HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-12-2025 CC MinutesMinutes
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, May 12, 2025, 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, NIN 55356
Mayor Tunheim called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Orono City Council members present: Mayor Bob Tunheim, City Council Members Alisa Benson, Steve
Persian, Jacqueline Ricks, and Claire Berrett. Members absent: None
Staff present were City Attorney Soren Mattick, City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards, Finance
Director Maggie Jin, and City Planner Melanie Curtis.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Agenda was approved by consensus with amendments to the Consent Agenda.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. City Council Minutes
2. Claims/Bills
3. Upcoming Work Session and Council Training Schedule
This item was removed from the Consent Agenda
4. Waste Hauler Licenses
5. Agreement - West Metro Drug Task Force Second Amendment
6. 2024 Fund Transfer
T Hire Part -Time Firefighters
This itein was removed from the Consent Agenda
8. Resignation and Recruitment - Records Technician
9. Stubbs Bay Lake Improvement District
10. Establish the Facilities Services Fund - Resolution 7582
11. Pavement Maintenance - Repaint/Striping
12. LA25-000018, 200 Woodhill Road, Interim Use Permit - Resolution 7583
13. LA25-0000115 3275 Carman Road, Variances - Resolution 7584
14. LA25-0000155 485 Orono Orchard Road South, Final Plat: Sky Blue Waters Addition -
Resolution 7585
15. LA24-000068, 430 Old Crystal Bay Road, Final Plat, Orono Garage Condominium CIC
Plat, Resolution 7586
16. LA25-000010, 2625 North Shore Drive, Lake Setback and Hardcover Variances - Resolution
7587
17. LA25-0000121 1205 Tonkawa Road, Average Lakeshore Setback, Lake Setback, and
Floodplain Variances - Resolution 7588
18. LA25-000007, 4745 North Shore Drive, After -the -Fact Conditional Use Permit Amendment
- Resolution 7589
This item was removed froin the Consent Agenda
Benson moved, Ricks seconded, to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays
0.
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Minutes
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, May 12, 2025, 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jim Theisen, 1295 Elmwood Ave; Kelly Prchal, 4705 Watertown Road; Bruce Lemke, 565 Old Crystal
Bay Road; Jon Schwingler, 1550 County Road 6, and Kelly Grady, Long Lake, provided comments.
3. Upcoming Work Session and Council Training Schedule
The City Council directed a change to the Work Session schedule to dedicate more time for City vision
and goal -setting and postpone a discussion of social media.
18. LA25-000007, 4745 North Shore Drive, After -the -Fact Conditional Use Permit Amendment
- Resolution 7589
Benson reviewed the history of this application and said she had asked to discuss it more to consider
changes to the landscaping plan to ensure that planting will be native and will actually control
erosion. She asked for an amendment to the resolution and CUP requiring a revised landscaping
pIan because one of the proposed plants is an invasive species.
City Planner Curtis said the City Council could approve the application with the condition of asking
for a revised landscaping plan, or table it and bring it back to see the new plan.
Berrett pointed out the ordinance doesn't require native plants, and citizens need better direction.
Matt Jasper, 4745 North Shore Drive, the applicant, said he has no problem changing plants and
takes his share of the responsibility for the need to request an after -the -fact amendment to his
retraining wall CUP, but repeatedly having to come back to the Council was becoming a burden.
Ricks moved, Benson seconded, to table Resolution 7589 and send it back to staff to amend the
landscape plan to ensure all plants would be native and non-invasive. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 1
(Berrett).
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
City Attorney Mattick reported the Minnesota Supreme Court had upheld the Special Election for City
Council set for the next day. He added he would not be at the next City Council meeting due to travel.
Another attorney from his firm would be assigned in his absence.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT
19. Orono Fire Department Reorganization
The City Council is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, discuss and approve the
reorganization of the Orono Fire Department by eliminating the fire chief position and laying off Chief
Van Eyll, adopt a resolution of appreciation for an Eyll, and appoint the deputy chief as interim fire
chief.
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Minutes
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, May 12, 2025, 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
Benson moved, Persian seconded to adopt Resolution 7590 terminating the employment of the full-
time Orono Fire Chief. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Ricks moved, Berrett seconded to adopt Resolution 7591, a resolution of appreciation for Orono
Fire Chief James Van Eyll. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
Berrett moved, Persian seconded to appoint Deputy Chief Shea Chwialkowski as the interim Orono
Fire Chief. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
7. Hire Part -Time Firefighters
Persian suggested the City table hiring part-time firefighters until a joint operational model is worked out
by the leadership of the Orono and Long Lake Fire Departments, allowing the leadership to create the
model and then determine the staff needs. An exception would be the individual who is currently a
member of both departments. He said his fear was taking away opportunities from the existing part-time
firefighters.
City Administrator Edwards countered that the two departments are currently struggling to fill the shifts
that are open due to resignations and turnover. Discussions with Long Lake officials indicated that they
are looking to Orono to fill the ranks of part-time fire fighters that could eventually join a joint
department. Everyone is working hard to set up the joint department, but it takes time, according to
Edwards.. The two chiefs and two administrators are having biweekly meetings. He said there could be a
seniority system for bidding shifts.
Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff.
Persian moved, Benson seconded to table for two weeks hiring new part-time fire fighters, but
appoint Chris Adams as a part-time fire fighter for the Orono Fire Department. VOTE: Ayes 49
Nays 1 (Berrett).
COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Benson reported on attending the Orono Park Commission meeting as the ex officio representative.
Tunheim reported on attending the Planning Commission meeting.
MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT
Mayor and Council provided reports and expressed appreciation to Councilmember Claire Berrett for her
service at her last City Council meeting, since she had not chosen to be a candidate in the special election
to fill the seat vacated by Matt Johnson last November.
ADJOURNMENT
Benson moved, Ricks seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 7:13 p.m. to Monday, May 26, 2025, at
6:00 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.
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ATTEST:
Christine Lus
Minutes
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday, May 12, 2025, 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
Bob Tunheim3 Mayor
Minutes approved by Orono City Council May 27, 2025. Meeting videos and transcripts available
at oronomn.gov.
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