HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-24-2025 CC Minutes - Regular Meeting Minutes
City Council Regular Meeting
AMonday,November 24, 2025, 6:00 PM
W City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
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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,and Community Development Director Laura Oakden.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
CONSENT AGENDA
1. City Council Minutes
2. Claims/Bills
3. Work Session Schedule
4. Contract—Code Hosting and Updating
5. Alcohol Sales Licenses
6. Resignation of Part-time Fire Fighter
7. Resignation and Recruitment—Brush Site Attendant
8. Fox Street Sewer Main Extension(24-044)—Acceptance
9. Casco Cove Rehabilitation—Award
This item was removed from the consent agenda
10. LA25-000042, 1840 Shadywood Rd,. Variances—Resolution 7643
11. LA25-000049, 1450 Bracketts Point Road, CUP—Retaining Wall—Resolution 7645
12. LA25-000047,Brian Peters, 1978 Shadywood Rd,Variances—Resolution 7644
Persian moved,Ricks seconded,to approve the Agenda and the Consent Agenda minus Item 9.
VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0.
PRESENTATION
13. Met Council and Comp Planning 101
Dr. Tyronne Carter,Met Council representative for 17 west metro communities, including Orono,and
Shawn James, senior planner,gave a presentation and the history and duties of the Met Council as a
regional planning organization and the role of local Comprehensive Plans.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Stacey Royal, 3135 Jamestown Road; Heidi Cole,3145 Jamestown Road; Charles Cole, 3145 Jamestown
Road; Tom Sawyer, 3405 County Rd. 6; provided comments.
9. Casco Cove Rehabilitation—Award
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Minutes
City Council Regular Meeting
A Monday,November 24,2025, 6:00 PM
City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
'QEs NO
Benson asked about trees that were going to be removed and replacement vegetation in the wetland. She
urged that native plants support pollinators and that Monarch butterflies be used.
Benson moved, Schwingler seconded,to accept the quote from TreeStory Inc. for$18,198 and
approve the oversight quote from Bolton and Menk for a fee not to exceed $3,400.VOTE: Ayes 5,
Nays 0.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
14. Navarre Water Treatment Plant Improvements(22-022)—Award
Public Works Goman presented the proposed award for the Navarre Water Treatment Plant water control
center,replacing equipment original to the building from 1971. He noted the bids had come in higher than
anticipated.
Persian moved,Benson seconded,to award the contract to Lakehead Contractors for$791,150,
including alternates one and three and the proposal from Bolton and Menk for construction phase
services.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REPORT
15. LA25-000044, Scott England o/b/o Barbara Lupient, 3220 Wayzata Blvd, Sketch Plan
The City Council is requested to review the Staff report, receive a presentation, and discuss and provide
non-binding feedback. The proposal is for a development of 26 detached townhomes intended mainly for
empty-nesters on Lake Classen in the Highway 12 corridor outside of the MUSA(City services)line. It
would require rezoning from rural to a higher density and extension of the MUSA. It would include a
wetland conservation area around the lakeshore. The Planning Commission was split on the merits of the
proposal.
The City Council asked questions of the applicant's representatives,Mike Waldo,Ron Clark
Construction, and Tim Whitten, Whitten Associates,Architects.
Councilmembers pointed out that the City is going to begin looking at the Comprehensive Plan again in
2026, but this rezoning proposal would be driven by a developer, not the City. They called the
development thoughtful but questioned whether the location is appropriate for higher density. The
consensus was that the City is not ready to rezone at this time, but would look at that site during the
Comprehensive Plan review. They encouraged the property owners and potential developers to participate
in the Comprehensive Plan hearing process.
16. LA25-000039, Text Amendment regarding Retaining Walls
The City Council is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation, and discuss and adopt an
ordinance amendment to the zoning code to clarify retaining wall standards and allowances with the
required yard setbacks.
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Minutes
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday,November 24, 2025, 6:00 PM
W City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
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The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff. Council questioned staff on clarification of
how areas considered disturbed for retaining wall construction would be identified.
Ricks moved,Benson seconded,to approve the text amendments regarding retaining walls. VOTE:
Ayes 5,Nays 0.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT
17. Agreements—Collective Bargaining for Local 12 and Local 49
City Administrator Edwards explained that the City has reached an agreement with two of its four
bargaining units and expects to have the other two ready for the December meeting.
The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff.
Persian moved, Schwingler seconded,to approve the bargaining agreements for Locals 12 and 49.
VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0.
Edwards also reported that the City's finance and HR departments have been putting in a great deal of
time on the setup of the Shoreline Fire Department.
MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT
Mayor and Council provided reports.
ADJOURNMENT
Schwingler moved,Benson seconded,to adjourn the meeting at 8:41 p.m. to Monday,December 8,
2025,at 6:00 p.m.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0.
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Chine L go ity Clerk Bob Tunheim, Mayor
Minutes approved by Orono City Council December 8, 2025. Meeting videos and transcripts
available at oronomn.gov.
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