05-21-1997 Council Minutes Special Meeting

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a SPECIAL ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING • MINUTES FOR MAY 21,1997 IZ1TM I The Council met on the above mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Gabriel Jabbour, Councilmembers 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 Michael Gaffron, Public Services Director Greg Gappa and Recorder Lin Vee. Mayor Jabbour called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. ( #1) SPRING HILL GOLF COURSE EAW - RESOLUTION NO. 3901 Marshal Braman, Tim Johnson, Jack Morrison and Tom Crosby were present representing the Spring Hill Golf Course. Jabbour introduced this item as a continuation of the May 19, 1997 Council meeting, and indicated discussion will center on whether or not the City should require an EIS. He reviewed the EAW process stating that the DNR had requested additional information before making a recommendation on the need for an EIS. • Gaffron reported that the DNR and proposers had met to determine what additional information should be provided to the City to make an informed decision regarding the need for an EIS. After a May 7 meeting, Braman defined five items that the proposers would provide to fill the information gap. These items include: 1. Documentation of the changes and impacts on the Big Woods. 2. Assessment of the habitat changes by cover type throughout the site. 3. Development of a tree protection plan. 4. Protected waters permit. 5. Development of an erosion control plan. The DNR had indicated that once this information is delivered to the City of Orono, it would be unlikely that an EIS would be required. At this point, Council needs to determine if the information provided for the five items is satisfactory. Braman stated that extra people were brought in to compile the additional information requested. This entire group met on site to characterize the existing species, both plant and wildlife, in the Big Woods. Lists of the affected species are included in the information packet. The DNR was also concerned about the DNR protected wetland. The DNR has established the Ordinary High Water Mark for the impacted DNR wetland. The proposers are no longer planning to install a weir on the outlet of the wetland because it is already close to the historic OHWM. Plans for tree protection and erosion control are also included. Braman listed the additional professionals who helped to compile the information. is