04-27-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 13, 2020 6:03 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 10 of 25 Crosby stated he thought the infrastructure should be done first and the toilet would be a major thing. Seals asked Edwards if the price was for a bathroom at the Visitor Center or up on the hill for Action B. Edwards said the bids solicited were for a bathroom by the Visitor Center. Walsh said it is 40-50 yards away so it should not be too different. Edwards stated during the solicitation process a lot of bidders had questions about the installation of the vault toilet and a lot of concerns about how to move that mass of material into place on an island with limitations of barges, cranes, etc. Another big concern would be trying to maintain a vault toilet on top of the outlook, as it presents a lot of unique logistical challenges, including dragging a septic hose through a protected wilderness area on the island, which he is not even sure the watershed would let the City do. He knows they can install and maintain a toilet at the Visitor Center. Mr. Rick Carter, 2780 Shadywood Road, a Big Island Legacy Board member and Park Commission member, said he would love to see the City go with Option A so they could max out the grant and have the shelter as well as the bathroom. He would be grateful for Option B and would hate to do less than that and leave more money on the table. They will continue to raise funds and hope to get enough money to take advantage of the remaining $28,000 of the grant. They would like to see the infrastructure, the trails, Visitor Center, and bathroom in place. They are anxious to see it go forward. Printup asked what the grant deadline would be. Walsh answered that the money needs to be spent by next April. Seals said she is going in the middle of the road. There was talk about the City giving the 501(c)(3) a loan, but she does not think it is a good plan because from what she knows, there is nothing to hold a 501(c)(3) to a loan. It would also seem unusual for a non-profit to pay back a City on a loan and is a harder ask. Her priority is to improve the trails. She thinks if the bid was for the toilet by the Visitor Center, the City should stick with that plan, as Change Orders cost a lot of money. She is 100% sure the watershed does not want the City dragging a “poop” line through their nature preserve. She likes the location of the toilet as bid because it is open and you can see it from the water. There are also cameras there and it is a nice, safe area. In the past people have destroyed things out there, and she feels better about the bathroom being there. If everything works out perfectly and the watershed is willing to have a septic line drug through the nature preserve, the City can build a second toilet, assuming the money is raised. Crosby stated he agreed with Seals as far as the toilet location because vandalism will happen, and it makes sense to try to prevent it. He is leaning towards Plan B. Johnson said he does not think it is a park without a bathroom. The question is, can the bathroom survive on the island. Having it closer to the dock and the entrance will help with visibility. He stated the question that needs to be answered is what kind of commitment can the City get out of the fundraising group. He indicated the City is prepared to contribute what they pledged in the beginning. The only variable that has changed is how much money the group has been able to raise to this point, when the City has to make a decision. He is leaning towards Action B.