03-13-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 27, 2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. 17. BIG ISLAND DOCK PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT (continued) Walsh stated the intent was never to have a dock at Big Island and that the whole issue has never been a financial issue. Walsh stated it has never been about the $8,000 and that he would like to set the record straight on that matter. Walsh stated he does applaud the Veterans Affairs gentleman and that he completely agrees with him on getting a partnership moving forward. Walsh stated the whole issue has been more of a philosophical issue and that it is not a right or wrong question. Walsh stated what has been proven here today by all the different people that are here from the different parts of the community is that Big Island is a community asset and it needs to be inclusive of everybody. Walsh stated the philosophical part of that to him is it screams for a public-private partnership and that the intent was to see if there are people who want to give back to the community to celebrate this community asset. Walsh stated he has more people knocking down his door from different parts of the community who want to be involved in this and to give back. Walsh stated the second part that he wanted to talk about with the Council is looking back at that 2007 plan. What that plan talks about as well is having community participation and trying to figure out how to best use this island as a community. Walsh stated he is proposing to the Council that they form a Big Island committee of people from the City Council, the Planning Commission, the Park Commission, and as many people from the general public that want to be involved in order to figure out how we can make this island more accessible and usable to the public. Walsh stated over the past ten years what they have seen is vandalism, which has resulted in the veterans having fewer things to enjoy. Crosby commented there is also missing people and that he partook in a search on Big Island that took over eight hours. Crosby stated the thought was that she was probably murdered but she was finally found. Crosby stated at night the island can propose a problem, but that he agrees with what the mayor is saying. Walsh stated this is really about getting the community back involved in Big Island and figuring out whether these are appropriate docks, are there too few, too many docks. Walsh stated he is not a dock expert, and if you look back at the minutes in 2008, the docks were purposely configured for the Minnehaha. Walsh stated he wants to get as many people from the public involved as possible. Walsh stated he also wants to see how they can bring more visibility and attention to this island. Walsh stated he does not have all the answers on how to do that, which is why he would like to get this group together to figure out different ideas and how to implement them and how to fund them. Walsh stated there is a lot of people who would like to give back and that money has never been an issue. Walsh stated the issue is bringing it to the public since it is a public island and to let the public back into it. Bob Brown stated he is the one who referred to the City of Orono Big Island Nature Management Plan, which says that the City should establish a budget for ongoing maintenance and improvements. Brown asked whether the Council has already voted to remove the docks. Walsh indicated the Council voted to remove the docks and then they also talked about a public-private partnership after that. Brown stated he understands that but that the Council has already voted to have them removed. Brown stated the plan refers to ongoing maintenance and improvements of the island. The plan also says to Page 10 of 23