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. MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,January 28,2013 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (BIG ISLAND PARK REPORT, Continued) <br /> Jabbour commented he periodically will send e-mails to the City Council in an effort to keep them <br /> informed on what is happening with the LMCD and the AIS Committee. Jabbour indicated he welcomes <br /> the Council's input on any issue. <br /> Jabbour distributed information to the Council on the dam, ground water depletion, and water levels. <br /> Printup thanked Gabriel Jabbour for his efforts with Big Island and the LMCD. Printup noted there are a <br /> number of stakeholders associated with the LMCD, and asked how those entities could all be brought <br /> together. <br /> Jabbour indicated the AIS committee attempts to bring all the interested parties together and that one of <br /> the main issues is a disagreement over how the aquatic invasive species should be dealt with. <br /> Gaffron noted Staff is recommending that extra mooring posts not be installed at Big Island Nature Park. <br /> Levang moved,Printup seconded,to direct Staff that extra mooring posts at Big Island Nature <br /> Park will not be installed for the 2013 boating season or future years unless the Council approves a <br /> formal request for post installation and,if approved,the installation and removal costs shall be <br /> paid by the requesting party. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. <br /> PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS—JON SCHWINGLER,REPRESENTATIVE <br /> Schwingler stated he had nothing to report but would be available for questions. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENTS <br /> MN State Senator David Osmek introduced himself to the Orono City Council. Osmek noted he was a <br /> city councilman in the City of Mound for 11 years and originally was born in Glencoe. <br /> Osmek indicated he decided to run for senate and was elected last November. Current committee <br /> assignments include the public safety and transportation committee,the energy and environment <br /> committee,and the committee of environment economic development and agriculture. Osmek <br /> encouraged the City Council and Staff to contact him with any issues they would like assistance on. <br /> McMillan noted that before Osmek left the Mound City Council,Mound was dealing with the market <br /> value exclusion and that she would like the legislature to take a look at that idea. Currently the homes <br /> valued under$413,000 are getting breaks while at the same time they are asking the homeowners that <br /> own homes above that amount to make up that difference. McMillan commented the state needs to let the <br /> cities know what they are going to do on that issue. <br /> Osmek stated they saw that coming when Mound reduced their levy. Basically the state promised the <br /> cities that if local taxes were reduced,they would provide additional state aid. The state later reneged on <br /> that agreement, which caused a problem for the cities. Osmek stated in his view the state needs to stay <br /> away from the property tax system and that he is in agreement some work needs to be done on that issue. <br /> Printup thanked Senator Osmek and encouraged him to get together with Gabriel Jabbour on the AIS <br /> issue. <br /> Page 3 of 11 <br />