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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-27-2021 City Council Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,September 27,2021 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,Aaron Printup,Richard Crosby III, and Victoria Seals. Representing Staff were City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards and Finance Director Ron Olson. APPROVAL OF AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA Crosby would like to pull Item 6 for discussion, and noted on Item 10 Representative Kelly Morrison has cancelled and will possibly reschedule.He asked to add Item 13 to the Consent Agenda. 1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 13,2021 2. CLAIMS/BILLS 3. WAIVE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR ORONO PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING PROJECT 4. BIG ISLAND PARK ADA TRAIL PROJECT (19-033)—FINAL PAY APPLICATION AND CLOSEOUT 5. REQUEST TO HIRE FULL-TIME POLICE OFFICER—COLIN HENNESSEY 6. APPROVAL TO ACCEPT DONATION—ROTARY AND CHUNKS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES This item was removed from the Consent Agenda. 7. APPROVAL TO ACCEPT DONATION—BLAINE POLICE EXPLORERS PROGRAM 8. APPROVAL TO ACCEPT DONATION-NORTH SHORE MARINA 9. APPROVAL TO DISPOSE OF FIREARMS 13. CITY ATTORNEY LEGAL SERVICES RATE INCREASE Crosby moved,Printup seconded to approve the Consent Agenda as amended.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS Barbara Schmidt,50 Landmark Drive,has a statement to read and paperwork to turn in to the City Council.Ms. Schmidt read the following statement: We are citizens and taxpayers of Orono, Minnesota. We shop for food,gas, services, and goods in Orono. We own businesses in Orono. We are property owners in Orono. We have taken it upon ourselves to build Page 1 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 27,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS—Continued a new non-profit organization, Stand Up for Property Rights, Big Woods, and Wetlands. We are not only the Bederwood and Lowry Woods Nature Conservation area neighbors, we are the people that care about what happens in all neighborhoods in Orono and Hennepin County. Right now, we are asking for change. We are here tonight to advise all of Hennepin County, our local communities, and the media that our private and public property rights have been deprived. We are here to ask for transparency,public and timely property notices, and an equal voice in what happens to our public lands and how private land use is regulated. How did it come to be that the Orono advisory-only Park Commission gave the rights to use public land for niche entertainment that predictably led to trespassing on private property? This trespassing has gone on for months and months without stopping. How did it come to be that the Orono advisory-only Park Commission gave approval to carve up our Bederwood Park and our Lowry Woods Conservation Area without public notice? Mayor Walsh asked according to whom? Ms. Schmidt replied she cannot take any questions and said the City Council must refer to the City's legal counsel. Mayor Walsh asked if Ms. Schmidt is the one taking pictures and videos of children in the woods? Ms. Schmidt continued to read: This degradation occurred for months and months. How did it come to be that the Orono advisory-only Park Commission gave approval to go against our standing ordinance of no bikes in parks Section 22-93 by approving public mountain bike trails for niche entertainment? This degradation and frankly, disruptive park activity has occurred for months and months without public notice. Our organization has gathered over 100 signatures on a petition for an Environmental Worksheet(EAW) to review the existing and continuing damage which has gone on to Bederwood Park and the Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area. The City of Orono did not order the EAW, even though we were told there would be further degradation to Bederwood woods and the construction of bridges over the Bederwood stream, specifically in June of 2021. Mayor Walsh stated that is not true either.If Ms. Schmidt speaks falsehoods,he will correct her. In May of 2021, we were told there wasn't a plan for the Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area yet a Capital Improvement Project(CIP) is proposed for$100,000 according to the plan reviewed at the Park Commission meeting on September 7, 2021. To be clear, we do not want bikes in Orono parks except for travel to and from parks. We do not want mountain bike trails in Orono parks. We do not want mountain bike courses in our Orono parks. We do not want the advisory-only Park Commission making further decisions without giving public notice and adequate opportunity to comment from our neighborhoods. Accordingly, we are demanding that you dissolve the unlawful enacted resolution for the mountain bike courses in Bederwood Park. We are also demanding that you conserve our Big Woods and Lowry Nature Conservation Area and extend our existing tree ordinance to include protection to these old growth forest Page 2 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 27,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS—Continued areas. I have brought another petition signed by 58 individuals to stop biking in Orono Parks, except for transportation to and from. I've also brought more than dozen letters written by local neighbors to ask the City Council to stop building mountain bike trails in Bederwood Park and stop biking in Bederwood Park and Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area. We ask that you stop allowing bikes in Bederwood Park and Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area in perpetuity. Ms. Schmidt read a letter from resident Marilyn Nelson: To the Mayor and City Council: I live at 500 Tonkawa Road.Although I am not directly on the trail, I walk the entrance to the Luce Line. Mayor Walsh thanked Ms. Schmidt for her time and noted she had her five minutes and asked her to sit down. Ms. Schmidt said that is fine and asked to turn in her paperwork for review. PRESENTATION 6. APPROVAL TO ACCEPT DONATION—ROTARY AND CHUNKS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES Chief Farniok wants to take the opportunity to thank several member of the community that have participated with the firearm safety program through the DNR. He thanked Mike Personius who has donated his time and energy in helping educate students for the program and Chief Farniok wants to accept a donation on behalf of the Orono Rotary Club on the donation to help buy equipment and needed training materials for the firearm. Chief Farniok also thanked Deputy Chief Chris Fisher and Matt Stoltz who is also an instructor. Deputy Chief Fisher said eight years ago the Chief directed Staff to work on community engagement regarding re-branding who they are to the community.As part of that initiative,they looked at other services they can provide,one of which was firearm safety for children.Kids come four nights a week for three hours and the fifth day is a four-hour field training;they go up to the Corcoran Police Department facility for the field training.The Rotary Club made a donation to purchase some needed supplies which is about$1,100. Johnson moved,Printup seconded,to accept a donation from the Rotary and Chunks Automotive Services.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 10. REPRESENTATIVE KELLY MORRISON This item was removed from the Agenda. Page 3 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 27,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT 11. Adopt 2022 Preliminary Tax Levy—Resolution No. 7218 Finance Director Olson gave a presentation on Agenda Items 11 and 12 stating they have been working on the budget since May. Tonight,they set the preliminary tax levy which sets a maximum and cannot increase after this evening but can be decreased.The final levy and budget will be adopted at a meeting on December 6,2021. Public input will be allowed before final adoption at the Truth in Taxation meeting at 6:00 p.m. on December 6,2021.He shared revenue sources,noting this increase in the property tax levy will not increase the property tax rate.Mr.Olson noted property taxes are 53%of the General Fund budget which is a fairly low number compared to surrounding cities,some of which are 82-83%.He walked the City Council through the line item changes and explained each one. Seals stated se was approached about potentially increasing the Golf Course budget by$10,000 to do marketing. She is in support of it because it is paying for itself; she wants to bring it up to the group as they don't typically have a lot of marketing of the golf course. Mayor Walsh thinks they should bring the City Council a plan and explain the marketing proposal. Edwards noted if there are increased revenues,the Golf Course could bring a marketing plan to the City Council and those funds were authorized. Mr. Olson continued the presentation, comparing the average City property tax distribution in the State of Minnesota(29%)to the City of Orono(15%). He showed the 2022 proposed tax levy and budget on screen and explained each line item including the General Fund,Facilities Fund,Pavement Management, and Parks. Printup moved,Seals seconded,to approve the Resolution 7218 to adopt 2022 Preliminary Tax Levy and Resolution 7219 to adopt 2022 Preliminary General Fund Budget.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 12. ADOPT 2022 PRELIMINARY GENERAL FUND BUDGET—RESOLUTION NO.7219 CITY ATTORNEY REPORT 13. CITY ATTORNEY LEGAL SERVICES RATE INCREASE This item was added to the Consent Agenda. CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT Edwards shared the previous week was the Big Island Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, it was successful and a good mark to end the project.Regarding communications,Edwards and the City Clerk are reviewing the various communications systems starting with the website and filing systems within the City. Page 4 of 5 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 27,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Johnson had nothing to report. Crosby noted the Big Island event was terrific,trails look wonderful, as does the historical signage on the island. He said it was a fun day. Printup echoed Crosby's statements and said he enjoyed the presentations tonight. Seals said the Big Island property is now accessible to all beyond the dock,and it is really great to see the project finished. She has had a few resident questions regarding development,noting people say they cannot believe how much Orono has changed,the development,etc. Seals thinks this is very unfortunate as much of this"knowledge"is coming from social media; she reminded people that social media is not the source of truth. She asked to explain to the public that the City Council has been very consistent that they do not want mass development,but in reality,they must meet Met Council numbers and approve some development. Mayor Walsh said in talking about communications, it would be great to have questions and answers with links on the City's website,a video,or other information available.He thanked the Staff for the great work on the Big Island ceremony, it was nice to see some Vets get out there,and he thinks they will have a much busier year out there next year with all the information that has gone out.He noted there were a lot of other helpers and volunteers who worked on this project to get it completed.He stated Orono Homecoming is coming up and encouraged the public to come out and cheer on the team. ADJOURNMENT Crosby moved,Printup seconded,to adjourn the meeting at 6:54 p.m.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. ATTEST: D1 . \2022 / / nna Carlson,City Clerk Dennis Walsh,Mayor Page 5 of 5