08-13-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, July 27, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 21 and they are being advised by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, who will work with the club before any construction on ideas to protect and safeguard the lake. The program will stay within the same terms and practice times for juniors and adults along with routes and patterns which are rowed now. Approximate actual time on the docks for boats in and out during a typical week is about 7½ hours. Hopefully next year there will be up to eight weekends during the summer and fall when they are away representing the community in out-of-town regattas on weekends. They would require a long-term lease agreement for the land and a guarantee that the current water hours of operation on Long Lake will transfer under the partnership with the City and ensure the long-term viability of the club and facility. The club would also need a guarantee that should the City sell the property at Summit Park, the LLRC would retain water access and the right to continue its operation there. As far as benefits to the greater community, the club will fund 100% of the construction of the building, build permanent public restrooms, reducing vandalism and providing a safe, modern, more sanitary option for park users. The club will also provide a small resting and sitting area outside of the restrooms and picnic tables for public use. The club will help cover some of the costs of the City-proposed playground at the park. The club can offer more indoor community fitness classes and training opportunities to residents during the months of November-April. In an age of ever-increasing obesity, diabetes, heart, and other health issues, LLRC will continue to provide ample opportunities for the local youth and adults to help reverse this trend, providing safe, fun, and community-based physical activity and nutritional guidance through rowing. The club provides rowing as a low, non-carbon footprint, physical fitness activity for the City residents and community. The club will help preserve the lakeshore because when they launch boats, it produces no wakes. They will continue to promote the beauty, tranquility, and respect of nature to City residents and the surrounding community, because rowing is virtually a silent activity with no amplified sounds produced. They will continue to provide opportunities for the communities' youth to physically and emotionally succeed where they may have failed in other sports, continue to provide life-long skills of teamwork, discipline, commitment, and respect through the sport of rowing for youth and adult members. Title IX college athletic regulations favor scholarship opportunities of rowing for the local girls to attend colleges, universities, setting them on a path to become productive citizens who continue and enhance Orono citizenship and community endeavors. The club's presence in the park will help the City meet their stated goal of increased security. The partnership will also help the City reach their stated goal of increased usage of Summit Park by the greater community. The club is open to offering some free rowing opportunities during the summer months for Orono residents, and welcome the opportunity to provide special programming such as the Wayne State STEM rowing curriculum through the Orono Middle School using the Detroit Bubble Club Crew model. The partnership secures the presence of the LLRC for the long-term. In Minnesota there is a long history of public-private partnerships with clubs, including rowing clubs operating on public land. The Loppet Foundation partnered with Minneapolis Parks and Recreation at Theo Wirth and built a 14,000 square foot building. There are many examples of public- private partnerships with rowing clubs including Rochester, Duluth, and the Twin Cities. He asked if Summit Park was still a viable option or whether there are other locations for LLRC to build a permanent home on or near the lake. At the last Parks meeting, the existence of an abstract document for Summit Park property came up. He asked what Council wants or feels they need from the project for the City, for the park. What are the next steps with the Park Commission, if any, and what's the best way in the Council's opinion to correct misinformation about this potential project that is out there. He noted he is looking for the Council's feedback, suggestions, guidance, and potential next steps. Walsh stated some of the questions at the fire station from people were regarding the expansion of the operation, making it bigger. He said his understanding is the LLRC is not looking to do any more. He does not know how many people have been to Birch's and walked the hills or the lane in the middle of the woods to traverse the boats down the hills. It does not seem very appropriate, but that is the only place