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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, September 12, 2011 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />  Page 2 of 28   <br />   <br />(4. HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER JEFF JOHNSON, Continued) <br /> <br />Johnson stated another issue that has been discussed in the past few months has been the overall <br />transportation vision for the county. Johnson indicated he does have some concerns with the direction the <br />discussion has taken because there has been a significant increase in focus on forms of transportation <br />other than roads. While we need multiple modes of transportation, the majority of the growth is not <br />focused on roads. Johnson stated in his view Hennepin County needs to make sure the proper investment <br />is made to upgrading roads. <br /> <br />Rahn asked whether the CCLRT is on time and on budget. <br /> <br />Johnson indicated they will be receiving an update tomorrow on that project but that he anticipates they <br />will be asking that their contingency budget be spent on the purchase of additional rail cars. Johnson <br />stated to his knowledge everything is on schedule. <br /> <br />McMillan asked whether the budget for the water patrol will remain the same for 2012. <br /> <br />Johnson indicated he is not sure at this point and that generally the sheriff’s office asks for a 1 percent <br />increase each year. The sheriff’s office and county attorney will likely not see a cut in their budget. <br /> <br />Printup asked what he anticipates for municipalities as it relates to the homestead credit. <br /> <br />Johnson stated he is not sure what can be done by the cities other than knowing what the impacts will be <br />before the change goes into effect. The estimates were predicting a 3 to 5 percent increase at the state <br />level and that local and county increases would be in addition to that. Johnson stated it is important that <br />the constituents understand where the increases are coming from. <br /> <br />McMillan noted that Orono is one of nine cities who have a commercial organics recycling program. <br />Orono received a $25,000 grant from Hennepin County a couple of years ago. McMillan stated Orono <br />appreciates the help from the county in getting the program implemented. Orono will also have a <br />prescription medicine pickup coming up in October. <br /> <br />Johnson stated the prescription pickup is a partnership between the county and the sheriff’s office. <br /> <br />McMillan noted the environmental division also puts out the buoys on Lake Minnetonka. <br /> <br />Johnson commented the further you go west, the less attention the various municipalities receive from the <br />County since the majority of the challenges are in the downtown area. Johnson stated he appreciates the <br />support of the City. <br /> <br />McMillan thanked Commissioner Jeff Johnson for his update. <br /> <br /> <br />LMCD REPORT – ANDREW MCDERMOTT, REPRESENTATIVE <br /> <br />Andrew McDermott reported the milfoil harvesting was stopped last week. They have experienced a <br />decrease in the amount of milfoil that was harvested this year, which was likely due to the high water <br />level in the spring, the state shutdown, and the breakdown of one of the harvesters. <br /> <br />Item #03 - CC Agenda - 09/26/2011 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 09/12/2011 <br />[Page 2 of 28]