09-23-1985 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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tFj STATEOFl C� C (0)1rl�� DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PHONE NO. 296-3572 1200 Warner Road, St. Paul, MN 5j106 July 25, 1985 Mr. Mark Bernhardson City Administrator City of Orono P.O. Box 66 Crystal Bay, MN 55323 Dear Mr. Bernhardson: As agency heads for the Department of tan Council (MC), and the Department (DEED), we are writing you to urge initiate implementing the goals Minnetonka Task Force Report and to this effort. Metro Water Access Task Force Natural Resources (DNR), Metropoli- of Energy and Economic Development your community to support and to and recommendations of the Lake offer our agencies' assistance in In 1979, our three agencies, at the recommendation of the Legislative Commission on Minnesota's Resources, banded together to form a task force for the purpose of developing a cooperative program for providing in- creased public access to metropolitan area lakes. The task force defined the term "adequate public access" and ranked the metropolitan area lakes according to their need for additional or improved access. Based on this criteria, Lake Minnetonka was listed as one of the highest priority lakes for establishing new or improving existing public access. Creation of the Lake Minnetonka Task Force With this in mind, the DNR, in 1981, identified a parcel of property on Halsted's Bay suitable for public access and with a willing seller. By February, 1982, local opposition to DNR's plans to acquire the site prompted Governnr Quie to direct the DNR to abandon their plans. The ensuing dialogue between the Governor's Office, the legislature, the DNR, and Lake Minnetonka area residents resulted in the creation of the Lake Minnetonka Task Force (1.MTF); which was charged with studying th, recre- ational uses of the lake and preparing a report on their findings. The task force was comprised of ten citizen members, nine government offi- cials, and a chairperson, Bob Searles, former legislator from the Minnetonka area. Both Minnetonka area and non -Minnetonka area commu- nities were represented as well as one representative each for boating, Failing, and fishing interests. The input of all communities on Lake Minnetonka was sought. Additionally, public meetings where held to solicit input from individuals and groups. The task fc,rce found that there is a need and a demand for additional access to Lake Minnetonka. There is, however, no demonstrated need for additional lake access for AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER