HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-12-2026 - Minutes - City Council WMinutes
City Council Regular Meeting
Monday,January 12,2026,6:00 PM
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,and Jacqueline Ricks.Members absent: Jon Schwingler.
Staff present were City Attorney Soren Mattick,City Administrator/Engineer Adam Edwards, and
Community Development Director Laura Oakden.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
CONSENT AGENDA
1. City Council Minutes
2. Claims/Bills
3. Upcoming Work Sessions
4. Tobacco Sales Licenses
5. Annual Appointments—Resolution 7656
This item was removed from the Consent Agenda
6. Contract—Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Funding—Resolution 7658
7. Election Write-In Vote Recording—Resolution 7657
8. Resignation and Recruitment—Public Works Utility Worker
9. Compensation Increase—Public Works Utility Supervisor
10. LA25-000051,4680 North Shore Drive,Variance,Resolution 7659
11. 2026 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Design(26-012)
Benson moved,Ricks seconded,to approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda with Item 5 removed.
VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Rick Rohrer, 1424 Baldur Park Road,and Jay Nygard, 1386 Rest Point Road,provided comments.
5. Annual Appointments—Resolution 7656
Benson indicated she wanted to discuss the Parks Commission chair and vice chair positions,as the
recommendation for vice chair had not been seen by the Council previously.
Benson moved,Persian seconded,to adopt Resolution 7656 annual appointments,with the
exception of the position of Parks Vice Chair.VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT
12. 2026 Street Project Design—Walking Trail
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Minutes
City Council Regular Meeting
, Monday,January 12,2026,6:00 PM
` City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356
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The City Council is requested to review the Staff report,receive a presentation,and discuss the addition
of an aggregate walking trail along a portion of North Arm Drive. Staff recommendation was to eliminate
the trail from the design due to cost,retaining walls,and removal of trees.
The Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff.
Persian moved,Benson seconded,to eliminate the walking trail portion of the project. VOTE: Ayes
4,Nays 0.
MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT
Lake Minnetonka Area Legislative Coalition Proposal Discussion
The Mayor continued discussion on a proposal from ten lake-area communities to jointly hire a lobbyist
to represent their shared interests at the county and state levels. The proposed annual cost for Orono's
share is$9,000,or$3,500 if Orono were to administer the contract,which is not in the 2026 budget.
Members noted they support collaborating with neighboring cities,but were not clear on how closely the
priorities of the ten potentially-participating cities are aligned. Feedback to the Mayor included concerns
about what lobbying services are not being provided by our current budgeted contracts with League of
Minnesota Cities and Metro Cities,what specific benefits the proposed shared lobbyist would offer our
city,and the process in which the proposed lobbyist was selected.
Mayor and Council provided reports.
ADJOURNMENT
Benson moved,Ricks seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 6:51 p.m. to Monday,January 26, 2026,
at 6:00 p.m.VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0.
ATTEST:
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Christi Minn,Ci rk Bob Tunheim,Mayor
Minutes approved by Orono City Council January 26, 2025. Meeting videos and transcripts
available at oronomn.gov.
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