02-28-2000 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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LAKE MINNETONKA CONSERVATION DISTRICT February 18,2000 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Board of Directors Greg Nybeck, Executive Director & Cruiser’s Cove Public Hearing (2/23/00) COl INCH MEETiNG FEB 2 6 2000 CITY OH OHONO BACKGROUND . . . ^ ^ •This past fall, the LMCD Board received public testimony that activities that took place in Cruiser’s Cove on the north-end of Big Island during 1999 were causing public safety concerrw. These concerns included unlicens^ special events, over congestion in the area because of rafting, and the inability of the Hennepin County Shenlrs Water PaTOl to patrol the area properly. To address these issues and make recommendations back to the LMCD Board, a Big Island Task Force was established. •The Big Island Task Force met to evaluate what could be implemented to better control the activities that took place this past summer. Establishing public safety lanes In Cruiser's Cove and a lakewide rafting ordinance were considered by the Task Force. The recommendation of the Task Force has been to establish public safety lanes through the rafting area for the 2000 season. The recommendation to establish public safety lanes has been a joint effort of a number of governmental agencies. In addition to the LMCD. the Hennepin County Shenffs Water Patrol, the MN DNR, the Hennepin County Environmental Management Division, and the Cities of Orono and Spring Park have been active participants. Additional input has been received from Hennepin Parks and the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department •The recommendation of the Task Force to establish public safety lanes has been discussed at two Board meetings. At the 11/17/99 Regular meeting, the Board directed staff to proceed with the establishment of public safety lanes, to allow the Task Force to work out the exact details, and to direct the Task Force to report back on these details. At the 1/26/00 Regular meeting, the Task Force updated the Board on the exact details of me public safety lanes. Board direction at this meeting was to direct staff to prepare for a public hearing on this project and to work with the MN DNR on getting the buoys ordered. DESCRIPTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY LANES •The main purpose of establishing these public safety lanes for the 2000 boating season would be to improve public safety In the area by allowing the Sheriffs Water Patrol to patrol the area properly. •The preliminary layout would fall approximately within the 8 ’ depth contour In Cruiser’s Cove. The design will be an 'arrow* type, with one lane running approximately 1,000' from the shore at a right angle and a second lane, approximately % mile in length, that is slightly curved from the first lane. The width of these lanes would be approximately 50 ’ and the distance between buoys would be approximately 150 ’ to 200’. •These lanes would be marked with 14* white regulatory buoys, with orange bands and an orange circle with black lettering stating the following *No Anchoring Between Buoys*. It is estimated that between 30 and 50 of these buoys will be needed to property mark these public safely lanes. •The total number of buoys used to mark these public safety lanes could fluctuate based on in-fiold evaluation by