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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Tuesday, May 27, 2008 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. <br />(3. FUNDING FOR GILLESPIE CENTER, DONNA SMITH, Continued) <br />Withart stated the SCS was founded in 1950 and manages seven other senior centers throughout the <br />area. The SCS provides transportation and other types of transportation that Metropolitan Transit does <br />not offer. The Gillespie Center Board came into being when they lost their other facility and a new <br />facility had to be constructed. Withart stated to his knowledge this is the only senior center this size in <br />the state of Minnesota that is run almost completely by volunteers. <br />Bremer asked how realistic of a goal it is to raise the $3 million for the endowment fund. Bremer <br />indicated she is currently on two nonprofit boards and that they are having great difficulty raising <br />money for capital contributions because of the state of the economy. Bremer asked if a professional <br />fundraising entity is being utilized. <br />Johnson stated they are very confident that they will raise the money and that they receive money from <br />other nonprofit entities in addition to private donations. In addition, bequests and memorials are also <br />received. Approximately half of the amount is expected to be received from the various cities if they <br />agree to the funding request. Johnson stated the Gillespie Center is currently solvent and that they have <br />raised enough money the past two years to operate in the black. The center would like to get to the <br />point where they have this endowment fund to keep them operating into the future. <br />Bremer asked if the $3 million is raised in five years rather than ten, what would happen with the <br />funding from the cities. <br />• <br />Johnson stated once the $3 million is raised, the cities would no longer need to contribute. • <br />White noted the City is at the beginning of their budget process and that the Council will consider the <br />request by the Gillespie Center during that process. White commented that unfortunately the City never <br />has enough money to handle all of the requests but that they will be in contact with the Gillespie Center <br />in a couple of months. <br />McMillan noted the MN State Legislature has recently approved a property tax cap and that the Council <br />is unsure at this time how that would impact Orono. McMillan stated they would need to take a very <br />hard look at their budget in the upcoming months. <br />Smith thanked the City Council for their time in considering their request. <br />The City Council took no formal action on this item. <br />4. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS — DICK KROEGER, <br />Kroeger stated he had nothing to report but would be available for questions. <br />PUBLIC COMMENTS <br />Karen Feyo, 4055 Elm Street, thanked the City Council and Staff for their efforts on their variance • <br />application, which took over a year before it was finally approved. Feyo stated their variance was <br />delayed for one year due to some issues relating to the water drainage and that they spent a considerable <br />PAGE 4 of 12 <br />