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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br />Monday, July 7, 2014 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. <br />Mark Palmer, 2450 Cannan Street, stated they reside on the lagoon and have their own lake access but <br />that they also enjoyed using the dock Palmer stated in his view removal of the dock is unfortunate for <br />the people who do not live on the lakeshore and that it has always functioned as a day dock only and that <br />no one in the neighborhood has been breaking that rule. <br />Palmer noted the previous homeowner directly to the west of the dock illegally rip -rapped his property <br />and a portion of the city -owned beach, which eliminated the sand beach. Palmer stated he is not sure why <br />that was never addressed or required to be moved. Palmer stated as a lakeshore owner, he is very much in <br />favor of the dock. <br />Greg Reep, 2440 Carman Street, stated given the high water levels this year, it is very difficult for elderly <br />people to get in and out of their boats. Reep indicated he has heard a number of people making <br />arrangements to pick up people at other people's residences with private docks and that the neighbors <br />should not have to do that. <br />Nate Boutang, 2431 Carman Street, stated he would echo Julie Gatehouse's comments and that the dock <br />was only used by the neighbors. Boutang stated it was nice to have access to the bay and that it was also <br />a selling point when he purchased his house. Boutang stated he would like to see the dock installed again <br />this year. <br />Peter Bluth, 2413 Carman Street, stated he lives across from the lake and that he enjoyed using the dock. <br />Bluth indicated the dock also helped bring the neighbors together and that it is unfortunate the dock is not <br />there this year. Bluth noted the beach is not marked and is basically only used by the people on Carman <br />Street. <br />Mark Palmer stated that dock has been a part of the Carman Street neighborhood for decades and that he <br />was very surprised that it went away. Palmer stated he would like his neighbors to have access to the lake <br />since a number of them do not have their own lakeshore. Palmer indicated there is no parking allowed on <br />the street and that it is not well known that there is a beach there. <br />Meyers noted Commissioner 'Berg is in charge of the City -owned beaches and that he would like to hear <br />her comments on the matter. <br />Berg stated she was not aware there was a beach on Cannan Street. <br />Gaffron noted there is a memorandum from former Public Works Director Jesse Struve which states that <br />he made a presentation to the City Council regarding the installation of docks. In 2013, Staff received a <br />number of calls pertaining to the use of docks at beach areas. Per City Code, it is unlawful for any person <br />to dive, jump or fish from docks in beach areas. Gaffron noted the City has never really considered the <br />Carman Street dock area to be a beach. <br />Gaffron indicated the memorandum also goes on to state that it is unlawful to dock any watercraft at the <br />docks located at beaches. Following the installation of the docks in 2013, Staff received a number of calls <br />pertaining to docks at beach areas and re-evaluated dock placement throughout the City. <br />Gaffron stated based on City Code, the use of docks in swimming beach areas is to stand on only. Many <br />of the docks in Orono were starting to require high annual maintenance. In an effort to reduce long-term <br />Page 3 of 11 <br />