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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-2022 Park Commission Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday February 7,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono Park Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chair Brian Roath, Commissioners Rick Carter, Casey Conrad Hudson, Gordy Stofer,Kjersti Duval, Janice Berg, and Taylor Stephens. Representing Staff was Adam Edwards and Parks and Golf Course Superintendent Josh Lemons. Chair Roath called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 1,2021. Berg moved, Carter seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission meeting of November 1,2021.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENT Alisa Benson, 1220 Lyman Avenue, shared in November regarding a natural playground and wants to reiterate that she is a resource and has lots of information for anyone interested. She is also very pleased to be interviewing later in the month for the Park Commission. Barbara Schmidt, 50 Landmark Drive, cannot take any questions or answer any comments because of the case and made a brief statement: Citizens of Orono,for over three years this Park Commission and City Council have knowingly broken municipal laws. First Ordinance 22-114,no bikes in parks,has been broken in Bederwood Park and Lowry Woods. Because there is so much evidence, Orono School District 278 has been named in the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act case. Second,the Park Commission knowingly broke Minnesota trespass law 609.605 for years. Ms. Schmidt said they told children to ride over private property to Lowry Woods past a City of Orono sign that said"no bikes."They were encouraged to cut trails and cut on private property behind Bederwood and Lowry Woods. Third,this Park Commission encouraged snowmobile riding in Bederwood Park this winter which is against Ordinance 22-144,no motorized vehicles in parks. On September 12, 2021,the Orono police were called to Bederwood Park and found one of the coaches from the mountain bike team taking four snowmobiles all through Bederwood. Identified as Mr. Chris Clover,Ms. Schmidt stated that he was overheard telling the Orono police that the team had been given Bederwood Park for their use and that it was okay to ride there. She said snowmobiles have ridden consistently through Bederwood this winter and regularly over the soccer field, as well.Most egregiously, children have learned that breaking laws and damaging public property is condoned by school officials and City Hall. Ms. Schmidt said a few weeks ago a known mountain biker was seen plotting race courses for construction in Bederwood. She shared that hundreds of residents have signed petitions to stop bikes in parks and asked the Commissioners to please stand up for parks and stand up for Orono. Chair Roath noted those comments are very disappointing to hear and will say for the record that he has reached out to Ms. Schmidt several times, she personally has his phone number, and he has wanted to talk about anything over the past two years. He has invited her to come out and walk the parks with him. Bill Knapp, 85 Cristofori Circle, lives just east of Lowry Woods and is here in strong opposition to the mountain biking project being proposed. He spoke with City Administrator Edwards early in 2021 and at that time was assured there were no plans to make any access to the woods or any biking projects in the area. He then received a proposal by John Withrow,the mountain bike coach for Orono saying in the fall Page 1 of 6 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday February 7,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. of 2020 in coordination with the Orono Parks Department,the Orono Bike West Tonka MTB team had a 6-week trial period of using mountain bikes in Lowry Woods. Mr.Knapp said to his knowledge there was no notice given to the public about the matter.He would like to see more transparency between the Parks Department and the neighbors in the area so when there are meetings,proposals,etc.,they are advised of it and can read them.He purchased his property and built the house in 1996—just a couple of years after the nature conservancy had given the property to the City of Orono with contingencies.Mr.Knapp read a few sentences from a document: the land shall be permanently maintained as a park or natural area in its predominantly natural and wooded condition. Use of the land shall be restricted to scientific, educational, recreational, and aesthetic uses, not in conflict with the land's natural and wooded condition. Mr.Knapp noted the term"natural condition" is used six times in the letter and they can see it is very important to the nature conservancy that it is adhered to.He noted it does not seem to be what mountain biking is all about because the proposal calls for making trails and moving earth to make banked, sharp corners. Mr.Knapp has not seen natural trails in a walking park that are natural sharp corners.He is asking for more transparency and to talk about it because neighbors on the east side of the park are very interested in keeping the nature of it. Eleanor Winston, 765 Spring Hill Road,would like to talk about Summit Beach Park. In 2019 she was at a Park Commission meeting when it was brought up to allow the Long Lake Rowing Club (LLRC)to put in a building or clubhouse. She re-read the minutes from that meeting today and noted it was a preliminary meeting and residents expected to have more time to hear about it and bring input but have heard little about it until about a month ago when it was at the Planning Commission.Ms. Winston cannot remember whether the Park Commission heard enough about it to pass it up the line,but her understanding was that this was preliminary. She knows the Orono City Council is interested in planning for the parks,planning for the use,public-private partnerships; however all parks in Orono are not the same. While Bederwood lends itself to playing baseball and structured activities, some of the parks are more natural areas,especially the Summit Beach Park which is very small. When the LLRC wants to set a huge building into the hill,Ms. Winston noted there are several ecosystems there and it is a very quiet and popular place in the summer for picnics, swimming, and enjoying the lake.Ms. Winston is concerned that letting a group that is quite active in the summer with classes that the little park cannot take that use. She thought that residents would have a more time to talk, develop, and hear the plans for the LLRC and see how they could come to some kind of an agreement and that never happened which is upsetting. Jim Dustrude, 2001 Arbor Lane in Mound,heard about Summit Park and has a strong desire to keep it as close to what it currently is as possible.It seems like a big building and parking lot would pretty much decimate that small area.Part of his concern is the amount of traffic it would attract and he feels it would be fairly catastrophic to the park and to two of his favorite roads: Old Long Lake Road and East Long Lake Road. He would like to help find another place for LLRC and thinks the current place they are using would be a good multi-use option or alternative. Elizabeth Weir, 725 Bridgewater Drive, is here regarding Summit Park and would urge the Commissioners to think about the spirit in which the park was donated to the people of Orono.In 1980, Bruce Dayton gave the park to help keep the east end of Long Lake peaceful and in its natural condition which is all attested to by his brothers and the younger generation of the Dayton family. What might be legal is one thing and what might the appropriate thing to do is another.Ms. Weir knows the role is to make sure the parks are well-used and noted this little park has been well-used for a generation or two. Yelena, 10886 Glacier Lane North,Maple Grove,would like to repeat what Ms. Weir said noting her family has used the park for 30+years and her mother swims at the park every morning and evening in Page 2 of 6 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday February 7,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. the summer. She also takes her son there and it is really valuable to the community,noting many people have picnics there and it is the one place that is tiny and she drives 30-40 minutes from Maple Grove just to use the park. Many people in the community use it for picnics and would love to see it stay small, cute, and public. Fergus Weir, 710 Gander Road, wants to echo almost everyone that has been speaking about Summit Park and keeping the spirit of the Daytons,keeping it natural,and not having a structure on it. He said the west end of Long Lake where boats are coming in has a small Frisbee park would seem to be a better place to have a structure that could house the boats for the LLRC. Chair Roath noted that is a different City. Mr. Weir thanked Chair Roath for the clarification and noted he would like to see Summit Park stay natural without a structure. Jim Dustrude,2001 Arbor Lane in Mound, loves seeing the rowers out on Long Lake, it is a wonderful thing, and it is something to support somehow. Greg White,2185 Grand Avenue, agrees with everyone,he started learning about what is going on with the lake,but does not understand how the rowing club figures it has to come in at Summit Park. With the Committee that Councilmember Victoria Seals started because of the social media and clarifying what is true or untrue,Mr. White's concern is how will Ms. Seals tell this committee what is going on and go back-and-forth with that information?He agrees it is nice for the LLRC to be out on the lake but he does not understand how there cannot be something different for them. How can it be justified that they need to put this building in, even though the LLRC says certain things will be for the public? He does not understand the reason. Eleanor Winston, 765 Spring Hill Road,would also encourage the Park Commission to look at a natural playground as it would fit so nicely as opposed to bright colors and other things. Chair Roath closed the public comment time and shared with the public to get some facts straight. He noted the Park Commission has not taken the matter of the LLRC up for two years.In March 2020 there was"somewhat of a proposal"to consider, but it had so many unknowns,had not been fleshed out,there were other entities within Orono that had not weighed in, and at the time the Commission said it was really too soon to say anything. Looking back at the minutes,the Park Commission noted they did not have enough to either support it or deny it and that is where it stands today. It has not come back to the Park Commission and it may never come back to them.It has moved on and up to other entities outside of the Park Commission. He clarified the Park Commission is an advisory committee to the City Council and right now Ms. Seals is going to start a cross-functional group to respond to any future proposal that comes from the rowing club. Chair Roath noted that as of right now there is not even a proposal on the table. It is not currently, and may never be on the Park Commission's docket,but he appreciates everyone's comments and they have been noted for the City Council and for the City of Orono. Regarding Lowry Woods,there is no consideration right now,nor has there been since November 2020 to have mountain bikes in Lowry Woods. Chair Roath stated bikers do not even currently have access to Lowry Woods, so there is nothing that the Park Commission is considering or will be considering in the near future about that. Page 3 of 6 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday February 7,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. Rick Carter,the Trails Committee Chair and Lowry Park Commissioner,noted they do have a goal to create public access from the Luce Line to Lowry Woods but clarified there is no plan to consider mountain biking in Lowry Woods. He is happy to talk to any of the public at any time and they can reach out to him. Chair Roath clarified that enforcement is done by the police department. PARKS COMMISSION COMMITTEES & GOALS UPDATE a.Park Commission Assignments Update Chair Roath noted every year they go through the goals of the Park Commission and assign parks to each Commissioner. The Commissioners discussed Park assignments. b.Park Commission Goals Update Chair Roath noted the next item is the goals, and during the work session in January the Commissioners came up with sub-committees and the focus for the year and filled out the goals. The Commissioners discussed the Park Commission goals for 2022, making adjustments to the Commissioners' assignments on the document and making corrections. Carter moved,Duval seconded,to adopt the 2022 Park Commission Goals. VOTE: Ayes 7,Nays 0. Roath moved,Carter seconded,to accept the 2022 Park Commission Meeting Calendar. VOTE: Ayes 7,Nays 0. STAFF REPORTS a.Parks Update Parks and Golf Course Superintendent Josh Lemons noted it has been a busy winter so far with snow almost every weekend. Plowing takes care of sidewalks,trails,parking lots, and the skating rink at Casco. Staff is going through golf course equipment and getting ready for the upcoming season,they have gone through preventative maintenance, and ordered new team wear. He noted the new parks employee Jack has been a great addition. Berg agreed that Jack has been great. Mr.Lemons shared about the dredging of the golf course pond which is shallow and full of muck and will give a much better product on the golf course to pull water without pulling muck through the lines. He noted the new ice rink is a lot of fun with many kids using it. b.Projects Update City Administrator/City Engineer Edwards shared engineering updates including the finishing and closing out of the Big Island ADA trail and that all various grant monies for the project have been received. The project came in at$705,090 most of which came in with grants and donations. Other Big Island Page 4of6 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday February 7,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. improvements include some new picnic tables and security cameras. Crystal Bay playground improvement quotes have been received and will be brought to the City Council in February. They are also looking at lake access points and Resolutions associated with those, and also at some potential opportunities at those lake access points. SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS Golf Course Rebranding a. Commissioner Stofer presentation Commissioner Stofer lives across the street from the golf course and loves it. The idea of a rebrand is rooted in ways to make things better,noting for anyone involved in the current logo it is a fine logo but he thinks it may be time to change and update. Mr. Stofer gave the history of the golf course and its names and noted conversations around the golf course have included how to utilize it more year-round with cross-country skiing trails, sledding, and other activities. Mr. Stofer thinks changing the name back to the original name of Orono Orchards Golf Course with a new logo is well-timed,particularly as they approach the 100-year anniversary of the course in 2024.New branding and marketing efforts would include social media channels,a new website, consistent marketing messages, and other ways to keep people coming to the golf course. Cost is estimated to be around$5,000-7,500. He showed some logo options done pro bono by contacts of his and suggested one in particular, showing examples of what apparel,tee flags, and signage might look like. Edwards clarified the process of renaming a park rests on the City Council so the Park Commission would vote at some point on the preferred option and Staff would then bring it to the City Council. b. Name change proposal The Commissioners discussed the branding,name change, and suggested timeline. Roath moved,Duval seconded,that the Orono Park Commission recommends to the City Council that the golf course name be changed to Orono Orchards Golf Course beginning on January 1,2023.VOTE: Ayes 7,Nays 0. c. Provide updated logo and propose changes The Commissioners discussed logo options and liked the suggested logo by Stofer. COMMISSIONER REPORTS Berg received a call with a request from Long Lake Water Association who would like to hold an Earth Day event on Saturday,April 23. They would like to have different events at the East Long Lake Trail and Summit Beach to show how people should take care of the earth.Events will include a volunteer clean-up and various seminars. Berg shared that Channel 4 showed Lurton Park on t.v. and gave some local publicity. Carter reminded the Commissioners of a 501c3 called Big Island Legacy that was set up to create matching funds from the private sector for Big Island and was very successful.He noted the Park Commission and City Council's blessing to pivot the funds to a non-profit that could raise funds for all of Page 5 of 6 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PARK COMMISSION Monday February 7,2022 6:00 o'clock p.m. the City's parks. They are looking for 2-3 Board members very soon and Carter asked people to reach out to him if they have an interest in the Board. ADJOURNMENT Roath moved, Carter seconded,to adjourn the Orono Park Commission meeting at 7:14 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 7,Nays 0. ATTEST: /fge- Brian Roath, Chair Page 6 of 6