02-08-1988 - Agenda Packet City Council - regular meeting

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W Other actions which correspond to Council recommendations are described in the analysis of LMCD's legislative plan, topic 2, below. ANALYSIS AND ISSUES To prepare this report, staff examined areas where LMCD activity coincided with Council recommendations. The analysis also considered LMCD decisions, especially in the proposed legislative initiatives, which could relate to the long-term goal of implementing a comprehensive lake surface management plan. Topics brought up frequently in interviews were also reviewed. If issues were found, they are reported. In some instances, alternatives are suggested to mitigate or remove perceived issues. The order of presentation does not imply priority among the topics. Topic 1: Memorandum of Understanding LMCD has not convened a meeting or meetings leading to a memorandum of under- standing among agencies with authority on the lake. LMCD has increased its activity as a clearinghouse, but this does not reach the same goal. It is important that all the agencies which share responsibility and authority meet, air their concerns, clarify their authorities and identify areas of agreement and disagreement. Where there is agreement, there are no issues. Where disagreements or overlaps exist, LMCD should moderate talks which bring all the actors to a common direction and remove redundancy. The goal is better public service and a better protected resource. LMCD is not likely to reach the same goal by acting as the sole contact between agencies since it does not have the powers to be an independent arbiter of conflict. There's room for discussion about the breadth of each topic for such a meeting, i.e., would it be better confined to one issue, such as dredging, or would it be better to focus on a wider issue? There's little question about the need for the process. Topic 2: LMCD's Legislative Plan LMCD has identified new powers and funding sources in its legislative plan. The question is, is the current LMCD legislative initiative supportable by the Council? The program listed below (and "C" attached) shows only minor changes from the legislative program drafted in late 1986, which the Council said LMCD should circulate. LMCD, in 1987, has reviewed the program with each member municipality, with varied results, as reported in "C." There is no evidence that the plan was carried elsewhere and no comments reported from any other agency. 1987 LMCD Legislative Proposals Several of the 13 points are direct responses to task force/Council recom- mendations. Each of the underlined entries in the following list respond to Metropolitan Council recommendations. The others, numbers 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12, are discussed below. 1. The District should receive authority to set fees and require permits for watercraft use of Lake Minnetonka to support lake -related programs. 2. The District should request authority to assess a property owner to recover costs for removal of dilapidated docks, boats, other structures, or fallen trees from the lake.