11-13-2001 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Momlay, October 22,2001 7:00 o’clock p.m. (#4 > Fores I Lake Lamliag, Coathnied) Flint inquired Mhether Dull was in favor of swimming at this location, noting the Park Commission*! recommendation dues not include swimming. Bull stated she would not have a problem if sw imming were not allowed at this location. Peter Martinson. 4416 Forest Lake, indicated he has recently purchased his property, and had he known about the access point, he would not have acquired the property. Martinson expressed concerns regarding the possible liability to the City if someone gets hurt at this right-of-wray. noting there is a fairly steep embankment to the shoreline at the present time. Martinson suted he would be in favor of the area being turned into a natural area, but is opposed to it being used for any other purpose. Sansevere inquired what the City’s liability would be if someone got hurt carry ing a canoe or other small boat down to the shoreline at any access point. Tom Barrett. City Attorney, stated the liability concerns would be the same for all access points with the City being insured. Barrett stated the City does have an obligation to moke appropriate access for the uses allowed. Patricia AlTcldt. 476S Tonkaview Lane, indicated she currently resides next to the park entrance to Saga Hill, and in her view some of the opposition to this access point is the “not ..< my back yard syndrome". AfTeldi staled the Saga Hill area experiences very little tralTic, with the park generally being used by the people in the neighborhood. AD'etdl stated the important issue before the Council is to determine whether access should be available to those residents who do not reside on the lake. Affeldt stated the City could post no parking in this area, which should alleviate the traffic concerns. Jon Blackstone. 446S Forest Lake Landing, slated the City Council needs to take a close look at their decisions that impact the security of any area, especially in light of the recent past. Ulackstone stated in his \ iew the City is not preserv ing this lake access fXMnt but rather developing it. Blackstone stated the access pi'int has not been used in recent years Blackstone indicated they do experience additional traffic in their ne-ghborhood due to the Lines residing in their neigliKuhood, and in his view this access point will only increase the traf c to the area. Blackstone stated he would like the Orono Police Department to patrol this area. Blackstone encouraged the City Council to classify this area as a natural area, noting the Park Commission was split on a four to three vote. Maisha Hickey . 4640 Tonkaview Lane, commented most Americans are in a higher state of security nowadays, and in order to alleviate some of these safety concerns, the residents in the neighborhoods need to get to know one another. Hickey staled in her view the only pci>ple who will utilize this access point are the neighbors, and that fishing at this site should be restricted. Hickey indicated it is her belief the people who utilize this access point will respect Lisa Mullin’s privacy, and inquired what will happen to Mullin’s well and deck and other structures if this site were turned into a natural area. Rich Walter. 4470 Forest Lake Landing, stated the issue for him is the suitability of this access point. Walter stated in order to make the Forest Lake Landing access point a suitable, legal, and liability-free PAGES II I*•