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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 12 of 14 <br /> <br />Ruegemer noted most of the letters came from the rowing club. The letters she received from neighbors <br />were 99.9% the opposite. The Commission has to look at the broader community, not just the rowing <br />club. The parks are neighborhood parks; they are meant to serve communities. She stated it sounds like a <br />very positive club and she does not know of anyone that says anything negative about the club, but that <br />does not mean it is a great fit for Summit. <br /> <br />Ms. Victoria Seals, 3620 Eileen Street, said she thought the process to get here is unfortunate for <br />everyone. As a Councilmember, she is looking for this to be compartmentalized. She is not worried about <br />the design. What she wants to know is whether it is good to look at a partnership: yes/no. Do the <br />Commissioners think this will expand usage of the park: yes/no. Are there things to figure out: probably. <br />Do we want to maintain the nature setting: yes. She said the LLRC is doing their best to adjust to <br />feedback and that feedb ack may put them in a doom loop. She asked the Commissioners to give some <br />guidance because it helps the Planning Commission, who will dig into it and give some advice. She <br />discussed the Commissioners’ views and noted the reason there are so many steps in the process is so that <br />things can be vetted. If she was the LLRC, she would not know where to go and what their next step was. <br />Basically, they want to know if the Park Commission is interested; do they want to go on a second date. <br /> <br />Carter clarified that this is what he was talking to Roath about, providing guidance to the Council rather <br />than voting. He requested Seals to repeat that specific set of questions. <br /> <br />Ms. Seals stated she looks at the situation this way: Do I think it would be good to look at this <br />partnership: yes/no. Do I think this will bring more people to the park and expand usage: yes/no. She <br />referenced the “secret” park and noted if it’s everyone’s park, it should not be a secret. She asked if <br />people wanted to increase usage. She suggested als o including some callouts/watchouts/lookouts that <br />might be important such as: make sure to preserve nature in a certain way; make sure there is a clear <br />division for rowers as opposed to people who want access to the beach. She stated when it comes before <br />the City Council, she wants to make sure she knows what was important to the Park Commission. <br /> <br />Edwards indicated most of those considerations are in the packet under “Considerations.” <br /> <br />Carter said he read the considerations and had a hard time answering them. In response to Ms. Seal’s <br />questions, he can support a partnership. He would try to keep it natural and create divisions. Yes, it will <br />bring more people to the park; but he is not sure if that is a good idea. He knows they have changed the <br />park dramatically with the closing of the road and other developments, and he would like to see that play <br />out. He reiterated there is a better process and he would support the idea of a second date, but he does not <br />want to have a yes/no vote on this proposal. <br /> <br />Berg said she agreed with Carter’s thoughts. <br /> <br />Klaahsen stated that she is supportive of the partnership, and the time the club would be on the water and <br />using the space is not prime family beach time. She is very concerned about swimmer safety and having a <br />roped-off area and boats being diverted away from the beach. She believes there would be more use with <br />the addition of the LLRC, including winter use and having a multi-use building with community ed. She <br />thinks LLRC sponsoring part of the playground would allow the City to upgrade from their previous plan <br />and make it more of a destination. She said Orono has a lot of “secret beaches” which offer no amenities <br />other than access points, picnic tables, and sand. This is the only beach that has the opportunity to become <br />more of a destination beach because it has a little more space. The City has an opportunity to put a <br />playground there, the rowers would be out there, and there would be trail connections. She thinks it can