution of intent to establish <br /> the Orono Fire Department, and then in November, 2022 to appoint a new fire chief. He said one of his <br /> tasks was to do a needs assessment. The proposed timeline going forward, he said, is to accept written <br /> questions from community members from May 9 to 18 and put those in the Council packet for a <br /> presentation at the Council meeting May 22. Written comments would be taken again from the public <br /> from May 22 to June 7. Then at the June 12 meeting,there would be a final report and presentation and <br /> then guidance on moving forward.At the May 22 meeting, citizens would get an opportunity to write <br /> personal input to the City Council, filling out some comment cards ahead of time.The mayor would then <br /> establish a time limit for that comment period. Staff recommends about an hour.The Mayor could then <br /> use those forms to call residents up in an orderly process,Van Eyll said. The written comments and the <br /> form would be available on the website until close of business on June 7. <br /> Seals said they wanted to make sure there is enough time between when the assessment is shared and <br /> taking comments from residents and giving them several formats to comment, including a meeting and <br /> virtual formats. There would be the in-person meeting where people can come up and talk,but then there <br /> also would be two different virtual rounds that surround those meetings where the Council can take in <br /> questions. She asked how staff would sort the questions received through the web site. <br /> City Administrator Edwards said the plan would give staff time to go through comments and sort them by <br /> topic and type of questions. <br /> Page 6 of 12 <br />