05-01-2017 Park Commission Packet

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday, March 6, 2017 6:30 o'clock p.m. Meyers requested Commissioners Ruegemer and Johnson stay on the committee unless someone else from the Park Commission volunteers. 4. SAGA HILLS PARK IMPROVEMENT PLAN Edwards noted the Park Commission identified Saga Hills as a focus park for 2016 and 2017. At the last work session, the Park Commission reviewed and discussed ideas on a number of improvements for the park. The main difference between the two scopes of work is the amount of tree clearing. Option 1 is for nine acres of hilltop clearing at a cost of $59,000, and Option 2 is approximately 4.5 acres of clearing at a cost of $38,000. Also included in both options is the planting of the hilltop area with native grasses, clearing the trail pathways and around the parking lot, installing trail and information signs, and installing trail gates. Williams asked what the existing condition of the park is. Edwards indicated it is a passive park and it has been left as a natural area. The land originally was pasture, with some nice stands of trees that will be preserved, and the middle of the park has become overgrown with scrubby, volunteer trees. The overarching idea is to restore the park to its original condition, Meyers stated the parking lot has become overgrown and there are no maps to orient people. Meyers stated the Park Commission would like to make the park more user-friendly. Bryce Johnson stated the signs will help re -enforce the historic perspective of the park. Johnson noted approximately two-thirds of the park is covered by a conservation easement that is administered by the DNR. Johnson stated by reading through the document it is pretty clear that there was to be vegetation management, which has not been done, and clearing out the invasive species along the trails keeps with the spirit of the conservation easement. Meyers noted there was a big involvement by the community to obtain this park originally and that the Park Commission would like to maintain it. Edwards stated the two biggest pieces of either proposal are the clearing and restoration of the vegetation. Both proposals attempt to create a 10 -foot wide cleared area along the trail. That work would be done by STS, which stands for Sentence -To -Serve. Edwards stated the City has a contract with the County and the City receives so many days to use their STS crews. Edwards stated because the corridors will be cleared, gates will also be installed to prevent people from riding their four -wheelers into the park. Roath asked what the status is of the parking lot. Roath commented the parking lot seems to be a mud pit at times. Roath asked if there is anything in the plan to improve the parking lot. Edwards stated he has the parking lot listed as a regular maintenance item this year and that there are other parking lots the Park Commission would also like to see addressed. Edwards noted part of this project is to clear a 10 -foot area around the parking lot. Page 5 of 11