05-14-1990 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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U MINUTES OF ORONO COUNCIL MEETING HELD MAY 14, 1990 • LMCD REPORT CONTINUED successful." Nettles stated that the Plan did not clearly indicate from where the lake use numbers were coming. Nettles said, "I have no problem with the LMCD being the lead point position on this. I think that is appropriate and that local power should not be diluted. My pitch to the LMCD would be that the Plan has some good direction. However, the LMCD must examine whether the lakeshore communities really feel that the lake is under utilized. Who are we providing access to? Are we providing access to water skiers, pleasure boaters, fishermen, canoers? What is the directed target of this? That issue is totally separate from the conservation issues which stand regardless of who uses the lake. I think the biggest problem with the Plan is the number of boats proposed. Parking is already a problem. I don't want to see promotion of lakeshore installations in the name of greater access." Hurr said, "I do like the goal of the Plan to provide places for boats to go rather than having them on the lake. I'm not sure that they will allow boats to access the new park." Callahan said, "The result of providing more places for people to go is that there will be more boats on the water." • Ms. Hurr said, "I am hopeful that the zoning issues that will be retained by the individual cities will not allow a lot of bars, etc., on the lake." • Mayor Grabek commented, "A person with a fishing boat would not be interested in having a destination point. A boat that is 25' or more usually has a cabin and allows people to get away from land to enjoy the lake. I believe that people that own watercraft do so to be on the lake. I don't see the need to provide places for boats to go. If we don't become a bit more liberal regarding lake usage, the LMCD may lose its hold and authority. The Council will have to consider that versus the option of taking a stand and saying that the lake is already too crowded. Lake Minnetonka is not wilderness area. It is a residential lake in one of the largest counties in the State. Allowing additional usage will have a great impact on the preservation of the lake. I believe that the additional usage will come from speed boats, not fishing boats." Hurr said, "Those boats are not often put on trailers and taken in and out of the lake. If there are no more marinas on the lake, then that type of use should not increase." Nettles and Callahan disagreed. - 5 -