07-08-1996 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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To the City Council and Citizens of the Cit> of Orono May 29, 1996 In response to the purchase of a residential lakeshore property by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for a proposed public boat launch, Orono took action to cause the DNR to rethink its procedures related to the prov ision of public access. Orono urged the DNR to take a wider and longer range view of this issue to prevent a piecemeal approach to the provision of public access. In response, the DNR stopped all activity related to the initial site and has purchased an existing marina for conversion to a public boat launch. This will provide for public access needs without expanding commercial uses on the lake and without forcing public boat launching facilities into the City's residential areas. This was an outstanding example of a cooperative effon between two governmental jurisdictions to find a mutually beneficial solution to a difficult problem. Orono is currently working in a cooperative effort with the cities of Long Lake and Medina and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to accomplish a major water quality improvement project on Long Lake, a lake contiguous to both the cities of Long Lake and Orono. This project is to be funded by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. A School Liaison Officer Program was initiated through a cooperative agreement with the school district. Through this program a police officer works with school administrative and counseling staff, and builds positive relationships w ith the students, to enable them to assist in addressing and preventing problems, and to assist in intervening with "at risk" students. This program is fully funded by the school district. The City is currently involved with a group of 14 cities located adjacent to Lake Minnetonka in an effort to identif)’ new opportunities for cooperative serv ice delivery to enable improved services and increased efficiency. Water and Sewer FX tsd Operations The City continued its program to reduce the amount of ground water and stormwater entering the sanitary sewer system with the purpose of reducing sewage treatment costs. The program includes a sump pump inspection program to ensure that residential sump pumps are not discharging into the sanitary sewer system, and a manhole and lift station sealing program. The initial goal of the program is to address those problems that are both significant and relatively inexpensive to address. The savings generated by these elforts will then be put toward addressing the next level of problems. This program will be ongoing. The City is planning a multi-year rehabilitation of the Navarre water plant. This project will address maintenance and repair needs while upgrading the plant to meet projected water supply needs. The rehabilitation plan will be guided by a comprehensive analysis of the water plant performed by the City ’s consulting engineer. Labor Relations Labor relations are continuing on a positive path. In 1995, the police officers agreed to a two-year contract for 1995 and 19% with wage increases of 2.75% and 2.85%, respectively. The police lieutenant unit also agreed to a two-year agreement with similar wage increases. Infrastructure A major infrastruemre project completed in 1995 was a reconstruction of State Trunk Highway 12 dirough the cities of Orono and Long Lake. Although this was a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/DOT) project, the cities of Orono and Long Lake had requested the project to address safety and access concerns, particularly the need for a semaphore at Willow Drive and Highway 12. The project was very successful in addressing safety concerns and in providing an upgraded roadway serving the commercial/industrial areas of Orono and Long l^ke. -5-