HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-09-2023 Council Work Session Minutes Orono City Council
Work Session Minutes
Monday,January 9,2023
Council Chambers
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5:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Dennis Walsh, Council Members Victoria Seals,Richard F. Crosby II,Alisa
Benson and Matt Johnson. Staff members present were City Administrator/Engineer Adam
Edwards, City Attorney Soren Mattick,Finance Director Ron Olson, Public Works
Superintendent DJ Goman, Community Development Director Laura Oakden, and City Clerk
Anna Carlson.
1. Navarre Parking Lot Discussion (Moved to top of Work Session agenda)
City Administrator Adam Edwards gave a brief update in regard to the completion of the
design. He is looking for input about resources to get the job done. Edwards presented
the site layout and discussed the plans for updates planned for the lot. The drivers for the
project was to repave and make the flow safer. A one-way path was created to help
obtain that outcome. Part of the project not shown on the site layout is the addition and
work for Stormwater management.
Several courses of action could be taken to reduce the cost including, adjusting the scope,
delaying the project, evaluating a portion of project benefiting other businesses, installing
parking meters to help cover costs, or alternating funding for the
plan.
Mayor Walsh noted goal is to get it done b cause it is a long-term fix for Navarre and
that the city should look at bidding it out with the Fox project. He noted that he would
prefer if the city did not delay the project since it presents so many benefits to Orono as
well as its businesses in that area.
There was discussion related to the importance of finishing the project, keeping scope as
shown. Council Member Johnson noted his support for the project, Seals also supports
the project.
Edwards noted that the next steps will be to finalize the design and put it out for bid with
the other pavement projects planned for 2023; as an alternate project. He also noted that
the city plans to add the Golf Course parkitig lot as an alternate project to the pavement
bid as well. The citycould decide topull tie project if need be, but that cost estimates
for them would be beneficial.
2. THC Ordinance Discussion
Police Chief Correy Farniok began discussion of the THC ordinance item. He noted the
House and Senate are currently discussing the legalization of adult recreational use of
marijuana which may change some of the processes for the current legalized products. He
noted that there are a few samples of ordinances adopted by surrounding cities in the
packet. Along with adopting an ordinance,the city would need to decide what businesses
are allowed to sell it,restrictions for consumption related to on or off site, and how the
city would license these products.
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1 rono City Council
'ork Session Minutes
Moi day,January 9,2023
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ouncil Chambers
5:00 p.m.
Mayor Walsh asked if there are ce ain standards or rules currently in place that have
been worked out and what those a e. Walsh is concerned about how it would be tied to
the license so it could be easier to ,nforce.
Farniok discussed that the city sho ld focus on how we will regulate the sale and
permitted use of marijuana. We a - hoping a template for licensing and enforcement.
Attorney Soren Mattick noted that here is currently discussions going on pointing
towards the further regulations of arijuana and or THC, but we do not know all of the
details surrounding it at this time. e will know more about it later in the year and with
that we will have a better handle o i how to proceed.
Walsh noted the city could leave it as moratorium for now to give time to figure out.
Adjourned: 5:38 p.m.
CITY OF ORONO:
--\)6t3E62?(:4_C:::27)
ATTEST:
Dennis Walsh,Mayor
nna Carlson, City Clerk
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