01-11-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 11, 2016 7:00 o'clock p.m. LMCDBIG ISLAND REPORT — GABRIEL JABBOUR, REPRESENTATIVE (continued) Walsh asked what the prognosis is for changing the LMCD structure. Jabbour indicated he has not pursued changing the structure of the LMCD at this point and that it would require some persistent people getting involved. Jabbour stated he also has a bill that was drafted back in the 1990s to make Lake Minnetonka a conservation district. Jabbour stated he would like to share that with the Mayor and the Council. At the present time there are only two conservation districts in the state and that creating a conservation district for Lake Minnetonka is something the Council should discuss. McMillan asked if the updated strategic plan will be finished soon. Jabbour stated he could send that to the City Council as well. Jabbour stated the current makeup of the board does not want to be a working board but more of an advisory board. Jabbour stated a meeting will be held next week Monday to discuss the strategic plan and the position of executive director. Jabbour noted the City of Minnetonka brought up the issue of mission creep. Back in the early 1970s, the LMCD started performing boat counts for a specific study being done by the DNR. Forty years later the LMCD is still doing boat counts. McMillan stated in her view there has not been a lot of communication from the LMCD and that a number of the city councils are not aware of what the LMCD is doing. McMillan stated she appreciates his efforts in trying to refocus the LMCD. McMillan noted the LMCD attempted to work on preventing zebra mussels back in the 1990s and early 2000s but that it was not successful at preventing the spread of them. McMillan stated the LMCD should look at what they are doing currently, what it wants to be doing in the future, and then determine how it can be a more dynamic organization going forward. McMillan stated it is good to question whether the agency should continue to exist or whether they should be consolidated into another agency. Jabbour stated Orono has very little control over what the LMCD does. McMillan stated back in the 1960s, a lot of agencies were created and that it is perhaps time to revisit those organizations since they were originally formed for different reasons. Jabbour reported things are going good on Big Island and that a number of environmental improvements have been made. Over the past few years tons of garbage have been removed from the island and some of the shoreline has been restored. Jabbour stated the City has saved a substantial amount of money by making it a park and partnering with the veterans. The organization they formed, called Veterans for Veterans, have been very diligent in how it spends the money they have received. Jabbour indicated they have managed to keep the original principal intact and have spent $1,435,000 out of the interest on a variety of programs. Jabbour stated he is extremely grateful with how much success they have accomplished as well as preserving that area of land on Big Island. Jabbour distributed information on the Veterans for Veterans to the City Council. Page 5 of 24