HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-2014 Council Work Session Minutes �
' MINUTES OF THE
ORONO CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Monday,July 28, 2014
5:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Lili McMillan, Council Members Cynthia Bremer, Lizz Levang and Aaron
Printup; representing Staff were City Administrator Jessica Loftus, Police Chief Correy
Farniok, City Attorney Soren Mattick, Senior Planner Mike Gaffron, Community
Development Director Andrew Mack and Finance Director Ron Olson.
Orono resident Lizz Hawn provided the City Council with information regarding East Long Lake Road
including her concerns for parking and erosion. Police Chief Farniok had no objection to the installation
of No Parking signs along the road and recommended directional signs to direct visitors to park at
Summit Park. Mayor McMillan requested a layout with the locations of the signs and also options for
the color/design to minimize visual clutter.
Andrew Mack introduced the topic of site grading and erosion control. He reported a meeting was just
held with the MCWD regarding better coordination of overlapping duties and efforts to improve
efficiencies between the two agencies.The consensus of the Council was to have the MCWD take the
lead where they have greater authority regarding erosion control violations. Council also requested the
planning department draft a letter to the MCWD affirming this position.
Mack presented information on a couple of uncompleted building projects. He also indicated that the
City Attorney has suggested that the code provisions which are currently on the books regarding
completion of the building exterior are inconsistent with State Statutes and case law precedent. Soren
Mattick provided greater background on this subject. Mack then requested direction on minor code
changes. It was the consensus of the council to consider the subject further.
Mattick then discussed the zoning enforcement procedures and the amount of work that occurs at the
staff level long before a matter is ever turned over to the attorney for initiation of a complaint with the
court. Mattick discussed the idea of a clean-up fund or establishing an additional day per year in the fall
for a city wide clean up campaign to help residents. The consensus of council was that such efforts may
warrant further consideration.
Finance Director Ron Olson presented revenue and expenditure factors for consideration in the 2015
budget. He requested the Council's input in the areas of the tax levy and spending priorities. Discussion
ensued regarding specific spending items and the consensus of the Council was to pursue a flat levy as a
base line budget then look at 'add options' for goals such as patching roads and parks. The Council
directed the City Administrator to meet with Wayzata to negotiate down the cost of the fire contract to
make it more comparable with the costs of the Long Lake Fire Department. Discussion ensued about
the Human Services budget and direction was given include community education funds in this budget
instead of the Park budget. Council also requested cost information for adding a fall cleanup for
residents to dispose of brush and logs. The draft budget will be presented to the Council again at the
August work session.
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The meeting closed at 6:50 p.m.
ATTEST:
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Rachel Dodge, C�ty Clerk Lili Tod McMillan, Mayor