02-10-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 10, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 30 (4. SENATOR DAVID OSMEK, Continued) McMillan stated it makes it difficult for people to react to it when it is included at the last minute and passed in the middle of the night. McMillan stated in her view the omnibus bill should be broken up into different components. McMillan stated she would like to know as much as possible about forfeitures as it relates to police departments. McMillan stated to her understanding it will not be part of this upcoming legislative session. Osmek indicated that is Senator Thompson’s bill and it would provide more leniencies to forfeitures in cases where someone is not aware another person is using their car, then drives drunk and is caught, and the vehicle is seized. Presently those rules are very stringent and a person could lose their car due to behavior by another person that they have no knowledge of. Osmek stated he does not believe that bill is moving forward at the present time. McMillan requested Senator Osmek provide Orono with periodic updates on any pieces of legislature that are being proposed that would impact Orono. Osmek noted Mayor McMillan can sign up for his weekly e-mail updates that go out when the legislature is in session and then also every couple of months when the legislature is not in session. Osmek indicated e-mail is the best way to keep in contact with him. LMCD REPORT – ANDREW McDERMOTT, REPRESENTATIVE McDermott reported at the last meeting the LMCD discussed increasing compensation for the three permanent LMCD staff members and the inspection grant the LMCD receives from the DNR. McDermott noted every year the grant has been getting smaller and smaller and that the LMCD will be discussing that program and whether any changes should be made to it. The LMCD also had their new election of officers. The chair is now Dan Bassen, the vice chair is Jay Green from Mound, the treasurer is Gary Huges from Spring Park, and McDermott indicated he has been re-elected as secretary. The LMCD also held their annual banquet last Wednesday, which was well attended. Senator Klobuchar’s office sent a representative to the banquet and Mayor McMillan attended the banquet along with a number of other local mayors. The LMCD also had a demonstration of the ROVER, which is the underwater diving piece of equipment that can perform search and rescue operations. The LMCD also discussed the pilot program for the boat operator license class that was started last fall. The LMCD would like to offer two or three more courses this summer since it was well attended last year. The state is also starting to look at implementing boat operator license requirements. McDermott noted at one of the upcoming meeting the local marina owners will be proposing some changes to LMCD’s commercial dockage requirements.