10-10-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 10, 2016 7:00 o'clock p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS (continued) Jabbour indicated he worked very hard with Hennepin County, with the Sheriff, and the Water Patrol to determine a location and how many cars should be parked there and what services should be provided. At that time Long Lake did not have a fire boat dock and instead utilized a dry dock. At that time, the City Council, the neighbors and the Planning Commission worked together to change Orono's ordinance that was adopted a long time ago. That new ordinance was to allow the Sheriff to have the dock as an access dock and not an overnight dock. Jabbour stated if they had understood that the Council and the Fire Department needed a dock to keep their boat overnight, maybe that site would not have been the appropriate site since there are only two places to park cars. Jabbour noted there is no place to park a fire engine. Jabbour stated they have a parking problem but not a dock problem. Jabbour stated he is sickened by the fact that this came up a few days before the election and is now becoming an election issue. Jabbour stated that is disingenuous, ill thought out, and arrogant. Jabbour stated today the Fire Department owns a dock, which he helped get donated. In addition, the City of Orono today owns land down the street closer to the fire station. Jabbour stated meanwhile, Council Member Walsh said he talked at dinner and not at a formal meeting with the Sheriff who indicated he would not have a problem with them being parked there. Jabbour noted the Sheriff has no authority to go there and that it is Hennepin County who owns the dock. Jabbour stated he personally has a fire boat docked at his marina and that he allowed the Water Patrol one year of use at his facility, including the building, at no charge. Jabbour stated he knows what it takes to get some of this stuff done and that he worked enormously hard for Minnetonka and public safety. The City's relationship with the Sheriff is extremely important and that the steps taken in the past by the Sheriff are evolving to a better tomorrow because of it. Jabbour stated the Sheriff's relationship with the Hennepin County Commission is not the best and that trying to get those two people pinned against each other over a dock is not necessary. Jabbour noted there was no variance given and that Council Member Walsh was dead wrong. Jabbour stated if the Council decides to change the ordinance, they have the land, they have the dock, and they have the parking to accommodate two to three fire engines. Jabbour stated they should leave the County alone because the only thing that is happening is that they are colliding on county politics. Jabbour stated there is one person marching on to do a 200 percent decision a few days before the election and that if that person really wants the fire department to find a permanent solution, they should not grandstand a few days before the election. Jabbour stated the City needs permanent solutions for problems and that he does not want a Council that is arrogant or decisions that are done politically when those decisions put people's lives at risk. Jabbour stated it is not safe to jam cars on County Road 15 and that only two ambulances and one squad car can be there. Jabbour stated he can guarantee the Council, based on his conversation with the County, that it is very highly unlikely the County will allow that. Jabbour stated as a friend of the Fire Department, he is here to ask the Council to think about what they are doing and to not follow a leader who does not know where he is going. Council Member Walsh stated he appreciates Mr. Jabbour's time and that he is glad he brought up the issue now versus later. Page 2 of 26