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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,January 25,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> 12. HENNEPIN COUNTY SHERIFF UPDATE—Continued <br /> Johnson thinks Lake Minnetonka was exceptionally busy this year with COVID and they had a very <br /> successful year on the lake given the amount of activity. He noted during the week it was like a weekend <br /> for most of the year. <br /> Mayor Walsh thanked the Sheriff again for coming. <br /> PUBLIC HEARING <br /> DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER REPORT <br /> 13. BIG ISLAND PARK ADA TRAIL PROJECT(19-033)-INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE <br /> PLANNING <br /> Edwards said they have an opportunity,with the recent allotment of bonding bill money coming to the <br /> City, for Big Island to the tune of$300,000. In previous actions,the Council has approved everything <br /> that was left on the original project to include the second bathroom,the picnic area,etcetera. After that is <br /> done and taken care of,they are projecting about$59,000 to remain from that$300,000. The Parks <br /> Commission and the Big Island Legacy group have been looking at ideas. When they put in the bonding <br /> application which was on last meeting's agenda, it allocated all $300,000 so three items in that application <br /> were a potential extension of trail,additional interpretive signs,and odds and ends such as a few <br /> additional sitting stones. Tonight,Edwards is bringing forward the beginning of additional interpretive <br /> signage on the Island. On screen,he showed some examples of existing interpretive signage done last <br /> year and noted the interpretive signage currently out there is all inside the Visitor Center. They have <br /> created but not yet installed two directional signs with park rules at the dock and where the trailhead from <br /> the beach is. He noted the group wanted to look at getting some planning done by a professional; Mr. <br /> Rick Carter is here and they found a gentleman who does things for the Arboretum and some other areas <br /> around the state on interpretive signage. Tonight, Edwards has an attached proposal from his company to <br /> do an interpretive sign concept plan for$10,000 which would be the beginning of some of the other <br /> estimates on the rest of the project,assuming 10 signs which would be in the neighborhood of$39,000. <br /> Rick Carter, 2780 Shady Road, is a Park Commissioner(although not the Chair) but he is the Chair of the <br /> Big Island Legacy and thinks Edwards really shared everything. The project is going amazingly well, he <br /> appreciates all of the support,and Edwards has done an amazing job. When they get the last$15,000— <br /> which they will—and max out the match from the DNR they will probably have a project of around <br /> $730,000 with only$130,000 from the City. He thanked the City for the $130,000 and noted they are in <br /> the home stretch and are talking about a couple of details such as a trail extension, some stones,and what <br /> Mr. Carter thinks could be the star of it,the interpretive signage. He said if the Councilmembers have not <br /> been there,they can go into the building and look at the panels,most amazingly they have been <br /> untouched. He noted they went to the Arboretum and they have really well-done interpretive signs with <br /> foundations,steel posts, and really rigorous panels that will survive just about anything. The idea is to <br /> put 8-12 panels located around the island on the trails that interpret things have been there in the past. He <br /> noted this guy really knows what he is doing and this would just be for the master plan and once that is <br /> done it will come back to the Commission and the Board and they will hopefully proceed with the work <br /> this summer. <br /> Page 6 of 11 <br />