01-10-1994 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sp. Park LMCD rep asks for city ’s # support; suggests conflict of interest 1 I Itj* Lorric Ham I , I The Spring Park Cily Council ‘ has gone on ^ord supporting the , dissolution of the Lake ,! Minnetonka Conservation I Disir*ct (LMCD). But at Monday night's ^ council meeting, the city's j LMCD rcprcscntaiive. Doug Babcock, asked the council lo support the LMCD and retain ilic city's local voice in I >c Minnetonka managemem iso on hand for the iiicciing were • LMCD Executive Director Gene Slrommcn. I'onka Bay LMCD rep Tom Penn and Shorewcod rep ^ Bob Rascop. Babcock cited conflict of interest on the parts of Mayor Jerry Rockvam ami Council- member Mark Brcnciiiaii in the support of a cily resolution calling for the dissolution of the LMCD. According Pj , • icmcnl read by Babcock, instructed /net lo discu*' or vole on any '‘LMCD issiH .s involving the Way7a(a Yacht'Club l»* causo*a.’t- a member of the club there was ' the possibility of a conflict of • inu.rcst that could potentially "embarrass ” the city. But ' Babcock claimed that the same "high standards of behavior regarding conflict of interest' were not being Iollowed at the council level. According to Babcock. Mavc>f Rockvain. owner am! ofxrrator of Rockvam Boatyards. and Councilmcmbrr BrencfTtau. general manager of Norlfi Sltore Drive .Manna, hoih sijnd lo rcalirc a direct financial benefit bv the dissnhition of the LMCD. Babcock claimed that rieMiicr of llu: businesses v^ould have to pay mry LMCD fees il he group wa^ (JfSbnnilcd. Mayor Rockvam disagreed. 'That isn’i true.” he said. "All tlic rcsr)hiiton says is that as a city we feel that there is a duplication of taspayers' dolbrs • that some services arc being duplicated by agencies other tliaii the LMCD Sr. PARK • •. CunL un P. f Sp.' Park . . . I rt»in Page I » * * *.. . *> i . ‘ >. • ^ « M "The resolution is a result of a request by Mound Mayor Skip Johnson at a LMCD mayors' meeting a few weeks ago." RcKkvam commued. During that discussion. Orono Mayor Ed Callahan called for the disbanding of the LMCD. In response, Mavor Jofinson asked that each mayor biing ihc matter up with his city’s rouncil. T!ic resolution up for discussion in Spring Park calling lor the dissolution of the LMCD is the result of that request. "This resolution has no bearing on the LMCD fees that we pay." said Mayor Rockvam. ( "All Ill's resolution does is to express the cilv's opinion on llic LMCD." Babcock stated that/‘‘even V ihaugh Joiner rtictiif)brs*^f^ift5' council may view die i-MCD.as.-.*. providing duplicate services of other govermncni agencies, there arc significant services lliat the LMCD provides lhal no other local agency can provide." Babcock added that in (he worst ease, the council would liavc to deal with multiple county, state and pcrh.ips federal agencies if the LMCD was dissolved. Ihc council did not lormally vote on the rcsoluiinn, which has been discussed at other mccliugs f ccnily, because one council- member was not present. The council will likely vote on it at the Dee. 20 meeting In the mcamiine, the council directed llie city attorney lo review Babcock*.s charges of conflict of interest prior to the coencil's vote. Ill aiioilier LMCD mailer, the council voted lo rescind its "voluntary contribution" to ll»c LMCD milfoil fund datfitg back to 1990. I he city had been making its annual payment lo Ihc LMCD since that ^ime not reali/ine ihat a I'ortioii of the pavmcnt re|)rcscnicd a "\oIuiiUiry comributioir to the LMCD ntiifoil liind. The council rs'loo£liig7()i a crcdll flohrtlic^ LMCD for die past lour years and • . (Ic(*i(fed not to make that connibution in 1991. !•