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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,April 23,2018 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> 20. APPROVAL FOR BIG ISLAND MASTER PLAN <br /> Edwards noted at the November meeting,the City Council authorized Bolton&Menk to prepare a master <br /> plan and develop grant applications for Big Island. The master plan is a conceptual plan with cost <br /> estimates,including ADA accessible pathways and destinations through the park,dock area <br /> improvements,improvements to the overlook/pavilion area,beach improvements,and restroom facilities. <br /> Edwards stated at the lookout point,the plan calls for rebuilding of the picnic shelter,providing picnic <br /> tables,benches, Some more signage,and the potential for a second restroom and perhaps a viewing <br /> platform for A13,&folks. Proposed for the beach is a picnic table and scattered throughout the park are <br /> bollards for safe y reasons to help limit motorized vehicles. Edwards noted the picnic tables would be <br /> more of a concr:te/stone structure and sitting stones in various locations. There are some dirt trails <br /> already and the Ulan proposes maintaining those. The crushed limestone trail would be ADA compliant. <br /> Edwards stated t e goal with any of the infrastructure improvements is to make them robust and as <br /> vandal-proof as .ossible. <br /> The estimated cost for all of the proposed improvements is$226,650. The intent of the Big Island <br /> Committee is to and the various elements of the plan via donations and grants. As elements of the plan <br /> are brought fo and for execution,each element will go through a project approval process to determine <br /> funding. Ongoi g maintenance for any improvements will come from the Parks operating budget. As <br /> funding become. available, Staff will conduct the necessary planning,coordination,engineering,and <br /> permitting. The Is will then be reviewed by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District,the Parks <br /> Commission,ani the City Council for approval. <br /> Edwards noted t e white dotted lines on the map represent the boundaries of the different easements. <br /> There is a fairly estrictive conservation easement over the entire park,with the center of the park and <br /> lookout having . recreational easement placed over it to allow for some more passive activities. <br /> Edwards recom ended approval of the Big Island Master Plan. <br /> Crosby asked if;11 the projects are in compliance. <br /> Edwards stated .me of the projects will require permits and review/approval by the Minnehaha Creek <br /> Watershed Dis ct since they are the easement holder. Edwards noted structures are not allowed within <br /> the conservation easement and would require approval from the MCWD. <br /> Crosby stated in I is view the MCWD would be in support of the proposed improvements since it helps <br /> provide more ac'ess for the veterans. <br /> Walsh stated the Big Island Committee is very interested in providing more accessibility for the veterans, <br /> and the more se. ing areas that are available,the better. <br /> Laura Dunlash, innehaha Creek Watershed District,stated the City of Orono and the Watershed District <br /> have a long history of collaboration in developing projects and partnering with different groups for <br /> significant publi i benefit,including the purchase of 56 acres on Big Island in 2005,utilizing some funds <br /> from the Waters u ed District and other parties in exchange for the easement over the park. The easement <br /> was conveyed to the Watershed District by the City of Orono to provide for perpetual protection of the <br /> park. <br /> Page 9 of 15 <br />