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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br /> Monday, March 2nd, 2020 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 10 of 14 <br /> <br /> <br />Roath asked Ruegemer if she had problems with public-private partnerships. <br /> <br />Ruegemer said she does not and a lot of times they work out great. It is a well-used park and this would <br />change that use. She does have a concern that the building would be 100% private and the City would not <br />have access to the building. <br /> <br />Roath noted he heard there would be access through community education for the general public. He also <br />recalled hearing earlier the deck would be open to the public and asked if that was still in the plans. <br /> <br />Mr. Burrell said right now the deck is not in the plan. When they reduced the square footage, they could <br />not get around potential liability and vandalism issues. <br /> <br />Carter said he has no concern about the club activit y or public-private partnerships. He would love to see <br />their community and boat club come to the Commissioners with a presentation to say why they think it is <br />a good idea. He stated if he had to choose right now between the proposal and not doing it, he would <br />choose to not do it for a lot of reasons. <br /> <br />Klaahsen stated she has no concerns with the rowing club. She noted Mr. Burrell has listened to concerns <br />and questions from the Park Commission and the community outreach has been adequate. She has no <br />concerns club-wise and the approach to the proposal. <br /> <br />Roath asked for input on the design/location of the building. <br /> <br />Ruegemer said the building has a huge footprint and the park basically consists of wetlands, which the <br />City is already mowing, and old-growth woods. It would take down a big chunk of old-growth woods. <br /> <br />Klaahsen asked how many trees would have to come down and whether any were currently diseased. <br /> <br />Mr. Burrell stated the original plan had 6-8 trees coming down. After walking the park, some of the trees <br />that would come down are either diseased or dying. The plan is to plant new trees in the park as well, <br />more than would come out. <br /> <br />Klaahsen asked Staff if there were any reports that could confirm there are diseased trees and if there <br />were plans in the works to replace them. <br /> <br />Edwards said a tree survey was done last year, and although he doesn’t recall the exact numbers, a large <br />number of the trees at Summit Beach are diseased. The City does not have a tree planting program. <br /> <br />Carter said if the Commission was introduced to the idea that there was an interest to develop the park <br />possibly with bathrooms, playgrounds, parking lots, and a building and launches for the boat club, the <br />Commission would get the right parties together, have an engagement process, develop a master plan, and <br />then stand back and take a look at it. Instead, the Commission is looking at a proposal from the boat club <br />and saying yes or no. He thinks it is a possibility but that it will take a lot more work. <br /> <br />Roath stated that, as a Commissioner, he is not looking to change or impact any of the current users. The <br />Commission has talked about doing something with the park for a couple years and would like to increase