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Home My WebLink About03-23-2010 Council Work Session Minutes Orono City Council Committee of the Whole March 23, 2010, 6:30 p.m. Orono City Council Chambers Present: Mayor Jim White, Council Members Cynthia Bremer, Doug Franchot, Lili McMillan and Jim Murphy; Assistant City Administrator for Long-Term Strategy Mike Gaffron, Finance Director Ron Olson, Public Works Supervisor Scott Oberaigner, City Engineer Tom Kellogg and City Clerk Lin Vee 1. Long Lake Fire Department Update • James Van Ey�l, Long Lake Fire Chief, introduced Dave Nalls, Station Captain at Station 1. • Van Eyll reviewed the 2009 annual Long Lake Fire Department report that was distributed to Council. • It was noted that a very small portion of Orono is served with fire hydrants, with only 1200 water customers throughout Orono. • The ATV is used for grass fires, on the trail systems, and to help someone who might be difficult to reach. • The Hoovercraft has been sold. • Mutual aid calls are up considerably—some due to training and equipment in the department. • Response times have gone down—average is under 6 minutes. Officer is on duty which helps reduce response time and coordinate with police response. • Goals for 2010 include: o Update Standard Operating Procedures(SOP) o Recruit o Start a preplan program and submit to dispatch o Create Special Events position within department 0 100 year celebration committee o Equipment and Officer training o Training with Mutual Aid partners • Long Lake Fire Department received recognition and plaque for their involvement in Tour de Tonka bike race. Major complaint is that bikers don't follow traffic rules. Volunteers are not responsible for stopping traffic,just directing riders. • Van Eyll commented on the relief pension plan, working relationships with the Orono Police Department and morale in the Fire Department. • Van Eyll stated a survey crew is working on the back lot and asked about status of the proposed project by the fire station. The Fire Department has some concerns about limiting use of the back parking lot as the Fire Department uses it for training and parking for the pancake breakfast. Access and signage will also need to be addressed. The Fire Department is anticipating that the proposed housing would provide a few additional firefighters. 2. Comp Plan Discussion • Gaffron distributed a draft press release and notice to be sent to property owners. • Gaffron reviewed a summary of the proposed changes in the Comp Plan. • The intent of"mixed use" is to be able to designate some commercial properties that could also become residential, but residential properties are not intended to become commercial. • Met Council was pleased with the proposed changes. Most changes reflect back to reguiding and creating additional categories of land use that allow for areas of higher density calculations. • White requested that Long Lake zoning be added to Orono's map for comparison after the plan is approved. Gaffron indicated the addition could be done relatively easily. • Housing plan section was updated to match what has been discussed. • Transportation section includes revised tables. Traffic volume projections for County Road 15 are going down from 3 or 4 years ago based on Hennepin County data. Downtown Long Lake traffic count is projected at 16,000 which has decreased from previous projections because of the Highway 12 bypass. Page 1 of 2 Orono City Council Committee of the Whole March 23, 2010, 6:30 p.m. Orono City Council Chambers • Program at the Freshwater Center includes the following: 0 20 minute PowerPoint presentation by Mike. 0 15-20 boards of maps that will be spread around the room. o Kellogg and Grittman will attend to answer questions. o Microphone will be set up for public speakers. o Expect about 100 people; 10 years ago when the Comp Plan hearing was held at the High School gym, about 70 people attended. o Updated information will be on the city website later this week. o Planning Commission is holding the hearing, but Council will also attend. o The following Monday, April 12, Council authorizes final version of plan to submit to Met Council. o A handful of comments were received from neighboring cities. Medina wants a piece of Willow Drive reclassified but it hasn't been addressed. 3. 2485 Dunwoody Avenue Sewer Service Quotation • Kellogg explained diagrams of the sewer issue for 2485 Dunwoody Avenue. • The city received a call from the owners at 2485 Dunwoody stating they were having sewer problems. After a lengthy investigation, it was determined that the record plans were inaccurate which resulted in disconnection of this property from the sewer line during the Casco Point Reconstruction Project. • The city has established a temporary solution but is recommending that a permanent connection be re- established. • Council authorized repair and extension of the sewer line to a new manhole at a cost of approximately $15,000. • Kellogg will bring a change order request for the Casco Point Reconstruction Project to the next Council meeting for final approval. 4. Police Matters • Correy has completed training and will have a report at the next work session. He is also planning to visit the contract city council meetings. • The police officer contract and Long Lake police service contract were briefly discussed. 5. Other Issues of Current Interest • Coffee for new City Administrator Jessica Loftus will be on Monday, April 5. • Letter was sent to Met Council about the Long Lake sewer interceptor. Bonestroo has met and discussed with representatives of Met Council. Council agreed that the lift station at Brown Road should be replaced. Bonestroo was directed to proceed with preliminary plans and cost estimates for the lift station replacement. Additional information will be provided at the next work session. • Gaffron distributed a letter from the MCWD regarding the rules revision process. • McMillan will be out the week of April 19`h and will miss the Board of Appeals. Jim Murphy will be the PC representative. 6. Comments Regarding Information Updates • None Page 2 of 2 Orono City Council Committee of the Whole April 13,2010, 6:30 p.m. Orono City Council Chambers Present: Mayor Jim White, Council Members Cynthia Bremer, Doug Franchot, Lili McMillan and Jim Murphy; City Administrator Jessica Loftus, Police Chief Correy Farniok, Assistant City Administrator for Long- Term Strategy Mike Gaffron, Finance Director Ron Olson, Public Works Supervisors Don DeBaere and Scott Oberaigner, Planning and Zoning Coordinator Melanie Curtis, City Clerk Lin Vee, City Engineer Tom Kellogg and City Attorney Soren Mattick 1. Pre-meeting Local Board of Review • Nate Stulc, Hennepin County Assessor, reviewed the 2010 Assessment/2009 Sales data booklets. • Council discussed the current format for the Local Board of Review vs. an Open Book meeting. Council was in favor of obtaining additional information for consideration of an Open Book meeting in 2011. If a decision is made to change to the Open Book meeting format, Hennepin County must be notified by December. Residents will also need to be notified. 2. Police Department Update • Chief Farniok reported on his experiences while attending the National FBI Academy and other issues which are being addressed by the Police Department. 3. Engineer's Report • Lift Station 12 Update (Brown Road North/Old Hwy 12) o Council discussed the potential repair/replacement of Lift Station 12 and directed the City Engineer to move forward with pressure testing. • Orono Orchard Road Street Reconstruction Project Update o City Engineer Kellogg reported that Met Council is interested in upgrading their portion of the sewer system as part of the Orono Orchard Road Street Reconstruction Project, which is scheduled for 2012. Council discussed the possibility of moving this street project up to 2011. o Council directed Bonestroo to continue discussions with Met Council regarding an agreement to participate with the city in the Orono Orchard Road Street Reconstruction Project. • State Aid Street CIP Discussion o Updated numbers for the Capital Improvement Plan were provided and discussion of the project schedule ensued. Although Watertown Road is scheduled for improvements in 2011, Old Crystal Bay Road is in worse condition. Council agreed to observe road conditions as they drive around the city and continue discussion of the CIP schedule. o Council directed staff to investigate the costs to purchase an asphalt milling machine. 4. Other Issues of Current Interest • None 5. Comments Regarding Information Updates • None 6. CommonBond Discussion • City Attorney Mattick presented information on issues related to the CommonBond proposal. Council continued with discussion of the proposed project, including land values and timelines. • Council recommended that CommonBond submit a written purchasing proposal for Council consideration. ATTEST: ,%�!�-�c� ;��7��_ �GfM.P�-i' ' �/�/�Z� Linda S. Vee, City Clerk a s M. White, Mayor Page 1 of 1 Orono City Council Committee of the Whole April 13, 2010, 6:30 p.m. Orono City Council Chambers Present: Mayor Jim White, Council Members Cynthia Bremer, Doug Franchot, Lili McMillan and Jim Murphy; City Administrator Jessica Loftus, Police Chief Correy Farniok, Assistant City Administrator for Long- Term Strategy Mike Gaffron, Finance Director Ron Olson, Public Works Supervisors Don DeBaere and Scott Oberaigner, Planning and Zoning Coordinator Melanie Curtis, City Clerk Lin Vee, City Engineer Tom Kellogg and City Attorney Soren Mattick 1. Pre-meeting Local Board of Review • Nate Stulc, Hennepin County Assessor, reviewed the 2010 Assessment/2009 Sales data booklets. • Council discussed the current format for the Local Board of Review vs. an Open Book meeting. Council was in favor of obtaining additional information for consideration of an Open Book meeting in 2011. If a decision is made to change to the Open Book meeting format, Hennepin County must be notified by December. Residents will also need to be notified. 2. Police Department Update • Chief Farniok reported on his experiences while attending the National FBI Academy and other issues which are being addressed by the Police Department. 3. Engineer's Report • Lift Station 12 Update (Brown Road North/Old Hwy 12) o Council discussed the potential repair/replacement of Lift Station 12 and directed the City Engineer to move forward with pressure testing. • Orono Orchard Road Street Reconstruction Project Update o City Engineer Kellogg reported that Met Council is interested in upgrading their portion of the sewer system as part of the Orono Orchard Road Street Reconstruction Project, which is scheduled for 2012. Council discussed the possibility of moving this street project up to 2011. o Council directed Bonestroo to continue discussions with Met Council regarding an agreement to participate with the city in the Orono Orchard Road Street Reconstruction Project. • State Aid Street CIP Discussion o Updated numbers for the Capital Improvement Plan were provided and discussion of the project schedule ensued. Although Watertown Road is scheduled for improvements in 2011, Old Crystal Bay Road is in worse condition. Council agreed to observe road conditions as they drive around the city and continue discussion of the CIP schedule. o Council directed staff to investigate the costs to purchase an asphalt milling machine. 4. Other Issues of Current Interest • None 5. Comments Regarding Information Updates • None 6. CommonBond Discussion • City Attorney Mattick presented information on issues related to the CommonBond proposal. Council continued with discussion of the proposed project, including land values and timelines. • Council recommended that CommonBond submit a written purchasing proposal for Council consideration. ATTEST: r ,i'� ��i'L�-cGGs �C�.,� LL.iLIti�L � G�/!N(.C./ Linda S.Vee, City Clerk es M.White, Mayor Page 1 of 1