05-14-2018 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 23, 2018 7:00 o'clock p.m. 20. APPROVAL FOR BIG ISLAND MASTER PLAN Edwards noted at the November meeting, the City Council authorized Bolton & Menk to prepare a master plan and develop grant applications for Big Island. The master plan is a conceptual plan with cost estimates, including ADA accessible pathways and destinations through the park, dock area improvements, improvements to the overlook/pavilion area, beach improvements, and restroom facilities. Edwards stated at the lookout point, the plan calls for rebuilding of the picnic shelter, providing picnic tables, benches, some more signage, and the potential for a second restroom and perhaps a viewing platform for ADA folks. Proposed for the beach is a picnic table and scattered throughout the park are bollards for safety reasons to help limit motorized vehicles. Edwards noted the picnic tables would be more of a concrete/stone structure and sitting stones in various locations. There are some dirt trails already and the plan proposes maintaining those. The crushed limestone trail would be ADA compliant. Edwards stated the goal with any of the infrastructure improvements is to make them robust and as vandal -proof as possible. The estimated cost for all of the proposed improvements is $226,650. The intent of the Big Island Committee is to fund the various elements of the plan via donations and grants. As elements of the plan are brought forward for execution, each element will go through a project approval process to determine funding. Ongoing maintenance for any improvements will come from the Parks operating budget. As funding becomes available, Staff will conduct the necessary planning, coordination, engineering, and permitting. The plans will then be reviewed by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, the Parks Commission, and the City Council for approval. Edwards noted the white dotted lines on the map represent the boundaries of the different easements. There is a fairly restrictive conservation easement over the entire park, with the center of the park and lookout having a recreational easement placed over it to allow for some more passive activities. Edwards recommended approval of the Big Island Master Plan. Crosby asked if all the projects are in compliance. Edwards stated some of the projects will require permits and review/approval by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District since they are the easement holder. Edwards noted structures are not allowed within the conservation easement and would require approval from the MCWD. Crosby stated in his view the MCWD would be in support of the proposed improvements since it helps provide more access for the veterans. Walsh stated the Big Island Committee is very interested in providing more accessibility for the veterans, and the more seating areas that are available, the better. Laura Dunlash, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, stated the City of Orono and the Watershed District have a long history of collaboration in developing projects and partnering with different groups for significant public benefit, including the purchase of 56 acres on Big Island in 2005, utilizing some funds from the Watershed District and other parties in exchange for the easement over the park. The easement was conveyed to the Watershed District by the City of Orono to provide for perpetual protection of the park. Page 9 of 15