09-10-2020 Park Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Wednesday,September 10,2020 6:00 o'clock p.m. Roath said the Operating Budget shows a 21%increase and asked if they take away the re-categorization of the labor and the 45%increase of the minute-taking of the meetings,is there really a difference between this year's budget and next year's budget. Edwards replied there is not a substantial difference. Klaahsen asked what the percentages are comparing. Edwards answered the increase should be the draft budget for 2021 compared to the budget for 2020. Klaahsen said she's not understanding as$500 is not a 45%increase from$8,400 to $8,900. Edwards said he would double-check the percentages with the Finance Team. Roath asked how the Commission can provide value to the budget. Edwards explained the biggest way is by providing guidance to Staff on the level of maintenance and services provided to the park. If there is an aspiration that particular parks are maintained at a higher service level standard,as Staff prepares the budget for the following year,they can say"the City Council and Parks Commission has asked us to...."He gave the example of Big Island, stating they used to mow Big Island 1-3 times per year but there was an aspiration from the Parks Commission that it be mowed every other week during the summer; a standard changed and they needed the funding to provide that level of service. He said it's a good justification for Staff when they bring the Operating Budget before the Council to say the Parks Commission wants this or that. Klaahsen said she would've expected the Professional Services to have gone down as they reduced the formal meetings. Edwards said perhaps but the increase in the per-meeting cost has gone up drastically,noting he believes they were getting quite a bargain before. He clarified that previously they had an independent contractor doing the minutes and now it is a professional firm. Roath said plus his meetings last a long time. The Commissioners laughed and Klaahsen said the one with the Long Lake Rowing Club was about five hours long so if it's per hour then she understands. 5. ACTIVE LAKE ACCESS POINT REVIEW—ADAM EDWARDS Edwards said this item is one he proposed for consideration. As previously mentioned,there are a number of access points in the City and showed a map onscreen of the various lake access points. He circled in red the points that currently have a dock and put an X on the two in which there have been concerns from neighborhoods. Berg said she did not get the map. Edwards noted the map is not in the packet but just onscreen. He proposed a committee or group from the Park Commission take a look at the City's lake access points—in particular the active ones—and look Page 19 of 27