03-10-1997 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• 40 ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR MARCH 10, 1997 ROLL The Council met on the above mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Gabriel Jabbour, Council Members J. Diann Goetten, Charles Kelley, Barbara Peterson, and Richard Flint. Representing Staff were City Administrator Ron Moorse, City Attorney Tom Radio, Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator MiichaeI Gaffron, Planner /Zoning Administrator Elizabeth Van Zomeren, Public Services Director Greg Gappa, City Engineer Glenn Cook, and Recorder Sherry Frost. Mayor Jabbour called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. ( #1) INTERVIEW OF PARK COMMISSION CANDIDATES Candidates were interviewed for the two vacant positions on the Park Commission. Candidates were informed that the interviews will continue to the March 24 Council meeting with selections made in April. The candidates were informed that there were many qualified candidates and asked for their continued civic involvement if not chosen at this time. Candidate, Van Erickson, expressed the need to view the big picture. He envisions a mix of recreational facilities and open space to fill the need of the many young families coming into Orono. Erickson feels the community needs to be researched to determine the needs. He believes the needs of the community are not indicative of the parks at the present time. Erickson is on a community education task force reviewing recreational facilities and the needs of the City and surrounding communities. He feels there is the need for more facilities but not necessarily in Orono itself. He feels he can assist in developing relationships to meet the community needs. Erickson said fund raising was a way to raise finances. He would like to see improvements made at the current parks rather than adding new parks. Erickson said he was able to see beyond the single issue of athletic needs. He would like to see improvements made at Hackberry voicing safety concerns regarding the player benches. He cited Bederwood as a beautiful example of a park. He would like to see a mix of uses at that park. Candidate, Shelly Liljequist, is a 4 -year resident and considers herself having environmental concerns. She has not read the Comprehensive Plan or reviewed Park Commission meetings but said she has followed the activities of the Council. Liljequist said she would like to see upgrading of the ball fields at Bederwood and improvement in equipment. She believes compromise is necessary to serve the groups with conflicting needs. Liljequist said park financing could be obtained through operating funds and by charging fees. 1