05-23-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 23, 2016 7:00 o'clock p.m. 4. LAKE MINNETONKA CONSERVATION DISTRICT (LMCD) 2017 BUDGET (continued) Walsh noted the transfer from the reserve fund was $64,000, which is approximately 40 percent of the fund. Walsh asked what that money got used for. Jabbour stated the revenue did not come in as anticipated so a transfer was required. Jay Green, Interim LMCD Director, stated last year when the budget was completed they were short $17,000 out of reserves to meet expenses. The amount above that is the salary for the interim director and $11,000 from the Lake of Cities Fund that was not budgeted for. Green indicated they had to cover those expenses in this budget. With the 2016 proposed budget, even with the 6.7 percent levy increase, the LMCD will still have to take money out of reserves for next year. Green stated they are looking at how to get back to not using the reserves and not depending on grants. Jabbour stated the LMCD ended up receiving less revenue and incurring more expenses than anticipated and that they overshot the budget by approximately $37,000. Jabbour stated in the past the grants covered the shortfall, and that his suggestion is when the grants come in, the LMCD should put them in next year's budget. McMillan stated she appreciates the fresh perspective that Jay Green and Gabriel Jabbour have given to the LMCD Board and that in her view it is a positive, new direction. McMillan stated the LMCD has to be managed differently since things have changed through the years. The City Council took no formal action on this item. PUBLIC COMMENTS Gabriel Jabbour, 985 Tonkawa Road, stated he is embarrassed by the City Council. Jabbour commented Orono is a City that was acting as the regional agency and Three Rivers Park is wondering whether the City is going to compete with them. Jabbour stated Orono was a City that people looked up to and that this Council is riding on the City's past successes and years and years of hard work, which is why people want to live in the City. Jabbour stated he would like to see more pride in the City and less bickering among the Council Members. Jabbour stated he would really like to see Council Member Walsh wait until the election starts before he starts running for Mayor. Jabbour stated diminishing the standing of the Mayor is not a good thing for the City since she speaks for the City, lives in the City, and works her tail off for the City. Jabbour stated the bickering is making it very unattractive and difficult for people to want to serve the City and that he would beg Council Member Walsh to knock it off. Jabbour stated he does not want to see his e-mails, letters, or the brochure that comes out and that he would beg him to knock it off. Page 7 of 23