03-23-2009 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 23, 2009 7:00 o'clock p.m. • (4. COUNTYROAD 15 SHORELINE RESTORA TION PROJECT, Continued) Murphy asked whether a bid has been awarded. Kale stated the contractor is ready to commence work on the project April 1" Murphy stated the issue with the restoration project deals with the unintended consequences that will result with the improvements. Murphy stated the Council will definitely be looking further into this situation to see what solutions can be arrived at and will keep the neighbors informed. Franchot asked whether the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District has taken into consideration the impact that a large number of people and vehicles entering this area will have on the restoration project. Kale stated they have taken that into account and that it can delay the establishment of the restoration work. Murphy reiterated the City will look into the situation further and will get back to the neighbors. Murphy indicated he does not know whether the work will be delayed as a result of the concerns raised by the neighbors. Moen stated in his view the work should be delayed given the issues they are encountering. Moen stated the City has a number of access points and that this corner is simply not a good location to allow lake access. • McMillan commented she would have liked to have seen this public hearing conducted earlier in the process and that the City initially accepted the Watershed's offer to improve the area because they felt it was in the best interests of the City. McMillan indicated she is in agreement with Council Member Franchot that the issues being faced by the neighbors should be addressed separately and that the City will need to take a very indepth look at whether the access should be closed and will need to consider the legal issues involved with closing the access. An unidentified resident stated in his view the angler path would increase the use and the closeness of the path to the lake raises some safety issues for younger children. McMillan commented she is unsure whether the improvements will increase the use and that the City will need to monitor the situation. Murphy stated the City Council is aware of the neighbors' concerns and that the Council will be discussing this more thoroughly in the near future. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS — RALPH KEMPF, REPRESENTATIVE Kempf stated in his view it is likely the use will increase with the improvements. McMillan stated Orono Orchard Road is also seeing motorists pulling over to the side of the road to access the trail in that area and that the City will need to look at how to best handle these issues going into • the future. PAGE 5of11