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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,February 22,2010 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (4. #10-3442 THE EMILY PROGRAM, 2180 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, Continued) <br /> neighborhood meeting to explain who we are. The residents were invited to tour the facilities. The Emily <br /> Program is also willing to bring clients to the meeting if the City Council would deem that appropriate. <br /> Dr. Miller stated they are running a transparent operation and are not attempting to hide anything. Dr.Miller <br /> commented that he feels there is a silent majority in this community that is supportive of this program, and that <br /> he would encourage the City Council to be supportive of this program as well. <br /> Dr. Miller stated he believes The Emily Program can hold up their end of the bargain and that this location will <br /> be a wonderful spot. As it relates to property valuations, at their site in St. Anthony Park,there were two <br /> properties directly adjacent to that facility that had been on the market and sold within a week. The two <br /> properties located across the street from the Hill School have been on the market for three months and have <br /> not sold. Dr.Miller stated if there are property valuation problems in this neighborhood,they are not the <br /> responsibility of The Emily Program and that they will properly maintain their facility. <br /> Dr. Miller stated he will attempt to address any issues that come up tonight. <br /> Acting Mayor Murphy asked whether any of the residents have visited one of the Emily Program facilities. <br /> Murphy noted that two residents out of approximately 40 members of the audience have. <br /> Acting Mayor Murphy opened the public hearing at 7:23 p.m. <br /> Michael LaQuey, P.O. Box 94, Crystal Bay,noted he worked at the Mayo Clinic for six years,not in the <br /> capacity of an administrator or as a provider,but commented that when you work at a medical facility,you do <br /> pick up some general knowledge of hospitals and clinics. LaQuey stated in his opinion there will be medical <br /> waste generated at this facility. <br /> LaQuey stated issue number two relates to additional safety considerations. LaQuey requested the opportunity <br /> to see a detailed construction material schedule, with prior permits validated against that schedule. LaQuey <br /> indicated he also has some questions about the elevator and that he does not feel it is big enough to fit a gurney <br /> with two people. In addition, there is an increased risk of fire because hospitals in general have an increased <br /> risk;there is an increased risk of fire because it is a wood structure; and there is an increased risk of fire in the <br /> fact that the patients will be doing their own laundry and the fact that there will be a kitchen at this location. <br /> LaQuey stated in his opinion there will be increased traffic at this location. If there are two psychologists and <br /> one psychiatrist at this facility seeing outpatients at one hour intervals,that will generate 21 outpatient visits a <br /> day,which will result in increased traffic under this proposal. LaQuey proposed that the City Council impose <br /> a moratorium on any increased traffic in this area of Orono because the roads are inadequate for the current <br /> traffic levels. LaQuey stated he has been familiar with this area since 1965 and has observed the traffic <br /> patterns in this area. <br /> LaQuey stated in his opinion there will not be significant benefit to the community from The Emily Program. <br /> The neighbors have asked the applicant what the patient demographics will be. The majority of the patients <br /> will be people from outside Orono and from such communities as North and South Minneapolis, Minnetonka <br /> Beach, Edina, Plymouth. <br /> LaQuey stated he would propose that if the current CUP is not used for a school and if there is no intention for <br /> there to be a school at this location, as well as the fact that there are some nonconforming issues with the <br /> Page 5 of 191 <br />