11-09-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 9, 2015 7:00 o'clock p.m. 5. NAVARRE COMMUNITY FESTIVAL — EVENT RECAP AND VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION (continued) Levang noted the City is working with Three Rivers and Hennepin County on those issues. Suggested trail use improvements included waste bags for dogs, water, more trails to businesses, education on trail etiquette, and trail news in the local newspapers_ Nadler stated approximately 50 children participated in the rodeo. Council Member Cornick and David Trudell did lots of hands-on training regarding the use of proper hand signals and coaching regarding pedal speeds for maneuvering and stopping with their foot on ground. The goal was to protect the children from traumatic brain injuries and make sure that both parents and children wear bike helmets. Approximately 15 free helmets were fitted and given to the kids attending the rodeo who did not have a helmet. Volunteers from South Lake Bicycle made mechanical adjustments to the bikes. Nadler displayed a number of pictures of the event. Nadler thanked the Council for their support. McMillan thanked the volunteers and noted the City has received lots of good comments about the event. Council Member Cornick commented they hope to make it an annual event. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS — REPRESENTATIVE JON SCHWINGLER Planning Commissioner Schwingler stated he had nothing to report but would be available for questions. PUBLIC COMMENTS Steve Byrnes, 1025 Heritage Lane, stated it is his understanding that Item 10 will come before the Council in a couple of weeks. Byrnes stated as the Council knows, this is a topic that is very important to the neighborhood and that he would like to summarize a couple of the positions that have been discussed in the past. Byrnes stated instead of following the content of the developer, the residents have brought in their own consultant. Byrnes stated all along the neighborhood opposed the use of Heritage Lane for the construction and development access. Byrnes noted at the very beginning of the process, Planning Member Leskinen made a request of the developer to evaluate all alternative access points. When the discussion was brought back up, the developer presented up a very disconcerting map that said they would need to clear cut the entire side of the hill, the grade is too steep, and that it is impossible to have any kind of alternative access. Since then the neighbors have hired their own site engineer to evaluate the information and in their view there is an alternative. As a result of that independent evaluation, the neighborhood is now in opposition to the extension of Heritage Road and that they now believe there is a viable alternative through the Jacobs property. Byrnes stated they also uncovered some Orono documents that cite the right-of-way as being protected wetland. Byrnes stated that area of wetland between the two homes is deemed preserved. Byrnes noted their engineer has submitted some documents for the City to review that raise concerns ranging from the pollution control district, emissions, and holding ponds. Page 5 of 24