06-28-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 14, 2021 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 5 of 13 16. ORONO MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM USE OF BEDERWOOD PARK – Continued before the Council tonight to approve the use of bikes at Bederwood Park. The Council received an email the previous week as there has been some discussion in the community. Mayor Walsh said the bike community has been there for a while, and they have been good citizens and doing their part. Seals noted the more people that use the parks, the better off they are as that is what they are there for. The mountain biking club has been at Bederwood for a significant amount of time and she met with them; in talking about being responsible citizens, the club was picking up garbage on the way back, and she said they are very respectful. Seals has checked and they always have adults/coaches just like any other sport. She has no complaints and said they need to be sure they mark off the boundaries so it is clear where the lines are. It is unfortunate that the private property that abuts Bederwood has had issues over the years as that should never happen, but that does not mean the Mountain Biking Club caused those issues. Seals also think when there are positive activities at the Park it actually deters the negative activities. Her viewpoint is that young kids with coaches in any sports activity create a positive activity. She made it clear that they do not want any entity going on private property and again suggested marking those boundaries. She lives next to the park and she can always pop down there when she is home. Crosby agrees that it is great for youth and adults to have activities at the parks. Johnson suggested having that line surveyed and putting monuments there to be respectful of the abutting property owners. The mission has been to get more people to use the parks and he likes the diversity of adding the bike club. Amy Antilla is one of the coaches with the Orono/West Tonka Mountain Bike Team, and could not say it better than Seals. They really appreciate the Council’s support in allowing the team to utilize that area and Bederwood Park and they hope that it all works out. She agrees it would be a good idea to survey the area and make everyone aware of where the boundary line is. Crosby asked how many kids are on the team. Ms. Antilla replied they have 60 students, about 40 from Orono and 20 from West Tonka. Barbara Schmidt, owner of 50 Landmark Drive, lives at the property that abuts the park. She would like to go on record saying that she has had a lot of damage and part of it is from the team. However, she also wants to ask that they look at the park from the natural side because that is big woods and the stream is getting destroyed right now and makes her feel bad. Ms. Schmidt noted they have counsel and have reached out to Edwards and copied Olson on some emails; her counsel is trying to get in touch with the City and trying to go down that trail. Mayor Walsh is not sure what trail she is referring to. Ms. Schmidt replied that her counsel will contact the City.