04-12-2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 12, 2004 7:00 o'clock p.m. . (2. ORONO BASEBALL ASSOCIA TION REQUEST FOR EXPANDED USE OFBEDERWOOD PARK, continued) r� LJ Sansevere asked Gappa for some ideas on what can be done reasonably. Gappa responded that screening of the parking lot may be possible but a lot of concerns over the years are directly related to snowmobiling noise on the trail which would involve the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Gappa stated the City could look at parking lot screening. Mr. Palmquist commented that screening the parking lot probably would not address neighbors' concerns because during game or practice settings their activities are on the field and not involving the parking lot. He stated that the snowmobiling use with its noise concerns is another issue. Murphy suggested that the city take some time this summer to see if something could be done to mitigate some of the noise concerns for this winter. Murphy asked Mr. Cox if this approach was reasonable; Mr. Cox agreed. McMillan asked Mr. Palmquist how long the OBA would expect to use the Bederwood Park field on Saturdays for play or practice. The OBA President responded that Saturday practices do not begin until about 9:00 a.m. due to damp field conditions and at Carlson fields the start time is normally 9:00 a.m. to about 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. McMillan questioned the OBA President about the use of the current concession stand. He replied that though there is a concession stand that has not been used for years, he recently inspected it, finding the concession stand to have broken doors and needing repair. There is no plan to use it. McMillan expressed her concern about litter and trash on the site. Sansevere commented that his experience with sports organizations involves the parents in the post- game /practice clean up. He was interested in knowing if any other neighbors had any objection to the request and what might be the objection. Murphy asked if the city has received any mail or letters subsequent to the city's mailed meeting notice to residents closest to Bederwood Park. Gappa reported that twenty resident letters were mailed, no phone calls were received and one letter in support with the concern about parking lot clean -up concerns was received. He stated that the city is often at the parking lot trying to clean it up as it gets a lot of use. Sansevere stated that whether or not the City Council approves the OBA request it does not stop any group from using the Bederwood Park field before or after OBA field use. This field is open for use and it makes sense for the city to provide sufficient field use for OBA. As a concession to the neighbors, Sansevere asked the OBA if Saturday field use could begin at 9:00 a.m. instead of the proposed 8:00 a.m. The OBA President indicated that they would have no problem with a 9:00 a.m. Saturday start time. Further, he offered to provide the City with their summer schedule for forty -four (44) teams from age 5 —15 years. He advised that this season increased 35 more participants than last year which added 2.5 more teams. He explained that OBA knows how to inform their participants on Page 3 of 20