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Home My WebLink About08-25-2025 CC Minutes SLOAT Minutes City Council Regular Meeting W Monday,August 25, 2025, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 kpsHo Mayor Tunheim called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Orono City Council members present: Mayor Bob Tunheim, City Council Members Alisa Benson, Steve Persian,Jacqueline Ricks, and Jon Schwingler. Members absent: None. Staff present were City Attorney Soren Mattick, City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards, Public Works Superintendent DJ Goman, Parks Superintendent Joe Ruthenberg, and Community Development Director Laura Oakden. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved by consensus with the addition of Fire Department expenditures to Item 13. CONSENT AGENDA 1. City Council Minutes 2. Claims/Bills 3. Park Commission Special Meeting September 9 4. Donation from Pelican Point Homeowners Association—Resolution 7608 5. Establish and Close Funds 6. Maintenance Quote—Video Inspection of Sanitary Sewer System 7. Maintenance Quote—Tree Trimming and Removal This Item was removed from the Consent Agenda 8. LA25-000025, 1530 Orchard Beach Place,Variance—Resolution 7613 This Item was removed from the Consent Agenda Benson moved,Persian seconded,to approve the Consent Agenda Items 1 through 6.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS Jay Nygard, 1386 Rest Point Rd.,provided comments. 7. Maintenance Quote—Tree Trimming and Removal Benson asked about how tree removal requests are prioritized. City Administrator Edwards explained there is a prioritization system that looks at the health of trees, efficiency of proximity to other trees that need to come down, and whether the City employees can remove them. Benson moved, Ricks seconded, to accept the tree maintenance quote from CJS Services for $21,429. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Page 1 of 5 W Minutes City Council Regular Meeting y Monday,August 25,2025,6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 8. LA25-000025, 1530 Orchard Beach Place,Variance—Resolution 7613 Community Development Director Oakden reported the City was presenting a resolution to deny the variance request as the City Council had voted previously to deny the variance to build a pool cabana by a permitted pool and patio under construction. The Planning Commission had recommended approval based on moving the cabana the required 10 feet from the house. Persian said after going out to view the property,he wanted to revisit it as the proposed cabana would not be within the lake view of any neighbor. The council discussed other possible locations and asked questions of Tim Kelly, attorney for the applicant. He reiterated that the proposed accessory structure would not affect sight lines and pointed out that the average lakeshore setback on that lot is affected by a right-of-way easement. He contended the Council was applying criteria that are not in the ordinance. Several Councilmembers stated they supported the staff recommendation to deny. Ricks said she would like to have seen the structure pushed back toward the pool equipment. Persian moved, Ricks seconded,to table LA-25-000025, 1530 Orchard Beach Place Variance request.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. PARKS REPORT 9. Holiday Tree Lighting Event Cancellation City Administrator Edwards said the City Council at the last meeting had given direction to cancel the Holiday Tree Lighting this year. The proposed action would formalize that decision. The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Benson moved, Persian seconded, to cancel the 2025 Holiday Tree Lighting event. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. 10. Alcohol Sales—Compliance Review The City Council is requested to review the Staff report and discuss a compliance violation at the golf course that involved the sale of alcohol to a minor. The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Parks Superintendent Ruthenberg said the golf course again went over compliance training with employees and will suspend alcohol sales for three days as a self-imposed penalty. A card reader on site was not working,but has been fixed. When there is a violation,the employee involved is prosecuted,and the organization is also held liable. Benson moved,Ricks seconded,to approve the recommended fines and penalties for Orono Orchards Golf Course. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Page 2 of 5 itW O Minutes City Council Regular Meeting y Monday,August 25,2025,6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 fSHO CITY ATTORNEY REPORT City Attorney Mattick reported the parties are nearing completion of the Joint Powers Agreement for Fire Service. CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT 11. Hackberry Park Revitalization Project(24-028)Design Update The City Council is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation, and discuss and give general approval to the updated design for Hackberry Park. City Administrator Edwards said the park is not up to City standards,and the parking is inadequate and dangerous. The last remaining house purchased by the City was vacated in 2022 and demolished in 2023. The City prepared three possible park design plans. The updated layout has two options that preserve current uses but address the problems of parking and drainage. It is anticipated that the project will be done in phases. The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff Park Commission members Kim Carswell and Janie Delaney also had questions and pointed out that the Parks Commission has a workshop meeting and special meeting on Sept. 9. Council consensus was to direct City Staff to proceed with the design and fundraising phase. RECESS &RECONVENE Mayor Tunheim recessed the meeting at 8:10 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 8:15 p.m. 12. Annual Appointment Updates(Park Commission, LID Liaisons)—Resolution 7614 The City Council is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation, and discuss appointments as liaison to the City's two Lake Improvement Districts (LIDs) and proper procedures with appointing and possibly removing City commission members,particularly concerning the Parks Commission Chair. The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff Benson and Ricks volunteered to be liaisons to the LIDs. Persian moved, Schwingler seconded,to appoint Benson to the Stubbs Bay LID and Ricks to the Carman Bay LID. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. The consensus of the Council was to consider any changes to Commission appointments in the normal timeframe at the beginning of the calendar year. 13. Procurement of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) The City Council is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation, and discuss an identified need for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus(SCBAs) for the firefighters. The recommendation is for Long Lake to upgrade to the same type of apparatus that Orono Firefighters are using. Because a cost increase is known to be coming,both the Long Lake and Orono City Councils are being asked to Page 3 of 5 Q*140* Minutes City Council Regular Meeting , Monday,August 25,2025, 6:00 PM '�ESHO� City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 authorize the purchase and share the cost according to a formula. Orono's cost is projected at about $54,500 after trade-ins. The Council discussed the items and asked questions of staff. Ricks moved,Schwingler seconded,to authorize the expenditure of up to $54,500 for the purchase of the SCBA equipment. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Persian explained that the additional item he wanted to bring up was being cautious with purchases for the Fire Department as it transitions to a joint department, in particular, anything that includes graphics that would identify it as OFD, Orono Fire Department. Persian moved,Benson seconded that any purchase of fire department equipment that would include name graphics that would not align with the new fire department name come to the Council for consideration.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS 14. Upcoming Work Session and Council Training Schedule Benson presented a possible series of topics for upcoming work sessions/Council training and asked for input. The Council discussed the items and asked questions of staff. Councilmembers were generally in favor of the plan and will be asked to give input for an October session. 15. Council Committee and Board Reports Tunheim reported on the Fire Advisory Board Meeting. CLOSED SESSION 16. Annual Performance Review of the City Administrator Benson moved,Ricks seconded,to enter into closed session at 8:58 p.m., as permitted by Section 13D.05 Subd.3(a)to continue the Annual Performance Review of the City Administrator. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. (The City Council was in closed session from 8:58 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.) ADJOURNMENT Benson moved,Ricks seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. to Monday,Sept 8,2025, at 6:00 p.m.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Page 4 of 5 Minutes City Council Regular Meeting a Monday,August 25, 2025, 6:00 PM �� 6% City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 {,kssHo'C't ATTEST: Christine L , erk Bob Tunheim,Mayor Minutes approved by Orono City Council September 8, 2025. Meeting videos and transcripts available at oronomn.gov. Page 5 of 5