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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-23-2021 City Council Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,August 23,2021 6:00 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 Matt Johnson,Richard Crosby III. Members Aaron Printup and Victoria Seals were absent.Representing Staff were City Attorney Soren Mattick,City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards,Public Works Superintendent David Goman,Finance Director Ron Olson,and Community Development Director Jeremy Barnhart. Mayor Walsh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA 1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 9,2021 2. COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES OF AUGUST 9,2021 3. CLAIMSBILLS 4. APPROVAL TO ACCEPT DONATION 5. TONKAWA PHASE II FORCEMAIN REPLACEMENT—CHANGE ORDER AND PAY REQUEST 6. LA20-000075—BRIAN&ANNE HUISMAN, 1121 NORTH ARM DRIVE—VACATION OF RIGHT OF WAY—RESOLUTION NO.7212 7. SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT RELATED TO POND AND OTHER STORMWATER FEATURES AT 1485 SIXTH AVENUE NORTH—AGREEMENT 8. LA21-000047—MATCOM: MARK MATASOCSKY OB/O TEMPLE ISRAEL OF MINNEAPOLIS,645 TONKAWA ROAD,VARIANCES—RESOLUTION NO.7213 9. PARKS AND GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT APPOINTMENT Crosby moved,Johnson seconded,to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted.VOTE: Ayes 3, Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS A member of the Long Lake Relief Association read a letter to the City Council: Dear Long Lake and Orono Councilmembers and Administrations, We are the Firefighters of the Long Lake Relief Association who serve our local communities with the following mission statement: it is the mission of the Long Lake Fire Department to minimize the loss of life and property for its service recipients in the Cities of Long Lake, Orono,Medina, and Minnetonka Beach from fires, natural disasters, life-threatening situations, including medical emergencies, and to assist other emergency agencies. Our current members have faithfully served this mission with a Page 1 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,August 23,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS—Continued combined 350+years of service. Successfully achieved, our mission does not come easily, it takes dedicated individuals combined with determined leaders to develop the valuable team we have in place today. Our members continuously participate in rigorous training that prepares them to perform their duties as a calm, effective, and cohesive team while under the inherent pressures of the fire service. Our unity and abilities have not developed overnight; it has taken years of practice to develop and perfect. We recognize the conflict between the Long Lake and Orono City Councils regarding the fire service and know that each City Council will make decisions beyond our control. Our principal interest lies in what is best for the communities. We desire to continue to serve. We believe that the residents of the communities we serve benefit greatly from a fire department that is not distracted from a long, drawn-out conflict and the uncertainty that can come with it. We firmly believe in the best interest in public safety and continued achievement of our mission statement. A quick resolution to the fire service conflict is paramount to the decisions made by the City Council. As Long Lake Fire Relief Association we respectfully request that the Long Lake and Orono City Councils urgently find a resolution to this issue. On the fire ground, crew integrity is crucial to our number one priority which is safety. We go into a fire together, we leave a fire together. No one is left behind. We ask that both Long Lake and Orono City Councils take the same approach in resolving this fire service contract. Please find a solution that keeps our entire team home, whole,from the Chief down to the probationary fire fighters,for the continued benefit of the communities and residents that we desire to continue and serve. For the benefits of all concerned,please resolve this issue quickly. Respectfully Submitted, Long Lake Volunteer Fire Relief Association The Council thanked the Volunteer Fire Relief Association for their service. Crosby appreciates everything the fire association does from the bottom of his part and will do everything within his voting power to keep the unity together.He stated it is his desire to get this situation worked out as quickly as possible,but they need a partner that is willing to come to that conclusion,also. PRESENTATION 10. LONG LAKE WATERS ASSOCIATION Jane Davidson,Board Member of the Long Lake Waters Association(LLWA),noted they are conducting a project on Long Lake and thought it would be nice to come and tell the City of Orono about it. Ms. Davidson gave a presentation prepared by Professor Przemek Bajer at the University of Minnesota,whose expertise is in carp. Ms. Davidson lives on the lake,her background is mechanical engineering, and she is also a professor at the U of M.Long Lake Waters is a non-profit formed in 2017 and the mission is to protect the Upper Watershed of Long Lake Creek Watershed which includes regions in Medina, Orono, and Long Lake, includes 7 lakes,and many wetlands. Long Lake is the biggest lake in the watershed and in 2017 saw the overabundance of carp in the lake; carp are bad because they are bottom-feeders and tend to release the nutrients that are stored at the bottom of the lake which promotes algae growth and higher pollution levels. They also destroy the natural habitat for a lot of fish and native plant species. She noted they did a study in 2018 and following the study they applied for a Minnesota Board of Water and Resources(BWSR)grant; as part of the project they put a tracking device on the carp to determine movement. She gave some background and history on carp counting and netting programs Page 2 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,August 23,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. PRESENTATION 10. LONG LAKE WATERS ASSOCIATION—Continued and noted they use corn because carp like corn but other fish do not. After a recent count,they found the new population estimate was about 7,000 carp rather than 18,000,and they need to remove more carp to get down to safe levels.Ms. Davidson walked them through the plan for the next years to control the carp, noting it will have a huge impact on the lake,the community is very enthusiastic about supporting the program,but they would also like support from the cities(Long Lake, Orono)and are hoping everyone will pitch in. She stated Carp Solutions has indicated they would come out and do an initial run next year which would start at$10,000 but if they want to be sure to catch them all it would probably be somewhere in the$20,000 range. Long Lake Waters is willing to do a fundraising campaign from the community to support that,in addition to educational opportunities. Johnson asked where the carp are going up on 6th in the holding pond. Ms. Davidson replied they cannot get over the weir; if one goes and walks the area there is actually a barrier.They go up the creek and try to get over the weir and they cannot so they come back down to the lake. Johnson stated on the agenda tonight the City Council subordinated their interest in that creek and gave it to the Watershed. He noted the Watershed District wanted control of that area. Ms. Davidson hopes the Watershed does good things. She does not think it changes the prognosis of dealing with the carp; she thinks this has been a successful project and it is a small dent compared to some of the projects the Watershed wants to do that are very large,municipal stormwater management projects. However, she thinks it can make a real contribution. The Council thanked Ms.Davidson for her presentation. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT Finance Director Olson stated he does not have anything additional to report other than the City Council met Carrie Krienke,who has been with the City for one week and everything is working out well. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT 11. LA21-000048—COURTNEY PAULSEN, 1090 WILDHURST TRAIL,VARIANCES Staff presented a summary packet of information. Melanie Curtis,City Planner,gave a presentation noting Ms.Paulson is requesting hardcover,side setback,and average lakeshore setback(ALS)variances in order to construct a second-story addition above the existing home footprint along with a new lakeside deck. The existing home is situated entirely lakeward of the ALS line and 2.6 feet from the side lot line on the north. Hardcover on the property currently exceeds the 25%limitation and according to the revised survey,the applicant has 105 square feet of hardcover removals.During the July Planning Commission meeting,the Commissioners voted 6-0 in favor of approving the variances consistent with the Staff recommendation which included moving the deck and deck stair inward to meet the 7.5 foot side setback. The applicant modified the proposed plan from the original which encroached further than the house line so now the deck is shown even with the existing home on the north side. Staff recommends Page 3 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,August 23,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. 11. LA21-000048—COURTNEY PAULSEN, 1090 WILDHURST TRAIL,VARIANCES— Continued approval of the ALS and side setback variances to permit the second-story addition as proposed. The neighbors have indicated they are supportive. Staff also recommends approval of the hardcover variance to permit the deck within the ALS,however, Staff continues to recommend the stair and deck meet 7.5 feet from the side lot line. Johnson moved,Crosby seconded,to approve LA21-000048, 1090 Wildhurst Trail,Variances. VOTE: Ayes 3,Nays 0. PARKS AND GOLF COURSE REPORT City Engineer/City Administrator Edwards updated the Council that they made the appointment for the new superintendent. Edwards shared that he was approached by the golf course committee,headed up by the Parks Commission Chairman Brian Roath,who presented earlier in the year regarding some initiatives at the golf course. The group would like to have an event on September 17 from 3-5:00 p.m.at the Clubhouse and is looking for some City funding to help sponsor that event. The funding was not budgeted which is why they are bringing it to the Council. Revenues for the golf course are above budget so far this year so there are revenues-excess-of-budget to be able to more than pay for the event. The two items the group is looking for the City to sponsor are the musician fees and a deposit estimate on catering to offer some special food. Walsh noted he had previously told Mr.Roath that the Council would be supportive of trying some new things to see how they work;he thinks it is a small price to pay to get use out of a great asset they have in the City. Crosby agrees, it will be fun and exciting. Johnson moved,Crosby seconded,to approve the Golf Course Event Request for funding.VOTE: Ayes 3,Nays 0. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT Attorney Mattick had nothing to report. He noted he will be bringing a litigation update to the next meeting to give an update on new events and timing. He stated they recently had another lawsuit regarding a sign that has been tendered to the League;there is coverage and he will bring an update. CITY ENGINEER/ADMINISTRATOR REPORT Edwards noted Johnson had asked at the last meeting for an update on the point-of-sale. Since the program officially took effect January 1,they have done 77 inspections; of those, 13 identified additional work that needed to be done. They are at about a 17%failure rate as they do these inspections and they are running at about 2.9 hours of Staff effort per inspection. He clarified most of the failures are in the southern part of the City where they have older infrastructure where they get roots through the clay pipes. Johnson asks what they charge? Page 4 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,August 23,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. CITY ENGINEER/ADMINISTRATOR REPORT—Continued Edwards believes it is$250. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT Barnhart noted at the workshop the Council talked about advertising for Building Official and Building Inspector;if the Council gives Barnhart formal direction he will move forward on that. Johnson moved,Crosby seconded,to advertise for a Building Official and a Building Inspector to be full-time positions. VOTE: Ayes 3,Nays 0. Barnhart updated the Council on the docks at Big Island. They are working through the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District(LMCD)to get the appropriate licenses or approvals and the City Attorney's office is looking at the legality of the history there. Engineering is looking at the best location as they have received an application and hope to come back to the City Council with a recommendation soon. The dock will likely not be put in this fall but will be ready for next spring. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Crosby had nothing to report. Johnson stated it is really important that the Fire Department know that Orono supports them and recognizes the service they give the community.He noted this is a process,the City can do their part,and the Fire Department is supported. He said the City Council has a responsibility to taxpayers and when they are paying 85%of a bill,they have to control it to be sure they are being prudent with taxpayer dollars. In his mind,that is what this is about,they must be responsible as a City and control the resources that their citizens need. Walsh noted they will do the right thing all the time,it may just take a bit of time to get to the end result from a contract standpoint. He stated he made it through COVID and is feeling much better. ADJOURNMENT Crosby moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:41 p.m.VOTE: Ayes 3,Nays 0. ATTEST: 47Vg------- DW:a nna Carlson,City Clerk Dennis Walsh,Mayor Page 5 of 5