03-08-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

n U MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 8, 2010 7:00 o'clock p.m. ( #10 -3442 THE EMILYPROGRAM, 2180 NORTHSHORE DRIVE, Continued) Printup encouraged the City Council not to reinvent the wheel. If the code is not broken, don't try to fix it. The neighbors are trying to make absolutely certain that a decision made today does not have any negative consequences in the future. During this process, Dr. Miller has resorted to allegations of ignorance, prejudice and name calling. We have facts to support everything we have said and reasons for asking. Dr. Miller has decided to not be clear and straight forward with the City. Printup reiterated that the CUP stays with the land forever. The lot is entirely too small for this facility, it doesn't make sense, and it doesn't fit. Dr. Miller has made this into a circus of emotions and now a media circus. Dealing with emotions is appropriate in a clinical setting but not appropriate at a council meeting. Dr. Miller is trying to divide and conquer the City of Orono and is evading questions by trying to shame us into submission out of fear of appearing cold- hearted. Mike Maddie, 2115 Prospect Avenue, noted he had gone through a number of issues at the previous meeting that the residents wanted answers to. Maddie indicated he would stand behind the data presented and that the intention of the data was not meant to draw a conclusion or an opinion but to ask questions. Maddie stated he had hoped the Council at some point would address those questions. Maddie encouraged the City Council to take additional time on the application if they deem it necessary. Maddie noted that Steve Byrnes found some data that the emergency calls would not be high emergency siren calls, which was a concern of some of the residents. Maddie indicated he had a concern that emergency calls to the neighborhood would cause anxiety for his children. Maddie reiterated that the spirit of the investigation • has been to understand the facts and to take the emotions out of it. Dr. Miller, Executive Director of the Emily Program, stated over the last couple of months many words have been spoken about the Emily Program's proposed project. These words have been spoken before the Orono Planning Commission, City Council, at a neighborhood meeting, in individual conversations and in the media. Most of those words have been spoken with passion and commitment and some have been very heated. The Emily Program has worked hard to respond to questions by the Planning Commission, City Staff, City Council, and city residents. Miller stated people with eating disorders are good people and they are not a danger to others. Miller stated that sometimes people are afraid of what they don't know. During conversations with residents from the City of Orono, representatives of the Emily Program have tried to dispel myths and fears about eating disorders. Eating disorders do not happen in a vacuum. Some people with eating disorders do have other mental and physical problems, including chemical dependency, depression, coronary disease, osteoporosis, anxiety disorders, and other illnesses. The Emily Program treats the whole person and all of his or her problems so that he or she can live a more peaceful life. The Emily Program has been doing that for 17 years. Miller pointed out that people with eating disorders live in every community of our region, state, and nation, including Orono. About 11 million Americans and approximately 176,000 Minnesotans suffer from an eating disorder. Nearly half of Americans know someone with an eating disorder. The Emily Program knows that treatment works and people can recover. Miller stated residential treatment as proposed at the Hill School is especially important. Chaska and St. Paul have embraced their residential treatment facilities. The people of Orono have heard from those communities that our clients, staff, and programs have a positive impact in their neighborhoods. People with eating • disorders are not dangerous. As a group they are very conscientious and continually are productive members of society while fighting their illness. Page 15 of 23