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- - <br /> II I <br /> Orono City Council <br /> Committee of the Whole <br /> October 13,2009, 6:15 p.m. <br /> Orono City Council Chambers <br /> Present: Mayor Jim White, Council Members Cynthia Bremer, Doug Franchot, Lili McMillan and Jim <br /> Murphy; Finance Director Ron Olson, Assistant City Administrator for Long-Term Strategy <br /> Mike Gaffron, Police Chief Correy Farniok, Public Works Supervisor pon DeBaere, City Clerk <br /> Lin Vee, City Engineer Tom Kellogg <br /> 1. Big Island Report <br /> • Big Island Summer Institute—Melanie DeLuca and Marleane Callaghan <br /> o Melanie DeLuca and Marleane Callaghan gave a short report on summer activities of the Big <br /> Island Summer Institute with 221 students participating from 27 communities. The program <br /> operated from June 15th—August 20th on Mondays through Thursdays. <br /> o Measures of success of the program include returning students, participation of additional <br /> family members and positive comments from families. <br /> o The program focuses on stewardship of the environment with opportunities to study nature, <br /> wildlife and history of Big Island. <br /> o Emergency plans include providing weekly student rosters to the Orono Police Department, <br /> calling dispatch to contact the Police, Water Patrol and North Memorial for responders, and <br /> notifying parents. The Police Department only received a roster the first week; Deluca <br /> indicated she would follow-up. Two helicopter landing areas have been identified. <br /> o Institute staff is aware of inedical conditions and often carry Epi-pens for allergic reactions. <br /> o What's not working: <br /> • Need bathrooms. The Institute staff established a camp-style bathroom that was set-up <br /> and taken down daily. Although this worked, it limited some of the activities and <br /> participants. <br /> • The public leaves a fair amount of garbage behind. Students regularly carry bags to pick <br /> up trash and carry to the boat for disposal on land. This may be a training/educational <br /> opportunity for students to become aware of the related negative aspects, such as the <br /> human element, of maintaining an undeveloped area. Since removal of trash <br /> generated by the general public should be a City responsibility, Council directed staff to <br /> investigate options for trash removal from the Park. <br /> o What is working: <br /> • Curriculum works well. Students love the program and the experiences are a step in <br /> preparation for Boundary Waters trips. <br /> • The public, often families or older people, stop to talk to participants. Staff invites them <br /> to listen when there is an opportunity. <br /> • The Institute teaches and practices "leave no trace". <br /> • Some institute supplies and art are left at the shelter for others to look at. <br /> o Future plans: The Institute is limited in the number of students who participate because of <br /> boat capacity. However, this allows staff to spend quality time with a small group of 30 <br /> students for a week and really get to know them. <br /> • A suggestion was made to have Community Education consider purchasing a boat with <br /> toilet facilities. Funding would be an issue. <br /> • The Institute plans to make an application to use Big Island Park again next year. <br /> o The Institute has an artwork display and is selling t-shirts at the Discovery Center to make <br /> money to replace supplies. <br /> II� <br /> Page 1 of 4 <br />