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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday, September 27,2021 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENTS—Continued <br /> a new non-profit organization, Stand Up for Property Rights, Big Woods, and Wetlands. We are not only <br /> the Bederwood and Lowry Woods Nature Conservation area neighbors, we are the people that care about <br /> what happens in all neighborhoods in Orono and Hennepin County. Right now, we are asking for change. <br /> We are here tonight to advise all of Hennepin County, our local communities, and the media that our <br /> private and public property rights have been deprived. We are here to ask for transparency,public and <br /> timely property notices, and an equal voice in what happens to our public lands and how private land use <br /> is regulated. How did it come to be that the Orono advisory-only Park Commission gave the rights to use <br /> public land for niche entertainment that predictably led to trespassing on private property? This <br /> trespassing has gone on for months and months without stopping. How did it come to be that the Orono <br /> advisory-only Park Commission gave approval to carve up our Bederwood Park and our Lowry Woods <br /> Conservation Area without public notice? <br /> Mayor Walsh asked according to whom? <br /> Ms. Schmidt replied she cannot take any questions and said the City Council must refer to the City's legal <br /> counsel. <br /> Mayor Walsh asked if Ms. Schmidt is the one taking pictures and videos of children in the woods? <br /> Ms. Schmidt continued to read: <br /> This degradation occurred for months and months. How did it come to be that the Orono advisory-only <br /> Park Commission gave approval to go against our standing ordinance of no bikes in parks Section 22-93 <br /> by approving public mountain bike trails for niche entertainment? This degradation and frankly, <br /> disruptive park activity has occurred for months and months without public notice. Our organization has <br /> gathered over 100 signatures on a petition for an Environmental Worksheet(EAW) to review the existing <br /> and continuing damage which has gone on to Bederwood Park and the Lowry Woods Nature <br /> Conservation Area. The City of Orono did not order the EAW, even though we were told there would be <br /> further degradation to Bederwood woods and the construction of bridges over the Bederwood stream, <br /> specifically in June of 2021. <br /> Mayor Walsh stated that is not true either.If Ms. Schmidt speaks falsehoods,he will correct her. <br /> In May of 2021, we were told there wasn't a plan for the Lowry Woods Nature Conservation Area yet a <br /> Capital Improvement Project(CIP) is proposed for$100,000 according to the plan reviewed at the Park <br /> Commission meeting on September 7, 2021. To be clear, we do not want bikes in Orono parks except for <br /> travel to and from parks. We do not want mountain bike trails in Orono parks. We do not want mountain <br /> bike courses in our Orono parks. We do not want the advisory-only Park Commission making further <br /> decisions without giving public notice and adequate opportunity to comment from our neighborhoods. <br /> Accordingly, we are demanding that you dissolve the unlawful enacted resolution for the mountain bike <br /> courses in Bederwood Park. We are also demanding that you conserve our Big Woods and Lowry Nature <br /> Conservation Area and extend our existing tree ordinance to include protection to these old growth forest <br /> Page 2 of 5 <br />