05-08-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 24, 2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. PRESENTATION — Continued Schleuning indicated the LMCD does milfbil and nuisance plant harvesting as well as watercraft inspections, but those do not occur at every access point. In addition, the LMCD has had a number of discussions about ways to monitor vehicles coming in and one avenue is the Lake Service Providers Pilot Program the DNR is looking at that can be used to implement some type of tagging system or recording system. Currently the LMCD or DNR does not have anything in place to monitor that. Crosby asked whether a registration sticker specifically for Lake Minnetonka could help generate funds to combat AlS. Crosby noted the aquatic invasive species are coming from people who visit the lake and do not dock their boat on the lake. Schleuning stated an additional fee on the DNR licenses was proposed but that did not pass. Schleuning stated she would need to look into that further. Schleuning stated some of the other items the LMCD has been working on include the Save the Lake Fund, which contributes towards education, safety, and environmental, sponsoring a boater safety class on June 19, and a solar lights program for navigational safety. The LMCD 2017 initiatives include the following: • Recodification to update standards to today's needs and technology and to provide a user friendly format. • Enhance communications to increase public education through printed materials, an online presence, website, events, and fairs. • Collaborations with various agencies to focus resources through the sharing of information and dealing with electric shock drowning, the AIS and LSP pilot program, and carbon monoxide. Walsh asked if the LMCD videotapes their meetings. Schleuning stated the LMCD has two meetings per month, with one meeting being primarily a work session which is not videotaped, and the formal board meeting that is videotaped. Walsh noted out of the 14 members, Orono consists of seven percent, but that they pay a lot more than seven percent. Walsh stated in his view Orono should only be paying seven percent of the budget rather than 20 percent and that the LMCD's levy needs to align more with the City's membership percentage. Walsh stated when LMCD Chair Jay Green was before the Council last year and presented the budget, he talked about the LMCD raising fees two or three percent but using $65,000 of reserves. Walsh asked how the LMCD is adjusting to resolve that situation to avoid depleting reserves. Schleuning indicated the LMCD will be discussing the budget this Wednesday and that the proposed budget is online. Schleuning stated one issue they have seen are the grant amounts decreasing through the years but that the revenue via the city levy has been fairly consistent. Schleuning stated she will have to take a hard look at what is being done with the reserves. Crosby asked what the LMCD's annual budget is currently. Schleuning stated it has been decreasing over the years but that it is currently $549,000. Page 7 of 12