08-14-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING July 24, 2023 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 5 of 11 Johnson said his proposal would be to have staff draft the approval so the applicants know that the City is approving the process, but the approval doesn't get ratified until the next City Council meeting. He said that would give the applicant, neighbors, and engineers time to talk and if something were to come up there would be an opportunity to remove approval from the consent agenda at the next meeting and discuss it further. Johnson moved, Crosby seconded, to have staff draft the approval for Resolution 7387 amending it to include the adjustment of the wall at the corners and to maximize the screenage of the vegetation. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. In a continuation of the Community Development Report, Community Development Director Oakden said the department has continued to be busy with permits and on-site inspections. They are working through about 10 applications for the next Planning Commission meeting as well as text amendments and code enforcement. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT Attorney Mattick said he had nothing to report beyond the items scheduled for the closed session later that evening. CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT 11. OLD PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY REMODEL (23-044)-DESIGN PROPOSAL Edwards updated the City Council, noting staff is looking for guidance on a way forward on fire facilities. The resolution passed at the time of the needs assessment approval called for the staff to seek a proposal from an architect on the design for the remodel of the existing public works facility into a permanent fire house. That was done with Oertel, the current architectural firm working on the new public works facility. The task was to provide a facility for the Orono Fire Department. The challenges are that the existing facilities Station One and Two would require renovation and maintenance totaling a couple million dollars over the next few years. The other complication is that Station One is co-owned with the City of Long Lake and the current litigation hampers any access of either those facilities right now. Remodel of the existing public works facility into a permanent fire station is possible, but it is costly and not necessarily ideally suited to the purpose, he said. He suggested the Council take a more incremental and phased approach and engage the architecture firm to help with some temporary facility needs that would last until the City could get full access to the existing facilities and get those fully remodeled. Orono bonded for $3 million for fire facilities. The remodel of the existing public works facility would be about $3.5 million, leaving no funds currently identified to do any upgrades to the other facilities. Use of the old public works building as a permanent fire department may also require some significant structural improvements, he said. The predicted occupancy for the building would be September 2025. The other consideration would be architect’s fees estimated at $295,000. Veach asked about use of the old public works facility after its use as a temporary fire facility. Edwards said it has potential as a recreational facility and some grants may be available for that. There are many things that would need to happen to that building regardless of its eventual usage such as roofing and mechanical, he said. There are some things that would be different such as air handling needs.