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Home My WebLink About11-25-2024 City Council Minutes OIV W Minutes City Council Regular Meeting ti Monday,Nov. 25,2024, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 H Mayor Walsh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Orono City Council members present: Mayor Dennis Walsh, City Council Members Alisa Benson, Richard Crosby III,Maria Veach and Claire Berrett(seated at 6:28 p.m.).Members absent: None Staff present were City Attorney Soren Mattick, City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards,Finance Director Maggie Jin,Fire Chief James Van Eyll, City Clerk Christine Lusian, and Community Development Director Laura Oakden. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA 1. City Council Minutes 2. Claims/Bills 3. Meeting Calendar 2025 4. Tree Lighting Event Funding—Resolution 7535 5. Agreements—Record Technology Improvements 6. Donation of Volunteer Time—Resolution 7531 7. Appoint Public Utilities Supervisor(Water and Sewer) 8. Appoint Accounting Technician and Recruitment of Administrative Assistant 9. Capital Lease Agreement—Resolution 7532 10. Stonebay Common Element Parcel Purchase and Sale Agreement and Cancelation of Special Assessment 11. Final Pay Request—2024 Street Improvement Project(24-001) 12. LA24—000053, 700 North Arm Drive,Variances—Resolution 7533 Crosby moved,Walsh seconded,to approve the Agenda and the Consent Agenda as submitted and to move item 15 to follow item 12.VOTE: Ayes 3,Nays 1 (Benson). Benson asked to remove Item 9 from the Consent Agenda. Walsh asked Crosby if he would like to amend his motion and remove Item 9 and Crosby declined to amend the motion. 15. Council Vacancy Appointment Walsh noted that a number of people reached out to him regarding the vacancy and he cited that the League of Minnesota Cities materials suggested an appointment should be made promptly. He added that he was looking for someone that has been active in the Orono community. Benson explained her opposition to Mayor Walsh making an appointment tonight.Benson's concerns included not following recommendations from staff to use best practices allowing an application period, interviewing applicants, and as a council group selecting the best candidate to represent Orono. Benson noted that the City is not under any obligation to rush the appointment process. Page 1 of 4 0A, W Minutes City Council Regular Meeting ti Monday,Nov. 25,2024, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 4ESH0 Attorney Mattick added that the City Council is not required to fill the vacancy at this meeting,but may fill it. Veach described her opposition to Mayor Walsh making an appointment tonight.Veach explained her own experience being appointed and controversy she received from the process affected her whole time on the City Council.Veach outlined a_number of important applicant criteria that the council should review before an appointment to the City Council, such as prior experience on a board or commission and schedule/availability. Walsh moved,Crosby seconded,to appoint Claire Berrett to the City Council seat vacated by Matt Johnson effective immediately to fill the remainder of the term through 2026.VOTE: Ayes 2,Nays 2 (Benson and Veach).The motion failed. Attorney Mattick said since the motion failed,the mayor was able to make an appointment pursuant to the terms outlined in Minn. Stat. 412.02. Walsh appointed Claire Berrett to the vacant City Council seat and conducted a swearing in ceremony.Berrett signed her oath and took seat at the Council dais at 6:28 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING 13. Cable Franchise Agreement Public Hearing Ellie Burrows from Midco, along with Ryan Barr and Eric Householder, gave a presentation on their request for a franchise to serve the City of Orono with cable,telephone,and internet through a fiber network with a goal of being complete by 2027. Mayor Walsh opened the public hearing at 6:41 p.m. Janie Delaney, 1315 Woodhill, asked about construction and the process, including whether the fiber would be underground. Kelly Grady,Long Lake, commented that Orono is being called a rural area for the purpose of the proposed franchise but wanted a suburban fire department. Mayor Walsh closed the public hearing at 6:47 p.m. Mattick explained the public hearing was in regard to the request to have a franchise agreement. He said agreements are not exclusive and do not constitute an endorsement by the City. Veach moved,Crosby seconded,to direct staff to prepare a franchise agreement with Midco for consideration at the Dec.9,2024,meeting.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 14. 2025 Budget and Levy(Truth in Taxation)Public Hearing Finance Director Jin presented the 2025 General Fund Budget and Levy and said the City is required to have a public hearing on the Budget and Levy. She said property tax questions could be directed to Hennepin County. Jin said Orono would have the lowest levy increase in Hennepin County at just over two percent and the County average is 10 percent. Page 2 of 4 �o W Minutes City Council Regular Meeting y , Monday,Nov. 25,2024, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 ESHO Mayor Walsh opened the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. Kelly Prchal,4705 Watertown Road, asked if the meeting was being broadcast because she had heard from someone that the video was not live. Brian Turbeville, 997 Wildhurst Trail, said it was great we have the lowest tax rate but as one of the richest communities,more money is collected than any of the other cities. Cindy McDonnell, 1420 Balder Park Road, asked if the City decides not to spend money on a redundant fire department will that affect the levy for the next year. Richie Anderson,3205 Crystal Bay Road, asked about the category"other special taxing district"that does not require a meeting. Mayor Walsh closed the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. Veach moved,Crosby seconded,to direct staff to bring approval of the budget and levy to the December meeting.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT Community Development Director Oakden reported on the Planning Commission and her department's activities. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT Finance Director Jin said her department has been wrapping up 2024 financials for the audit. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT Fire Chief Van Eyll reported on the number and type of calls during the last month and on Community Engagement activities. He said about 90 percent of the calls are handled by the duty crews. The department has taken delivery of the new tanker and is getting it outfitted and ready to put into service. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT None. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS None CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT 15. Council Vacancy Appointment This item was moved to follow the Consent Agenda. Page 3 of 4 O�v� Minutes City Council Regular Meeting ti Monday,Nov. 25,2024, 6:00 PM c> City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 t4kES N City Administrator Edwards said most of the activity the last month has been filling positions through promotions and recruitment. PUBLIC COMMENTS Kelly Prchal,4705 Watertown Road;Brian Turbeville,997 Wildhurst Trail;Nancy Brantingham, 3185 County Rd. 6;Kim Carswell 261 Cygnet Place; Cindy McDonnell, 1420 Balder Park Road; Andy Cohen, 4100 Elm Street; Bob Tunheim, 679 Minnetonka Highlands Lane; Kelly Grady,Long Lake; provided comments. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Mayor and Council provided reports. ADJOURNMENT Walsh moved,Crosby seconded,to adjourn the meeting at 7:43 p.m.to Monday,December 9,2024 at 6:00 p.m.VOTE: •s 5,Nays 0. ATTES • tear. Chr____ ippo lerk Dennis Walsh,Mayor Minutes approved by Orono City Council December 9, 2024. Meeting videos and transcripts available at oronomn.gov. Page 4 of 4