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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO PARK COMMISSION <br /> Monday February 7,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> ROLL CALL <br /> The Orono Park Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: <br /> Chair Brian Roath, Commissioners Rick Carter, Casey Conrad Hudson, Gordy Stofer,Kjersti Duval, <br /> Janice Berg, and Taylor Stephens. Representing Staff was Adam Edwards and Parks and Golf Course <br /> Superintendent Josh Lemons. <br /> Chair Roath called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. <br /> APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 1,2021. <br /> Berg moved, Carter seconded,to approve the minutes of the Orono Planning Commission meeting <br /> of November 1,2021.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT <br /> Alisa Benson, 1220 Lyman Avenue, shared in November regarding a natural playground and wants to <br /> reiterate that she is a resource and has lots of information for anyone interested. She is also very pleased <br /> to be interviewing later in the month for the Park Commission. <br /> Barbara Schmidt, 50 Landmark Drive, cannot take any questions or answer any comments because of the <br /> case and made a brief statement: Citizens of Orono,for over three years this Park Commission and City <br /> Council have knowingly broken municipal laws. First Ordinance 22-114,no bikes in parks,has been <br /> broken in Bederwood Park and Lowry Woods. Because there is so much evidence, Orono School District <br /> 278 has been named in the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act case. Second,the Park Commission <br /> knowingly broke Minnesota trespass law 609.605 for years. Ms. Schmidt said they told children to ride <br /> over private property to Lowry Woods past a City of Orono sign that said"no bikes."They were <br /> encouraged to cut trails and cut on private property behind Bederwood and Lowry Woods. Third,this <br /> Park Commission encouraged snowmobile riding in Bederwood Park this winter which is against <br /> Ordinance 22-144,no motorized vehicles in parks. On September 12, 2021,the Orono police were called <br /> to Bederwood Park and found one of the coaches from the mountain bike team taking four snowmobiles <br /> all through Bederwood. Identified as Mr. Chris Clover,Ms. Schmidt stated that he was overheard telling <br /> the Orono police that the team had been given Bederwood Park for their use and that it was okay to ride <br /> there. She said snowmobiles have ridden consistently through Bederwood this winter and regularly over <br /> the soccer field, as well.Most egregiously, children have learned that breaking laws and damaging public <br /> property is condoned by school officials and City Hall. Ms. Schmidt said a few weeks ago a known <br /> mountain biker was seen plotting race courses for construction in Bederwood. She shared that hundreds of <br /> residents have signed petitions to stop bikes in parks and asked the Commissioners to please stand up for <br /> parks and stand up for Orono. <br /> Chair Roath noted those comments are very disappointing to hear and will say for the record that he has <br /> reached out to Ms. Schmidt several times, she personally has his phone number, and he has wanted to talk <br /> about anything over the past two years. He has invited her to come out and walk the parks with him. <br /> Bill Knapp, 85 Cristofori Circle, lives just east of Lowry Woods and is here in strong opposition to the <br /> mountain biking project being proposed. He spoke with City Administrator Edwards early in 2021 and at <br /> that time was assured there were no plans to make any access to the woods or any biking projects in the <br /> area. He then received a proposal by John Withrow,the mountain bike coach for Orono saying in the fall <br /> Page 1 of 6 <br />