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Minutes <br />City Council Work Session <br />Monday, May 26, 2026, 5:00 PM <br />City Council Chambers 12780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 <br />ROLL CALL <br />Council members present: Mayor Bob Tunheim, Alisa Benson, Jacqueline Ricks, Jon Schwingler. <br />Staff present: Community Development Director Laura Oakden, Planner Melanie Curtis, Planner <br />Matt Kearny, Parks Superintendent Joe Ruthenberg, City Clerk Christine Lusian <br />TREE PRESERVATION <br />The Council held a work session to discuss whether the city should pursue a tree preservation <br />ordinance and to provide direction on its scope and purpose. Staff reviewed current tree -related <br />regulations, including conservation design requirements, protections within lake setback and bluff <br />areas, and restrictions on clear -cutting. Discussion focused on what types of development should <br />trigger tree preservation requirements, what trees should be protected, allowable tree removal <br />thresholds, and how any future ordinance could be enforced. <br />Staff presented examples from other communities and recommended a tree preservation ordinance <br />that would apply at the time of subdivision, require a tree preservation plan, identify significant trees <br />for protection, and establish standards for allowable tree removal and replacement. Council <br />discussed considerations such as administration and enforcement, potential impacts on development, <br />treatment of invasive species, and whether protections should be limited to subdivisions or applied <br />more broadly. <br />Council directed staff to prepare draft ordinance language and bring the topic to the Planning <br />Commission for further review later this summer. <br />ADJOURNMENT <br />Work session ended at 6:00 pm. <br />ATTEST: <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />Christine Lusian, City Clerk Bob Tunheim, Mayor <br />6 <br />