02-27-2012 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 27, 2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS Jay Nygard, 1386 Rest Point Road, presented a petition to the City Council containing approximately 100 signatures. Nygard stated the signatures were obtained from people over the age of 18. The first group of names on the petition is signatures from residents who live within one -third mile of his residence. The group illustrates that the majority of his neighbors are in strong support of the wind turbine. The second group of signatures is from random properties throughout the city. Nygard stated as he collected the signatures, he found it pointless to continue to further residences since 88 percent of the people he approached with the petition were in favor of the wind turbine. Even if you allow for a 10 percent margin of error with a random sampling, it is clear that the overwhelming majority of the people in Orono are in support of his efforts to go green at his property. Nygard stated there are approximately 8,000 properties in Orono, with around 5,800 who are of age to vote. If you multiply the 88 percent across the 5,800, that comes to 4,800 residences in Orono who would be in support of the wind turbine. Nygard noted the highest percent any of the council members received during the election was 55 percent of the vote, which is well below the 88 percent of support that he has for his project. Nygard asked if the majority of Orono residents support green energy products that fit into our community, as this wind turbine does, how the City Council can determine that they are fairly and honestly representing their community's objectives by denying this project. Nygard stated the City Council is on the wrong side of the issue and that it is time the Council does the right thing. • Nygard provided copies of the survey and questionnaire to the City Council. BIG ISLAND PARK REPORT - GABRIEL JABBOUR, CUSTODIAN Gabriel Jabbour addressed the City Council regarding Big Island. The map shown on the overhead depicts Big Island, with the area outlined in green illustrating the park area. Approximately one year ago there was a fire in the park. The City was to clean up the debris and raze the remaining city buildings to prevent future fires. Due to the rainy season last year, the work was unable to be completed. Approximately two weeks ago, Jabbour indicated he asked the Water Patrol if he could use light- weight vehicles and remove the debris, which has been done. The buildings have also been removed except for one building by the entrance to the park. There were some remnants of garbage thrown in the ravine that the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District had requested be removed. In addition to removing the fire debris and buildings, the workers also removed the garbage in the ravine. Jabbour noted they did find one picnic table in the middle of the bay and that has been brought to the Public Works building so it can be used elsewhere in the City. Most of the signs have also been broken off but will be reattached in a different fashion. Jabbour stated in the fall he, Mike Gaffron, Mayor McMillan, and representatives from Three Rivers Park District toured Big Island. The re- vegetation and erosion control design work has been completed. We are currently in the third or fourth year of the re- vegetation plan, with hundreds of trees being planted. Jabbour stated there was also a question regarding the possible habitat among the bluffs for the King Fisher. Jabbour indicated they were not able to find any King Fishers but that they are hopeful some will • migrate to Big Island and live there once the vegetation is more mature. Page 3 of 17