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