03-11-2013 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE • ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING , Monday,March 11,2013 7:00 o'clock p.m. (11. EVAL UATION OF OPTIONS PRESENTED BY RESIDENTS FOR THE ORONO GOLF COURSE, Continued) Levang stated the domain name is very important in order to build a brand and that it is a little complicated right now to find the Internet site for the golf course. Levang stated it is important to have the ability to build a separate web page from the City's website. Levang asked Struve to begin working with Hennepin County to obtain information on the additional signage and whether the City will need to pay for that. Struve indicated the City will need to work with the County on the size and location of the signs and also pay for the signs. Struve indicated he cannot guarantee the County will allow additional signage. Mayor McMillan opened the meeting for public comments. Marshall Hambro, St. Louis Park, indicated he has been a golfer at Orono Golf Course for 25 years and a 15 year employee at the golf course. Hambro indicated he has played on a course where disc golf was in conjunction with golfers and it was an unhappy experience. Hambro stated a possible revenue stream of $5,000 a year would be negligible in that the real golfers would likely not play again. The disc course could hopefully be assigned to a smaller park where it is a dedicated facility. Anyone who is a serious golfer would not go out on the course again since it would be a negative experience for the golfers. Hambro stated in his opinion the money should not be allocated to a study since it would be ill spent. Roger Adams,Long Lake, stated he has a letter from some of the volunteers that were heading up the buckthorn removal that he can leave with Staff. This movement started because Orono has this wonderful gem of a historic golf course and it is part of the Orono park system. What we have seen over the years is that Orono has not been putting much money into the golf course and it has deteriorated. Adams commented that volunteerism is great and that in his opinion the volunteers will take this a long ways. Volunteers have cleared the buckthorn and dead trees to the north and east of the golf course, which has been a good improvement. Adams stated if the place looks shabby,a person will question why they should go there. In addition,volunteers have been doing some improvements around the maintenance shed, south of the second fairway and north and west of the first green. Those improvements are currently in progress and the volunteers intend to work their way around the entire course. Adams noted they actually have had contractors look at some of the stuff that needs to be done on the maintenance shed and in his opinion that is a good place to start. The maintenance shed needs a new roof and siding, a garage door needs replacing and some of the windows. Adams indicated it is not a huge amount of work and within their group they have a number of people who work in the trades and have the necessary equipment to do this. Adams encouraged the City Council to take advantage of the volunteers. Page 16 of 27