HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-23-2020 Council Work Session Minutes Orono City Council
Work Session Minutes
-ti*�- Monday,November 23, 2020
�' Council Chambers
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5:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Dennis Walsh, Council Members Richard F. Crosby II, Victoria Seals, Aaron
Printup and Matt Johnson. Staff members present were City Administrator Dustin Rief, Police
Chief Coney Farniok, Public Works Director/City Engineer Adam Edwards, Community
Development Director Jeremy Barnhart, and City Clerk Anna Carlson.
1. Drug Paraphernalia
City Administrator Dustin Rief opened discussion by requesting input from the Council in
regards to what they would like to see done with the regulation of drug paraphernalia within
Orono.
City Attorney Soren Mattick presented a background about regulating drug paraphernalia. He
noted that the Council has authority to create and choose to regulate it or not.
There was discussion about the possibilities for future legalization of marijuana and what
decisions the City may see overtime.
Council Member Aaron Printup mentioned that he didn't think that Orono would want to
allow drug paraphernalia in the City.
Council member Richard F. Crosby II agreed with Printup.
Mayor Dennis Walsh asked if the City wants to make a decision about this tonight.
Council Member Matthew Johnson added that one of the good things about addressing this
now is that we would have the advantage of having something in the books to address it.
The City Council gave guidance to staff to begin the process to move it forward and to get the
Police Chief's perspective on it.
2. Utility Rate Study
Interim Finance Director Maggie Ung presented the Utility Rate Study. She mentioned staff
had looked into the recycling rates and discovered that the rates could possibly be dropped
slightly. The original 10% increase could be decreased to 8%.
There was discussion of labeling the recycling on the bills as Hennepin County mandated.
Staff will look educating residents about how recycling is mandated by the county.
3. Second Amendment Dedicated City
City Attorney Soren Mattick commented that MN Legislature has legislated City's not being
able to ban guns or put other restrictions or regulations on them. He stated that if federal
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Orono City Council
Work Session Minutes
Monday,November4 2020
Council Chambers
'fs
5:00 p.m.
government creates a law that bans guns the resolution put before Council tonight will not
trump legislative laws.
Walsh noted that this is just a good faith resolution noting that the City supports guns and
nothing more.
Printup mentioned that he first thought of the resolution as a good idea but possibly at the next
meeting we could make a proclamation and rather focus on the Bill of Rights instead.
Crosby noted he is comfortable with expanding on the Bill of Rights, but the second
amendment resolution going before council tonight is important and it show's our stance.
Council Member Victoria Seals supports the right and the resolution but is not quite sure why
it is the only one we are discussing at this time. Seals agrees with Printup.
Crosby noted that standing up for what you believe isn't always easy but it's something that
should be done.
Walsh mentioned that he would like to walk with the council to figure out where we would
like to hang the flag and also noted that we have people that are willing to raise money for
those flags as well.
Printup noted he would like to visit the Bill of Rights at a different meeting.
Meeting Adjourned: 5:44 p.m.
CITY OF ORONO:
kLb"ATTEST:
op Dennis Walsh, Mayor
/
Anna Carlson, City Clerk