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