06-20-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,June 20,2016 6:30 o'clock p.m. Thiesse stated the Park Commission had a public hearing. Council Member Levang stated the Park Commission went through months of planning regarding the dog park and that the Park Commission was brought back by Mayor McMillan and herself for the purpose of shoring up the City's assets in the City. Levang stated the Park Commission has worked tirelessly and has looked at every park in the City and has taken a number of steps to bring them up to a beautiful condition. Levang indicated she also worked with the soccer girls to lay the chips on the trai(s at Lurton Park, which is a wonderful asset that is not being used. Levang stated the Lurton fami(y asked the City to expand the use of the park. Levang stated the Park Commission worked hard to identify the needs of the City and the dog park was one of the needs. Levang stated the Park Commission did their homework and did everything they were supposed to and that there was no behind closed doors action here. Levang stated the process has all been transparent and the Park Commission has worked very, very hard to come up with a good plan. Levang noted Commissioner Schoenzeit does not have to agree the City needs a dog park and that he was not asked to weigh in on that. Levang stated it is the responsibility of the City Council to make that decision. Levang stated the Park Commission worked very hard on this and that she does not appreciate being told there was some behind closed doors' action when there was none of that. Bryce Johnson stated the Park Commission worked very hard on this project and spent a lot of time investigating dog parks independent of anything having to do with Lurton Park. The Park Commission came to the conclusion that an off-leash dog park was a very important need for Orono and the community. Johnson stated they had the discussion at a Park Commission meeting that was open to the public. In addition,the Lurton family approached the City and requested it be used as a dog park. Johnson stated there was no discussion from the beginning or any indication that the City would conduct this as a business. Johnson stated the Park Commission was not interested in whether there would be money made on this park and that the intent was only to try to bring some order to the concept. Johnson stated the concept of people purchasing a parking permit was studied by the Council and Staff and the Park Commission had nothing to do that. Johnson noted the City's park dedication fund has hundreds of thousands of dollars in it and it got there every time there was a new development in the City. Johnson stated in his view the park dedication fees should be used in the general area where developments have occurred and that a couple of developments are now being considered in the area of Lurton Park. The park dedication fees are only allowed for park investments and not maintenance. Johnson stated an off-leash dog park was identified as an important thing to have. The Lurton family has indicated they would still continue to support the dog park but that they would like to see the City put some money into it. Schoenzeit stated often in the Planning Commission meetings it is stated that they cannot talk about certain things, and in general that is wrong. Schoenzeit stated there should not be some prearrangement to squash comment. ___ _ __ _ _ ___ _ Page _ __ .__ 24