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 thanked Gabriel Jabbour for his past service to the City and that what he has said underscores his point about having a committee talk about what is appropriate. Walsh stated he is not in the dock business and Dennis Libby is not in the dock business. Walsh stated this is about having the conversation about Big Island, which has been missing in the past. Walsh stated he would like to get a group together to talk about it and then document the conversation about what to do moving forward. Jay Nygard stated to summarize, Gabriel Jabbour is absolutely right about putting a residential dock out there. In addition, the decks are going to be disappearing left and right and the City will never have any idea who took them. Nygard stated the current docks are the best solution. Nygard stated what he has heard tonight is that everybody is frustrated with the Council for acting without thinking first. Nygard stated the Council can go ahead and figure out what might work better but that they shouldn't pull the rug out from under these people. Nygard noted these people made a commitment to this country and gave their word. The City of Orono gave its word to these people and it is time for the Council to make a motion to rescind what they did, which will honor your word, and then the City can work on a better change. Nygard stated he would ask the Council to make a motion to do it and that they can do whatever else they want to, but the docks are the crux of the situation. Walsh commented that was preaching to the choir as well and that he appreciates the grandstanding a little bit there. Walsh noted he has already said the docks are going to stay there. Walsh stated the issue is what is the appropriate dock and that this has been a good conversation. Nygard asked if he is saying that the City is not going to stand up to their agreement. Walsh stated he does not understand what he is referring to. Bob Brown asked for some clarification since there appears to be some confusion. Brown asked if the City has removed the current docks or if they are going to keep the current docks. Walsh stated that was the discussion about whether they are the appropriate docks. Brown asked if they are going to keep the current docks if this is not resolved. Brown stated the current docks are really nice docks. Brown asked why this is an issue and why they are thinking of removing the docks. Walsh stated the docks are not there right now since this is winter. Walsh stated they are not talking about not putting the docks there and that he has already made that statement. Walsh stated it is more about the conversation if these are the appropriate docks. Walsh stated if you go back and read the minutes from 2008, the purpose of the docks was to accommodate the Minnehaha; and if they are the appropriate docks, then they stay. Walsh stated that's why he wants to put together a committee to discuss it. Jabbour stated it is painfully obvious that they have already made up their mind and that there is a plan that has been articulated by Mr. Libby. Jabbour stated he heard it a few days ago at the LMA and that in his view they may have violated the open meeting law by doing that. Jabbour stated he does not understand it. Life went wonderful for 11 years. Jabbour noted he was the custodian of the island during Page 12 of 23