08-22-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, August 22, 2016 7:00 o'clock p.m. 8. #16-3832, CITY OF ORONO, LURTON PARK VARIANCES ORDINANCE NO. 176 THIRD SERIES AND RESOLUTION 6663 (continued) McMillan questioned whether the dog park should be open at dark. McMillan stated her thought was that it should be closed at sunset. Edwards stated the idea was to keep the park hours the same as every other park in the City, which is 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. McMillan stated since this will be a more active component to the park, the hours should perhaps be reduced. McMillan commented people will probably not use the park when it is dark anyway. Council Member Levang noted the park will not be lighted. Walsh commented the reduced hours seem reasonable, especially in the wintertime. Rick Meyers, Park Commission Chair, stated he doubts anyone would come there at night and that he cannot envision keeping the park open until 10 p.m. being a problem. Meyers stated other dog parks have set standard hours and it pretty much takes care of itself. Meyers stated those dog parks have not experienced any issues in the evening. Meyers stated if the Council makes a rule like that and someone goes there after sunset, the City will then need to enforce it. Meyers stated the Park Commission wants to make it easy to enforce. Council Member Printup stated he tends to agree with the consistent hours. McMillan asked if anyone from the public would like to speak. Thomas Sawyer, 3405 County Road 6, encouraged the Council to look at an 8 or 9 p.m. closing time since this park is different from any other park in the City and would be comparing apples to oranges. Sawyer stated if the early closing time becomes an issue to someone who wants to come at night, they can approach the City and ask that the hours be changed. Sawyer stated he would like the City to set up some reasonable parameters now that take the neighbors into consideration. Sawyer noted there will not be a whole lot of enforcement anyway and that the park should not be a burden to the neighbors. Sawyer stated he does not see a need to go to 10 p.m. every night seven days a week and that the reduced hours would provide some protection to the neighbors. Walsh asked whether he is asking for the reduced hours year round. Sawyer indicated he would like to see it be year-round so it is consistent. Laurel MacLachlan, 3565 County Road 6, stated she would like to have earlier hours. MacLachlan noted they are also neighbors to the gun club and that those hours frequently get abused during the summertime. Maclachlan stated in her view an 8 or 9 p.m. closing time is reasonable. ,MacLachlan asked where the wetland is located. Barnhart indicated the solid red line is the delineated wetland and the dashed line is the 35 -foot setback Page 4 of 15