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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25,2002 <br />PARK COMMISSION COMMENTS—PAVUNE BOUCHARD, <br />REPRESENTA TIVE —Continued <br />Minnetonka Beach had hired a lobbyist, then maybe Orono should as well. The Park <br />Commission planned to draft a letter to the editor to show that Orono does not support <br />Minnetonka Beach’s position. Sansevcrc stated he agreed with the letter. Flint stated he <br />favored hiring a lobbyist to keep them informed of legislation that might affect the Dakota <br />Rail. Sansevere stated he does not approve of hiring a lobbyist. <br />Gabriel Jabbour stated that the cities of Orono, Spring Park, Mound, Minnestrista, and St. <br />Bonifacius, as well as Hennepin, Carver, and McCloud counties all support the trail <br />unanimously as an uninterrupted corridor. He stated that Representative Tom Workman <br />gave him his word that he would not introduce legislation against the trail. A bill was <br />posted on Friday and passed on Tuesday, with Minnetonka Beach the only group that <br />testified. It was a lobbyist driven bill, and Orono ’s interests will not be served unless they <br />have a representative on the floor. He also stated that the DNR, Hennepin County, and <br />Met Council are on their side, and he suggested sending a letter to Met Council. Mr. <br />Jabbour stated that Minnetonka Beach's comprehensive plan states in several places that <br />the corridor should not revert to a transportation corridor, but should become a park <br />available only to Minnetonka Beach residents. <br />Flint stated that a lobbyist could cost up to $5,000 to keep the Council advised. He <br />su'jgested making the money available to spend at the Mayor ’s discretion, but to not use it <br />unles necessary. <br />Flint moved, and Nygard seconded, to make up to $5,000 available for a lobbyist, to <br />be used at the Mayor^s discretion. <br />Vote: Ayes 3, Nays 1 (Sansevere). <br />PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS—SANDY SMITH, <br />REPRESENTATIVE <br />None. <br />LMCD REPORT—LILI MCMILLAN, REPRESENTATIVE <br />McMillan spoke about the additional water patrol project over the 2001 boating season. <br />There were no boating fatalities on Lake Minnetonka, a reduction of personal injury <br />accidents by more than 50%, an increase in public contact, but lower citation count. The <br />number of patrol hours by deputies was increased by 59% to 2,546 hours. She felt the <br />program was a big success. <br />1 <br />1 <br />----UJUtslkuUMI