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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, February 11, 2013 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  Page 18 of 24   <br />   <br /> <br />(MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT, Continued) <br /> <br />Loftus stated the LMCC has done a very comprehensive study on a 10-year outlook that will also be <br />provided to the Council prior to the work session. The LMCC is looking for comments and feedback <br />from the Council. <br /> <br />McMillan noted there was a very interesting article on streetlights in the newsletter entitled “The <br />Municipal” and that she will provide it to the City Administrator for distribution to the Council. <br /> <br />McMillan noted the community drug forum is scheduled for February 21st. <br /> <br />McMillan asked if the sales tax exemption for local governments will help Orono. <br /> <br />Loftus indicated the City currently pays sales tax so it would have a small impact. Loftus noted the <br />governor is proposing to add sales tax to professional services, which will greatly impact the City. The <br />MN League of Cities is attempting to get an exemption for local government. <br /> <br />Mattick stated the League has been attempting to get local cities exempted from the sales tax issue. <br />Mattick noted cities also used to be exempted from paying sales tax. <br /> <br />McMillan noted the governor’s proposal includes a property tax rebate up to $500 regardless of where <br />you live. In discussions with the local mayors, the mayors would prefer to see structural improvements. <br />McMillan encouraged the City Council and Staff to stay on top of the state budget discussions. <br /> <br />CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT <br /> <br />1. Orono Fire Lanes <br /> <br />McMillan indicated that Council Member Levang would like to discuss the fire lanes in Orono. <br /> <br />Levang stated earlier tonight the City Council discussed an application that was adjacent to a fire lane. <br />Levang noted the Park Commission did create a list of all the fire lanes in the city and that some fire lanes <br />are marked and some are not. <br /> <br />Gaffron stated some fire lanes were marked at that time but most were not. <br /> <br />Levang stated part of the reason some of them were not marked was due to the cost of the survey. <br /> <br />Gaffron indicated there was also the question that people who are not in the neighborhood would <br />suddenly understand where the access points are. Most of the neighborhoods do not have parking <br />available to handle people coming into the neighborhoods and utilizing the fire lanes. The fire lanes were <br />intended to serve the neighborhoods and not draw in people from the outside. The Park Commission and <br />Staff had a concern with marking the various fire lanes since there would be the potential of increased <br />traffic and parking in those neighborhoods. <br /> <br />Levang stated some of them are quite improved and are enjoyed by the local residents. In other cases, the <br />City has experienced some problems with residents encroaching on the fire lanes and some are overgrown <br />and have challenging terrain. <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 02/25/2013 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 02/11/2013 <br />[Page 18 of 24]