01-05-2015 Park Commission Packet

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AiTActlmiw i 9 Excerpt from Orono City Council Meeting December 8`h, 2014 18. PARK AND BEACH MAINTENANCE STANDARDS Public Works Director and City Engineer Adam Edwards reported the Park Commission voted 6 to 0 to recommend approval of the park and beach maintenance standards. McMillan stated that until the City knows the cost of the buoys and the issues associated with the maintenance, she has a concern with including that in the standards. Edwards stated in the past the City had swim buoys at the swim beaches and that they were very difficult to maintain and keep in place. Edwards stated a definite concern of the Parks Commission was with the safety of swimmers and keeping motor craft out of that area. The Parks Commission's course of action was to recommend placement of a marker or a buoy. McMillan stated the City has discussed placing buoys in the past near Big Island but that they had a concern about maintaining them and subsequently elected not to install them. Printup stated he did receive a request from a resident asking that the buoys be put back in again and that he was happy to see that included in the standards. Printup stated the reason that stuck with him was the fact that it was totally unsolicited. McMillan stated she would like to see some further research on the buoys before including it. Levang stated she would like to know if there is some other way to mark or designate the area as a swimming beach, with no motorized craft being allowed. City Administrator Loftus stated the Council should also consider what the benefits of the buoys are and whether the City has lost anything by not having the buoys. Loftus stated she is not sure if that resident shared some lack of safety they experienced a number of years ago, but that the City has not had any buoys for quite some time and there have not been any incidents. Printup stated it brings up the issue of how well used the beaches are and that it is his impression the beaches are not as well used as in the past. McMillan recommended Staff take a look at the buoys Printup noted Finance Director Olson brought up maintenance at the parks and the need to trim tree branches. Printup stated just this weekend he sent a picture of a hanging limb to the Public Works Director and that it isjust one example of things that need to be addressed and how the City needs some standards for their parks. Comick asked if there are county or state standards that the City might be in conflict with. Comick asked whether other cities have maintenance standards for their parks. McMillan stated she is aware the School District has standards and that to her knowledge other cities do as well. Loftus stated Staff had a difficult time obtaining any standards from the neighboring communities and that typically park maintenance is part of the Public Works Department and is not always documented. Loftus noted this Council, as one of their goals, recommended a set of standards be established in order to get everyone on the same page. Bremer moved, Printup seconded, to approve Orono Park Maintenance Standards and Orono Swim Beach Standards with the deletion of swim buoys being placed in front of each beach. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0.