03-10-2003 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 24,2003 7:00 o’clock p.m. PARK COMMISSION COMMENTS, Continued track, skating, skateboard track, etc. He believed the City could look to Maple Plain's successful BMX track example and other communities, like Mound, regarding boarding etc. Murphy asked how the City would handle liability, as this would be a big issue. Nygard suggested that staff speak to Maple Plain about how they handle that issue with regard to their BMX track. He indicated that moving dirt around to create a BMX area is an inexpensive option. McDermott pointed out that liability often is not an issue as long as you keep the ramps and things under a certain height. White stated that E.xcelsior has a small track off their south lakes trail, which is heavily used. Mayor Peterson maintained that many good ideas exist and that there arc options yet to be discussed. McDermott indicated that he would encourage others to take on the role of Co-Chairs. Mayor Peterson recognized McDermott for his past attempts to bring others into a leadership role and indicated that they could address this further at the work session. Sansevere stated that, given this was his first opportunity to speak to McDermott in person, he hoped that he had expressed his views clearly. Murphy questioned what the purpose of the joint w ork session would be. Mayor Peterson stated that the purpose of the work session will be to make sure both parties are on the same track, recognizing that in the past, the Council has given the Commission ideas and expected them to run w ith them, and they've done a good Job of doing so. To that end, McDermott maintained that having been given direction by the Council to pursue a matter, the Commission has. on several occasions, spent time researching an issue and presenting it to Council, only to have the Council say they no longer have interest in it. He reminded the Council that the Commission is a good dedicated group of individuals with good ideas whom, when given direction, roll with a project and often get shot down. He added that it would be advantageous to have Council liaison's show up for their appointed meetings. PL/\NMNG C03LM1SS10N COM.MENTS - J. Marc Fritzler, Represenlalivc Fritzler reported that all of the Planning Commission items had been on the Council consent agenda for the evening. He pointed out that the Commission's primary goal at their meetings lately has been to get people to justify their hardship. In an effort to do so, the Commission has been trying to limit discussions to 20 minutes, how ever, on many of the applications, the hardship just isn't there and the Commission ends up going back and forth on items. Fritzler maintained that the Commission is striving to reinstill the need to prove a hardship. PAGE 3 of U