02-28-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO. CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 28, 2011 7:00 o'clock p.m. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS - LOREN SCHOENZEIT, REPRESENTATIVE Schoenzeit stated he had nothing to report but would be available for questions. PUBLIC COMMENTS James Van Eyll, Orono Fire Department, noted that their annual pancake breakfast is scheduled for April 17th. Van Eyll reported the Long Lake Fire Department recently participated in the Fight for Air Climb sponsored by the American Lung Association, which consisted of firefighters in full fire fighting gear climbing 30 flights or 660 stairs. Long Lake's team of nine firefighters participated in the event and took third overall. Van Eyll indicated he was impressed with their accomplishment and that they raised over $2400 as a team. • Dick Lyman, 715 North Ferndale Road, stated he wondered what involvement the Water and Soil Conservation District has with the City of Orono. Lyman noted he spoke with City Clerk Lin Vee the first week of February and was provided a fair amount of information on that agency as well as the Hennepin County Conservation District. Lyman indicated he has read the information over and that in his opinion eliminating the Hennepin Conservation District would be a good opportunity to cut some redundancy and expense out of the government. • Lyman noted the Hennepin Conservation District has annual revenues of around $27,000. The reports do not reflect any achievements accomplished by that agency. The information also does not say how many meetings they have yearly but just merely indicates that they affiliate with approximately a dozen other organizations that do the same thing. The Department of Natural Resources downgraded the Hennepin Conservation District in 2009, and he would recommend ending the existence of the Hennepin Conservation District and there would be one less office to vote for in future elections. Lyman indicated he had some materials with his notes to leave with the Council regarding the Hennepin Conservation District. PLANNING DEPARTMENT REPORT None CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT 4. OLD CRYSTAL BAY ROAD RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE Kellogg reported that last week they completed the plans to the point where they were able to be submitted to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. At the last Council meeting it was mentioned that a presentation was going to be given to the seventh graders educating them on roundabouts and general engineering. They had hoped with the presentation to get a handful of students to volunteer to construct a • 3D model of the buildings along Old Crystal Bay Road. The response was greater than expected and as a Page 2 of 13