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) Cochrane stated the action that was taken at the last City Council meeting was mind boggling and that what came out of that last meeting was kind of jaw dropping. Cochrane stated in his view the Council and the mayor acted in a manner where they did not give a lot of thought to what they were doing. Cochrane stated it was pretty immediate the way it went down. Cochrane stated in the scheme of life it is pretty simple and that for every action there is a reaction. Cochrane stated in his view during the past two weeks the Council got a good sense of the reaction. Cochrane stated he feels very strongly that the City Council needs to restore the maintenance fees of putting the docks in and out and that it needs to stay a line item in the City's budget. Cochrane stated the City should not be relying on private donations for that since it is an integral part of the community. Cochrane stated he would like to see his fellow veterans and especially people with disabilities be able to use that park. Willie Pargo stated he has been listening to people speak about the convenience of the docks at Big Island. Pargo questioned the liability for the City of Orono if someone got hurt on that island. Pargo noted one life helicopter ride would probably cost the price of those docks and that he would ask the Council to rescind the order and replace the docks. Brad Erickson, 2160 West Wayzata Boulevard, noted that he owns the Orono service station and that his late father served during the Cuban missile crisis. Erickson stated what it boils down to is the City made a deal with the veterans prior to this City Council to keep access open in perpetuity. The City last year spent $150,000 to $160,000 to put the fence around the dog park, which indicates to him that dogs are important to the City. Erickson stated having heard what he has heard already tonight, he believes the Council is moving in the right direction already, but that he just wants to say that a deal is a deal with the veterans. The veterans held up their end of the agreement and that it probably is not legal to let them down at this point. If that were even possible, there would be a stain on the City as far as whether the City cares more about dogs and taking care of dogs than the veterans. Erickson stated he doesn't think so and that he would really urge the Council to reconsider. Erickson stated he realizes there are other problems with vandalism and such but that they should put on their problem solving hats. Erickson stated the City Council does work for these people whether they are Orono citizens or not and that they just have to figure it out. Bob Brown, Mound, asked whether the Mayor would like to keep the discussion going or whether they would like to vote on it now. Walsh indicated he will let the veterans go for as long as they would like to go. Brown stated the veterans were part of an organization back in 1992 to take over the maintenance of Big Island Park. With the help of Mr. Jabbour, the veterans took care of the island while it was a veterans camp. Brown indicated he has the City of Orono Nature Management Plan and on Page 26 it says, sites and facilities management goal, improve access to mobility within the park. Objective, provide docks and landing areas to allow for the public access by boats. Brown noted that is one of the goals outlined in Orono's plan. Page 6 of 23