11-23-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 9, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 15 Johnson said the City already has the match for the DNR money, the $200,000 they received from the DNR. Edwards clarified the City did not realize the entire match. He noted one thing the DNR money does is to help get them to the match on the shelter; he stated a month ago the DNR was very upset with Orono that they were not building the shelter as part of the project, to the point that they were re-looking at the grant the DNR had provided, as they considered that a key portion of the project. He recommends getting the shelter back in to keep all the grant money available to the City. He said having a shelter of some kind for school groups and others is a positive thing, and there are people who go out and picnic so having those picnic tables for people to enjoy is a benefit. Edwards also noted two of the four picnic tables are accessible for wheelchairs and in line with the City’s promise to the Veterans over the last few years. Seals asked if they add the shelter back in, does that make the DNR grant match whole. Edwards replied yes. Seals said that would be the only change outside of the Bolton Lake things on the line items they did not realize that they would technically need to do. She noted this project has incredible “creep,” even at the first bow the City had to pay more than they had intended, so it is not that the residents of Orono have not dipped deeper into their pockets and that is why she is a little cautious on this; $100,000 becomes $300,000, becomes $500,000, becomes $700,000 and there are 20-plus other parks. Edwards said the biggest cost “creep” in this project is that it is a listed site with the State Historic Preservation Office so there is lots of archaeology to be done, and also it is a remote island so the City can be held hostage by the ability to get to the island and get bulk items out to the project site by barge operators. These two things have been driving costs. Johnson agrees with Mayor Walsh, that they should do it and do it right. They have already committed to doing the project and he is favorable in moving ahead and getting it all done at one time. Crosby likes the idea of getting the second bathroom in, as the land area and doing both at once would make sense. As far as Edwards’ point on the picnic tables, if they are entwined with the DNR grant, that is also an area they should move forward on. Richie Anderson, 3205 Crystal Bay Road, said Seals made a good point. He is able to go out to the island because he has a boat; other people in Orono without boats cannot get out there. It is similar to the LID, the only people that pay for the LID are those that are affected by the LID. He loves Big Island and it is beautiful and is good enough as far as he is concerned, although it is not his decision. He said if all the boat owners in Orono, Wayzata, or anyone else who uses it, they can fund it just like the LID. Mayor Walsh appreciates those comments but thinks that is why they have $500,000 in bonding and grant money from the state so it is a public/private partnership. Johnson moved, Crosby seconded to approve Big Island Park Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Trail Project (19-033) – Change Order. VOTE: Ayes 3 (Crosby, Johnson, Walsh), Nays 2 (Printup and Seals).