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MEMORANDUM <br />TO: CITY COUNCIL <br />FROM: ADAM T. EDWARDS, PE <br />SUBJECT: PARK COMMISSION PURPOSE AND DIRECTION DISCUSSION <br />DATE: OCTOBER 26, 2015 <br />References: <br />Orono City Code Sections 22-32 and 22-33. <br />Park Commission Format, attached to Park Commissioner Appointments on February 22, 2014. <br />City of Orono Community Management Plan 2008-2030, page 4E-8. <br />Draft 2016 Park Focus Areas / Initiatives. <br />1. Issue. Some Council Members have expressed a concern that the Park Commission is not <br />focused on what the Council intended. Examples include the commission meeting more <br />often than directed, taking the initiative on issues beyond the Council's direction, and <br />concern about organization and efficiency of the commission. <br />2. Background. The Park Commission was reconstituted in February 2014. Since then all of <br />the commissioner positions have been filled. By the end of 2014 the council had approved <br />increases to the parks budget to include additional contract maintenance and the hiring of a <br />seasonal parks employee. Over the last year the commission has worked through organizing <br />themselves and taken an active role in promoting the City's parks. The commission holds <br />regular meetings every other month and a work session the alternate months. Further the <br />commission has developed a system of subcommittees focused on particular issues or initiatives. <br />In the maintenance arena the commission selects several parks each year to focus efforts on <br />while assigning two commissioners to each park in an effort to ensure all parks are maintained at <br />an acceptable standard. <br />3. 2015 Accomplishments. <br />a. Developed Beach and Park Maintenance Standards <br />b. Revamped the Park Donation Program (4 items donated to date) <br />c. Revamped the Park Adoption Program <br />d. Developed annual focus parks for maintenance and improvement <br />(1) Lydiard Beach (new fence, new tree, brush removal, swim buoys, sand on the way) <br />(2) Summit Beach (new fence, tree trimming, brush removal, swim buoys, parking lot <br />rehab) <br />(3) French Creek (Trail mowed, buckthorn removed, prairie restoration underway) <br />(4) Livingston Park (plan developed, funding approved, improvement coming) <br />e. Developed an information sign standard <br />