09-25-2000 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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LAKE MINNETONKA CONSERVATION DISTRICT on Others. This cultural change has resulted in increased concerns by the public, including riparian owners and watercraft operators. This has resulted in a reduced quality of the experience of those that recreate on Lake Minnetonka. The group felt that this situation couid be improved by increased Water Patrol presence by having increased patrol hours. 2.Significantly reduce patrol hours due to increased complexity of processing violators. A BWI arrest, that used to take a Deputy off patrol for an hour to process the offender, now can take four to six hours. The increased processing time results from laws created to protect the rights of the public and has affected criminal investigations. Arrests on the water, which are more difficult than land, now take much more time, which results in fewer actual patrol hours. The end result is less visible presence of the Water Patrol on the Lake 3.The need to prepare for the Special Deputy litigation currently at the Minnesota State Supreme Court. Historically, the Water Patrol has supplemented their full-time, licensed Deputies with 30 volunteer special deputies. These special deputies man patrol boats, make stops, and issue tickets. They average approximately 250 hours of volunteer time per year; however, their authority to “investigate" has been challenged in court and is currently at the Minnesota Supreme Court. If the ruling goes against the Water Patrol, there will be a serious reduction in Water Patrol presence on the Lake. The group felt that the increase of two licensed paid Deputies would be at least some protection in the case of an adverse ruling. In the case of a favorable ruling, the two new deputies would have the needed effect of increased patrol hours. The group decided to try to establish a two-year funding commitment, for $100,000 per year, to be used exclusively for two additional Water Patrol Deputies to patrol Lake Minnetonka beginning in the 2001 boating season. None of these funds have been voted upon, but the proposed breakdown is as follows: •50% from Hennepin County. •30% from the LMCD Member Cities. •20% from the LMCD "Save the Lake" Fund (Private contributions resulting from LMCD solicitation letters). _ _ A I A/j The LMCD member cities would need to fund the proposed $30,000 through voluntary^ontribtrtiofts- for 2001 . For 2002, it could be funded either through voluntary contributions or by adjusting the LMCD levy to its member cities in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, Section 103B.635. The increased levy would require adoption of a resolution by % of the member cities (11 of 14). Details of how much each member city would be levied, using the LMCD formula outlined in Minnesota Statutes 103B.635, is detailed in the attached spreadsheet. We are asking each city to add the amount shown on the attached spreadsheet to their 2001 budget. If the other sources of revenue do not become available, the LMCD will rethink the plan and be back to each group. Please feel free to call the LMCD Executive Director if you have questions.