09-23-1985 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO COUNCIL MEETING HELD SEPTEMBER 23, 1985 PAGE ' CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: LAKE MINNETONKA ACCESS/NORTH SHORE DRIVE PARKING City Administrator Bernhardson invited the following guest speakers: Kathleen Wallace, Commissione-s Administrator for the DNR; JoEllen Hurr, Orono's LMCD Representative, Inspector Mike Postle and Lt. Larry Peterson, Hennepin County Sheriff's Off ice/Watt-rPatrol; and Senator Gen Olson. City Administrator Bernhardson stated that the primary issues are boating safety on the lake and overall boating activity and also the concerns regarding the North Arm public access. Bernhardson noted the DNR report containing usage statistics for the summer of 1984. Kathleen Wallace presented some -harts showing statistics relating to existing lake use on Lake Minnetonka. She stated that in most cases the private access users and non - access users(lakeshore residents) dominated the free public access users, in addition, "cruisers" on the lake dominated the other types of use such as fishing, skiing, etc. Councilmember Grabek questioned some of the high and low density areas indicated on the chart. Kathleen Wallace indicated a pattern of where the non -fatal boat accidents have occurred on the lake. She stated that during this past summer, on an average weekday there are an average of 300 boats on the lake, and on an average weekend 13UO boats. Referring to the LMCD data of an instantanious count, Kathleen Wallace stated that from 1973 - 1982 the number of boats ranged from 1200 - 2200 (this is taken from a high use date), with a slight increase over time, but no steady increase was found. The accidents statistics from 1975 - 1984 they range from 24 - 45 per year with no patterned increase. Acting Mayor Frahm stated that he felt that the accident rate on Lake Minnetonka is probably ten times higher than on any other lake. Kathleen Wallace stated that the number of accidents have not increased with the number of boats on the lake. Acting Mayor Frahm questioned who dictates that these publir accesses must be free. Staff was directed to research that question. JoEllen Hurr stated that the LMCD writes the ordinances that the Sheriff's Dept. enforces and that local departments are also alAe to enforce these ordinances such as bridge jumpers.