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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br /> Monday,May 2,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Berg wants to make sure that the community has looked at what they have here on this draft,noting that is <br /> what the Park Commission is looking at for recommendations on. It is very important to her because there <br /> seems to be some misinformation that the Park Commission is just going in and redoing the entire thing. <br /> She clarified that is not what the idea was,rather it was to enhance the park and perhaps put in a trail or a <br /> small playground. There was nothing that the Commission saw in that they did not want to keep this park <br /> natural and usable for everyone. She hopes the public will look at the draft with the idea of feedback on <br /> what the residents would like to see.As Mr.Jabbour said,they want people to be able to use the park who <br /> live off-lake. Berg thinks of these types of places as for anyone,not just those who live on a lake. She <br /> wants to clarify this because she had the feeling that people thought the City was going in,bulldozing, <br /> cutting trees and everything,but no they are looking at some small enhancements to make it more <br /> enjoyable for the public. <br /> Benson noted they have not surveyed the public yet. She is a new Commissioner but she has read over <br /> five years of Park Commission notes and in 2019 and 2020 several Commissioners were saying they <br /> needed community engagement and to survey the public which she agrees with. She stated what is <br /> happening here is not a survey first,but a master plan and engagement with an engineering firm. She does <br /> not know that the firm specializes in public survey. <br /> Chair Roath clarified this is an engagement to do a public survey. <br /> Benson replied it is an engagement to do a master plan for Summit Beach. She would feel comfortable <br /> going ahead with a survey if it was not attached to a timeline for scope of work. What Benson is hearing <br /> from the public is that they receive data about what the public wants in regards to the parks and then take <br /> that data into consideration for the master plan. Engaging with a company to come up with a plan where <br /> community engagement is three months down the road can make people nervous. She noted in Orono <br /> they have not done a comprehensive survey regarding parks since 2008. <br /> Edwards clarified they did a survey as part of the Comprehensive Plan in 2018. <br /> Benson thinks if a survey was done 4 years ago it is not current and she has not seen it but would like to. <br /> She noted this park has been hotly contested for many reasons and it is clear that it is well-loved. The idea <br /> that the City would not take into consideration what has been a rallying cry and continual criticism is that <br /> the community engagement can happen before the engagement with a master plan. She is in support of <br /> budgeting for a survey but noted other things included in the bid proposal and that it was not just survey. <br /> She asked if it can be a possibility to survey about public interest for the park prior to coming up with the <br /> plan for it. <br /> Edwards noted that is what this proposal is to do: public outreach with the end result of a report with <br /> some kind of recommendation for the process. <br /> Benson said they are paying the firm$19,000 to come up with concept A,B, and C,with public <br /> comments on those concepts. She is asking for a blank white board where the public gets to draw on it. <br /> Can they spend the money to get public input first? <br /> Chair Roath clarified 100% of this is to get public engagement. Period. That is the reason the Park <br /> Commission is doing this. If Benson wants to help shape that engagement and give feedback to the firm <br /> as they go forward,that is fine. He noted they are getting into the"how"and right now they are just <br /> Page 7 of 10 <br />