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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, September 13, 2021 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 3 of 9 <br /> <br />PUBLIC COMMENTS – Continued <br /> <br />Mr. Steiner replied he lived in Switzerland. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh noted people are riding bikes and doing bad things in Switzerland? <br /> <br />Mr. Steiner stated they were riding off-trail and as they began riding they stuck to the trail, and he can <br />only speculate, they look for more adventurous routes and it continued to degrade. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh said it seems like a lot of speculation. He clarified Mr. Steiner has been to Lowry Woods <br />five times and seen tire tracks five times? <br /> <br />Mr. Steiner quoted an EIS that was done saying that off-trail use can quickly lead to the establishment of <br />informal visitor-created trails that unnecessarily remove vegetation cover and spread non-native plants. <br />Such routes often degrade rapidly and are abandoned in favor of adjacent new routes which unnecessarily <br />magnify the extent and severity of trampling damage. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh asked what trails the document is speaking about or whether it is a generalized document. <br /> <br />Mr. Steiner clarified he has been in Lowry Woods daily for years and has witnessed multiple uses in the <br />last year, and five is probably an understatement. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh thanked Mr. Steiner and appreciates his time. <br /> <br />PARKS AND GOLF COURSE REPORT <br /> <br />14. Golf Course Event Fee Schedule Adjustment Request <br /> <br />Edwards noted a request from the Golf Course Event Committee to have a temporary reduction in the <br />rates and green fees this Friday. They are looking for half-price rates on Friday afternoon to coincide with <br />the event they are holding. He clarified greens fees are established by the fee schedule and is not <br />something Staff can approve. <br /> <br />Crosby moved, Johnson seconded, to approve the golf course event fee schedule adjustment. <br />VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br /> <br />15. Casco Point Ice Rink Improvements and Partnership Opportunity <br /> <br />Edwards said the City was approached earlier in the year regarding a partnership between the Orono <br />Youth Hockey Association to use existing ice rinks for youth skaters. At the Park Commission they <br />looked at two things: 1) what opportunities are there in the near term with existing rinks and 2) exploring <br />the idea of looking at parks and in the next five years doing a Master Plan to incorporate longer-range <br />planning. The Park Commission said yes to both. Tonight, they are looking at whether the City is <br />interested in partnering this winter. The City would invest in lighting the rink and install the lights at the <br />rink with a rough estimate of around $5,000. The Youth Hockey Association would bring in temporary <br />boards for around half of the existing Casco Point rink. The third part would include a partnership on ice