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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-26-2018 Council Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,November 26,2018 7:00 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono City Council met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Dennis Walsh,City Council Members Richard Crosby,III, Wendy Dankey, and Aaron Printup. Representing Staff were City Administrator Dustin Rief,Finance Director Ron Olson,Community Development Director Jeremy Barnhart,City Planner Melanie Curtis,Public Works Director/City Engineer Adam Edwards, and Recorder Jackie Young. Mayor Walsh called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA 1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 13,2018 2. CLAIMSBILLS 3. NON-WAIVER OF TORT LIMITS—RESOLUTION NO.6917 4. APPROVAL OF THE 2019 LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWALS 5. ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT 6. LA18-000092—WILLIAM AND SUE DUNKLEY,2709 WALTERS PORT LANE— FINAL PLAT—RESOLUTION NO.6918 This item was removed from the Consent Agenda. Printup moved,Crosby seconded,to approve the Consent Agenda as revised,with Item No. 6 being removed from the Consent Agenda. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS None PRESENTATION 7. SENATOR DAVID OSMEK Senator Osmek provided the City Council with the following update: - The 2018 MN Legislature ended with a 900-page bill that was ultimately sent to the Governor. Osmek stated the bill was based on a negotiation between the House,the Senate,and the Governor. - One of the components to the bill was regarding tax conformity with the new Federal tax code. In order for Minnesota to comply with the new Federal ta�c code,the state tax code has to be Page 1 of 6 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,November 26,2018 7:00 o'clock p.m. reformed or it could cost Minnesota taxpayers between$800 to $900 million. Osmek stated in order for that to be completed on time, it needs to be addressed in the very immediate future. - Also included in the bill were two bills relating to energy. One bill was to help the Prairie Island Native Indian community to become carbon free by providing them with renewable development account money. The bill also set a cap on the amount of money the residents have to pay for waste at the Prairie Island plant. That amount is now approaching$30 million every single year but that has now been reduced and capped. - Another portion of the bill dealt with the Renewable Development Account,which dealt with the Benson turkey manure burning plant. The plant was actually trucking in turkey manure from Alabama and other places in order to run that plant to create energy. The cost of that energy was significantly higher than any other energy source in the state. The plant has been shut down and the state is projecting a savings of$600 to $800 over the next ten years. - Some new legislative action that will be considered in 2019 is regarding distracted driving. The MN Legislature is going to clarify some definitions in the state statute regarding criminal vehicular manslaughter. If a distracted driver kills someone,that person will be given a prison sentence. Walsh asked what Senator Osmek sees the Republican Party accomplishing this coming year. Osmek stated he hopes to keep the budget at the cost of the CIP or at the rate of inflation. Over the past few years,the budget has been expanding at more than double the rate of inflation,and the taxpayers cannot afford to keep that up. Osmek noted there is money in the budget for Highway 12 but that additional money is needed for infrastructure. The Legislature also needs to deal with community solar gardens,which is part of a statute created in 2013 to help people who wanted to be part of the green energy movement. Community solar gardens are increasingly becoming very expensive for the taYpayer. Currently power generated from solar gardens costs between$130 to$140 per megawatt hour. Utility grade solar is between$40 and $50 a megawatt hour. Fossil fuel and natural gas is about$7 to $8 a megawatt hour. Osmek noted ta�cpayers are paying the differential. A portion of the rates is the amount�of money they are paying for the land. Currently farmers are getting$1000 a year per acre to rent their land out. Farm land that is sold goes for between $4,000 to$5,000 an acre. Osmek stated the statute was intended for consumers to be able to join the green revolution but a large percent are larger businesses or government institutions,which is not what is was created for. Crosby noted there is talk about a gas tax increase and asked what the tax is currently. Osmek indicated it is eitherl8 or 23 cents a gallon for the state and that what is being proposed is between a nickel and a dime. Osmek noted the Highway Distribution Fund over the next seven to ten years is going to exceed inflation by 90 percent and that the state is going to receive even more money because the fees and car tabs continue to escalate. Crosby stated the tab fee in Minnesota is exceptionally high and it is taxed on an annual basis. Crosby stated his understanding is that those dollars are supposed to go to infrastructure. Page 2 of 6 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,November 26,2018 7:00 o'clock p.m. Osmek stated that is correct and that the Department of Transportation needs to be held accountable for where the money is going. Some of the money is siphoned off for trails and a portion goes to the Plymouth Link and Southwest Transit. Osmek stated MN/DOT gets very defensive when they start asking questions about how the money is spent but that those questions need to be asked. Walsh asked what Senator Osmek sees for MSA money. Osmek stated the Legislature did provide for some small city accounts because under MSA rules,any city with a population under 5,000 does not qualify for MSA. Osmek stated there will be an additional portion but that he does not know what that will be. Printup asked if the Legislature is doing anything about SG technology. Osmek noted the Legislature did pass that at the end of 2017 in preparation for the Super Bowl. Osmek stated the Legislature put in a roadmap with reasonable fee structures and other guidelines. GS technology allows someone to download things in seconds instead of minutes but these boxes need to be within line of sight of each other and only augment someone's current bandwidth and will not eliminate any cell towers. Osmek stated his committee covers utilities and telecom and that he is aware there are areas even within his senate district that have problems with broadband access and internet speeds. Dankey asked if there is going to be any competition in the cable market. Osmek stated cities could be allowed to accept competitive bids but that one of the results likely will be that they will not receive their fees anymore. Rief noted Orono is not part of the LMCC anymore and that a lot of the phone calls he receives is regarding the fact that there is only one provider. Rief asked if the Legislature is considering allowing municipalities to enter that market to drive some competition Osmek stated he would rather have the large media companies compete against each other because it helps lower the price. Osmek stated he will bring that up the next time the telecoms are in his office and ask them how they can make it a more competitive market. Osmek stated the SG technology could be that impetus and create that type of environment. Osmek noted he will be seeking re-election in 2020. 6. LA18-000092—WILLIAM AND SUE DUNKLEY,2709 WALTERS PORT LANE— FINAL PLAT—RESOLUTION NO.6918 Sue and Bill Dunkley,Applicants,and Paul and Eric Vogstrom,were present. Printup asked if the two lots are totally conforming. Curtis indicated that is true. Printup moved,Dankey seconded,to adopt RESOLUTION NO.6918,a Resolution Approving the Plat of Pence Lane Addition. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. Page 3 of 6 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,November 26,2018 7:00 o'clock p.m. PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER REPORT 8. EAST LONG LAKE TRAIL MASTERPLAN APPROVAL Edwards noted earlier this spring the City shut down the northern section of East Long Lake Road due to flooding and directed Staff and the Parks Commission to look at converting that portion of the road to a trail. Bolton&Menk put together a concept plan. The idea with the concept is to take that plan and seek grant opportunities for funding. The majority of the work would consist of the removal of the existing roadway and the provision of a new trail. Added to that are some stormwater and environmental improvements within the corridor, and then in specific locations they will be looking at places for rock outcroppings where people can fish along with the placement of some benches and tables. The Park Commission did discuss this item and sought public comment. Included in the Council packet is a consolidation of the public comments that were received. Some legitimate concerns were brought up but most of those will be better addressed when the detailed design is done. Overall people were supportive of the concept. Walsh commented this is an incredible opportunity because it is very rare to convert an existing road into a nature trail. The Park Commission and neighbors are excited about the prospect. The project also provides opportunities for some Eagle Scout projects as well as grant opportunities. Walsh stated this is an opportunity to make it a destination area. Council Members Crosby and Dankey agreed it is a wonderful opportunity for the community. Printup stated beautifying the area is a good move. Printup moved,Dankey seconded,to approve the master/concept plan for the East Long Lake Trail. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. 9. 2019 PUBLIC WORKS PLAN DRAFT Edwards stated the purpose of this item is to provide the City Council with an overview of the 2019 Public Works Plan draft. The final plan will be presented to the City Council at their December 10 meeting. The plan is an effort to improve the planning and budgeting of Public Works and Engineering activities for the City of Orono. There are individual items on the list that will be brought before the City Council for approval but this provides some direction to the Public Works Department on how to proceed. The intent of the Plan is as follows: 1. Provide an increased level of detail and refinement on those items from the Capital Improvement Plan(CIP)that are scheduled for the upcoming calendar and fiscal year. 2. Improve the coordination/timing of projects. Page 4 of 6 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,Novem6er 26,2018 7:00 o'clock p.m. 3. Provide the City Council with a comprehensive list of work for approval early in the year in conjunction with the CIP and budget approvals. 4. Ensure that the Public Works and Engineering Department's priorities and work items are meeting Council intent and direction. 5. Identify items for planning and engineering the year prior to their execution. Upon approval,the public works and engineering staff will begin executing the plan. Many of the projects will require further Council action for design approvals and/or award of contracts. The final plan and associated engineering proposals will be presented for approval at the December council meeting. Walsh stated four years ago when this was implemented, it gave the Council the opportunity to better budget for these items and look ahead on what projects should be completed. The City's infrastructure is now on an interactive 3D program,which allows future councils to look at the plans and go forward accordingly. Walsh stated in his view it is a good plan,and that when it comes to roads,the City is starting to catch up on improvements and are now switching to more maintenance. Walsh noted the City has a list of possible road projects for 2019 but that it is best to wait until after the spring thaw before deciding what road projects will be completed. The City Council took no formal action on this item. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Printup stated he had nothing to report but that he would like to wish everyone a happy belated Thanksgiving. Crosby commented he hopes everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Dankey noted this Friday night is Orono's first annual Christmas tree lighting,which will happen at the Orono Golf Course from 5-7 p.m. Pictures with Santa and other activities are planned for the evening. Dankey commented she is also looking forward to the City of Orono getting these hockey rinks going and getting the kids outside. Walsh noted the City Council meeting on December 10 will be the last meeting of the year and will also be the last meeting for Council Member Dankey because she has chosen to step down from the Council. Matt Johnson will be joining the Council in 2019. CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT Rief reported all the City's 2018 road projects have been wrapped up for the year and that Staff is in the process of looking at 2019 road projects. Rief noted the truth-in-taxation meeting will be held prior to the December 10 Council meeting. Page 5 of 6 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,November 26,2018 7:00 o'clock p.m. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT None ADJOURNMENT Crosby moved,Dankey seconded,to adjourn the Orono City Council meeting at 7:34 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. ATTEST: nna Carlson,City Clerk Dennis Walsh,Mayor Page 6 of 6