10-11-2021 City Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,October 11,2021 6:00 o'clock p.m. CONSENT AGENDA- Continued 15. REFUND 2010A BONDS—RESOLUTION NO. 7229 18. APPOINTMENT OF PARK COMMISSIONERS—RESOLUTION NO. 7227 Crosby moved,Johnson seconded,to approve the Consent Agenda as amended.VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS Barbara Schmidt asked for her name to be corrected in the September 27,2021 Minutes as her name was listed as Schwartz. She noted she would not be able to answer any questions tonight pending the lawsuit. Ms. Schmidt stated the police were called on September 21,2021 because of bike racing in Bederwood Park directly past the playground and park-goers that were out in the open.This call was due to extreme speed and the number of bikers in Bederwood Park by one of the local property owners(not Ms. Schmidt). She said they have evidence that bike practice regularly encircles the playground,and in one instance rode through the playground. She asked the City Council to see her legal team for this documentation.Mountain biking is,by design,an assertive activity and at times an aggressive sport that should not be taking place next to open soccer fields,little children's playgrounds,or walking paths. It is just too dangerous. When this whole idea of bikes in parks came up three years ago, one Park Commissioner verbally approved the practice in the park;the City Administrator said it was a"trial for youngsters."Ms. Schmidt noted the trial is over and said for"us"it is a failure. Mayor Walsh asked who is"us"? Ms. Schmidt replied it is the neighborhood and there are several petitions that state this. Mayor Walsh has not seen any petitions. Ms. Schmidt continued,saying she witnessed approximately 40 riders in the park at one time, it was filled and the parking lot was overflowing.Most of the youngsters were in high school and there were several adults taking up every square inch of the park at speeds that should not happen next to pedestrians.In fact,Ms. Schmidt was nearly ridden over by one of the coaches with a go-pro camera attached to his helmet,possibly filming every single park-goer. She said this is not a safe situation, it is an accident that will happen and they should ask themselves who is liable for personal injury in this situation?School districts?Ms. Schmidt stated they are not doing the schools any favors by setting up these collision courses to happen.The neighborhood and public parks are not racetracks,the parks are not public mountain biking courses,they should not be ridden in the dark with LED lights.Ms. Schmidt stated that Bederwood Park is a place to gather and spend time with families and friends, it is a place for Little Leagues,children playing,dog-walking, and where they meet families and friends.As Mrs.Carlson- Nelson wrote to the City Council,please find another solution to protect these precious woods,not just for us but for future generations. Mayor Walsh asked if Ms. Schmidt would call them big woods? Page 2 of 9