07-23-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2, paragraph 4. "Further review of the plan and further consideration of it leads the City of Orono to the belief that not only is the plan misdirected in those regards, but that in essence such actions as just referred to, are simply beyond the power of the LMCD." RESPONSE: This is not the first time that we encountered these arguments. Several other cities held similar beliefs one year ago. Once they became active in the Intergovernmental and Funding Subcommittee, the resulting communication lead to agreement with our approach. Initially, representatives of the cities, and we averaged about seven per meeting, were of the erroneous opinion that the LMCD sought significant new powers beyond its traditional legislation (not true); sought authority over cities, particularly in the area of shoreland management (equally untrue), and had gotten too close to the DNR and Metropolitan Council (similarly untrue). Initially, many of these municipal representatives expressed the same sort of outrage that permeates the Orono response. Now we encounter it again from the cities that were not, or were poorly, represented throughout the planning process. What we are trying to do cannot be digested in a cursory reading of the Management Program. It is all explained there, but it is explained, necessarily, concisely. There are no hidden agendas, no secret compromises, and no power grabs. It is simply a program to better protect Lake Minnetonka from the adverse effects of development, redevelopment, government programs and recreational use. No traditional uses of the lake are displaced, no user groups are banned. There is no change in the traditional authority or power structure. Instead the plan focuses on full use of the authority already granted under law. It identifies areas where enforcement could be improved and'suggests ways to achieve that. Primarily, though, it lays out a framework for improved cooperation, coordination and communication. It attempts to get each organization with authority on the lake and lakeshore to work toward a common set of objectives. There is no force beyond that already in existence in the laws of the state. In this partnership, the LMCD is the weak partner when dealing with programs above the 929.4 contour. Below the 929.4 contour, the LMCD is usually the dominant partner. We seek no changes in power, but we seek significant changes in the way programs are administered by the cities, the Watershed District, Hennepin County, the Metropolitan Council and the DNR. But a change in authority or power, no. Page 2, paragraph 5, first two sentences. "It is clear that the powers granted by S Chapter 907 are essentially powers of limitation, the power to regulate, the power to limit and the