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Home My WebLink About09-22-2025 CC Minutes Minutes City Council Regular Meeting .s ,, Monday, September 22, 2025, 6:00 PM 1y1� c` City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 4KEsHov-t 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,Finance Director Maggie Jin,City Clerk Christine Lusian,Park Superintendent Joe Ruthenberg, and Interim Fire Chief Shea Chwialkowski. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA 1. City Council Minutes 2. Claims/Bills This Item was removed from the Consent Agenda 3. Upcoming Work Session and Council Training Schedule 4. Hire Part-time Firefighters 5. Contract-Recycling Collection 6. Purchase Capital Equipment—Change Order—Brush/Medical Response Utility Vehicle This Item was removed from the Consent Agenda 7. Navarre Water Treatment Plant Electrical System Upgrade(22-022) -Update 8. Accept Resignation of Police Officer 13. Compensation Increase—Public Works Utility Maintenance Worker This item was moved to the Consent Agenda. Benson moved,Persian seconded,to approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda with Items 2 and 6 removed from the Consent Agenda and Item 13 removed from the regular agenda, and a discussion of Hackberry Park added to the regular agenda.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. PRESENTATIONS 9. Three Rivers Park District Marge Beard,local commissioner for the Three Rivers Park District, gave a presentation on the Park District and its facilities and programs. PUBLIC HEARING 10. Alcohol License Tunheim announced the agenda Item as a public hearing for an alcohol license for the Narrows Saloon and Lakeroom due to a change in ownership. Page 1. of 5 �Qo Minutes City Council Regular Meeting Monday, September 22,2025, 6:00 PM �� c? City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 7Kf5Hov-~ Mayor Tunheim opened the public hearing at 6:20 p.m. Jay Nygard, 1386 Rest Point Road,made a suggestion,neither for nor against. Mayor Tunheim closed the public hearing at 6:21 p.m. Benson moved, Ricks seconded,to approve the alcohol sales license.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 11. City Code Update—Tobacco Sales—Ordinance 316 Tunheim introduced the item as a City code amendment regarding tobacco sales that would prohibit retail sampling of tobacco products. Mayor Tunheim opened the public hearing at 6:22 p.m. Simon Forbes,2417 Woodbridge, spoke in favor of the amendment. Molly Schmidtke,Association for Nonsmokers Minnesota, spoke in favor of the amendment. Tunheim mentioned three letters received in support of the amendment change. Mayor Tunheim closed the public hearing at 6:29 p.m. Ricks moved,Benson seconded,to adopt the amendment to Ordinance 316.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Schwingler moved,Benson seconded,to approve publication of a summary of the Council action. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS Jay Nygard, 1386 Rest Point Road,provided comments. 2. ClaimsBills Ricks asked about an item on the Bills for a $9,754 change order that she assumed goes with Item 6. Interim Fire Chief Chwialkowski explained he became aware that the cost for changes made in June 2024 was still due and had to be paid before the truck could be delivered. He said some changes were cosmetic, but others were serious safety changes. Benson asked about a logo change item for$2,000, as it has been requested that these changes go through Council. Page 2 of 5 City Council Regular Meeting Monday, September 22nutes, 2025, 6:00 PM -se C* City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 t4kEsno‘`-- Chwialkowski said it had been ordered prior to that request and was a repair to cover unsightly rusting on the ladder truck. Ricks moved,Persian seconded,to approve the Claims/Bills.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 6. Purchase Capital Equipment—Change Order—Brush/Medical Response Utility Vehicle Ricks moved,Schwingler seconded, to approve the Capital Equipment Change Order.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. PARKS REPORT 12. Purchase Capital Equipment-Maintenance Vehicle The City Council is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation, and discuss and approve the purchase of a maintenance vehicle. The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Schwingler moved,Persian seconded,to approve the Capital Equipment Purchase.VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. 12.5 Agenda Addition-Hackberry Park Revitalization Plan Benson noted that there are eight days left before the deadline to apply for the grant and that misalignment between Council, Staff, and the Park Commission makes it a poor time to move forward. Administrator Edwards said the application is nearly complete,doesn't require a Council resolution, and could request up to $300,000 for sports fields. Most youth sports groups have provided letters of support. Ruthenberg reminded the group that community input on design is still ongoing. The Council agreed better communication and process are needed and no action was taken. PUBLIC WORKS REPORT 13. Compensation Increase -Public Works Utility Maintenance Worker This item was moved to the Consent Agenda. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT 14. Repair Capital Equipment-El Engine Replacement The City Council is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation, and discuss and approve the request to spend$37,000 to replace the motor in Engine 1. If repaired,the engine would have another 10 years of serviceable life. Page 3 of 5 VDAT Minutes City Council Regular Meeting Monday, September 22, 2025, 6:00 PM ti� c> City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 9Kf5Hp�� The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Ricks moved,Persian seconded to approve the repair to Engine 1.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT 15. LA25-000025, 1530 Orchard Beach Place,Variance-Resolution 7613 The City Council at the previous meeting had directed staff to prepare a resolution granting a variance for 1530 Orchard Beach Place. There was no further staff report. Schwingler moved,Persian seconded,to adopt Resolution 7613 approving the variance. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT 16. Adopt 2026 Preliminary Tax Levy—Resolution 7622 The City Council is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation, and discuss and adopt the resolution setting the Preliminary Tax Levy. The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Ricks moved,Schwingler seconded,to adopt Resolution 7622 setting the 2026 Preliminary Tax Levy and setting the Truth in Taxation Hearing for December 8. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 17. Adopt 2026 Preliminary General Fund Budget—Resolution 7623 The City Council is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation, and discuss and adopt the resolution adopting the 2026 Preliminary General Fund Budget. The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Benson moved, Schwingler seconded,to adopt Resolution 7623 adopting the 2026 Preliminary General Fund Budget. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT City Attorney Mattick gave an update on meetings to establish the Orono and Long Lake Joint Powers Agreement to form a new Fire Department and the unavoidable conflicts he has for upcoming meetings. Further details on contract negotiations will be given later during the closed session. CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT 18. No Parking—Maple Lane—Resolution 7624 Page 4 of 5 Minutes City Council Regular Meeting Monday, September 22,2025, 6:00 PM ( c?� City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 The City Council is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation, and discuss and approve the resolution declaring a no-parking zone on the south side of Maple Lane. The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Schwingler moved,Ricks seconded,to adopt Resolution 7624 declaring a no-parking zone. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS 19. Council Committee and Board Reports Persian reported on the Fire Advisory Board meeting. Tunheim reported on attending the Planning Commission Meeting. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT 20. Proclamation of Constitution Week Tunheim reported that a proclamation for Constitution Week had gone out the previous week. CLOSED SESSION Benson moved,Ricks seconded,to enter into closed session at 8:18 p.m., as permitted by Section 13D.03 to discuss the City's labor negotiation strategy related to the City's negotiations with LELS Local 168, Police Sergeants,LELS Local No. 40, Patrol Officers, IUOE Local No. 49 AFL- CIO, and OPEIU Local No. 12 AFL-CIO.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. (The City Council was in closed session from 8:20 p.m. to 9:04 p.m.) ADJOURNMENT Ricks moved,Benson seconded,to adjourn the meeting at 9:04 p.m.to Monday, October 13,2025, at 6:00 p.m.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. ATTEST: 011, Chr Asian,Ci 011F lerk Bob Tunheim, Mayor Minutes approved by Orono City Council October 13, 2025. Meeting videos and transcripts available at oronomn.gov. Page 5 of 5