04-25-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 25, 2016 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 11 of 22 15. BIRCHES MN SPRING RIDE EVENT – HENNEPIN COUNTY WATER PATROL (continued) The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol requires communities bordering the impacted lake to give their approval for the permit. The City of Long Lake gave approval at their April 5, 2016, Council meeting. Both the Cities of Long Lake and Orono must provide approval in order for MN Spring Ride to obtain their event permit from the HCSO Water Patrol. Gaffron noted included in the packet are a couple of letters from Long Lake residents expressing their concerns related to this event. Cindy Adams, 1130 Hunter Hill Circle, Long Lake, stated she recognizes the rights of all Minnesotans to use the lakes but that there also needs to be a balance between those individuals and lakeshore property owners who bear the brunt of erosion and damage to personal property. Adams stated she fully appreciates that this could be construed as a not in my backyard issue but it does go beyond that. Adams stated it is a privilege to live on the lake. The residents pay substantially higher taxes and have added responsibilities of maintaining and protecting the lakeshore, the water quality and use factors of the lake that other users do not take into consideration. Many of the residents are picking up trash and debris left by other users of the lake. Adams stated erosion on Long Lake is a serious problem. If the dam were a foot lower, they probably would not be having this discussion. Adams stated a prime example is the area of the cemetery which is in Orono, with the countless trees in the water on the verge on falling over. The area along East Long Lake Road is in terrible condition. Highway 12 is slated for shoreline restoration by the state. Adams stated this is only a small representation of public property damage and that there is also the private damage. Adams stated she is quite concerned about the impacts of this wakeboarding event and that she completely understands the difference between wakeboarding and wake surfing. Confining this event to a small area of the lake outs the potential of shoreline erosion and property damage on those residents that live within the proposed restriction zone set forth by the wakeboarding coordinators. The other thing that is not known about the event is what the actual timing of the event will be. The permit says it is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Adams questioned whether it will be an all-day event. The proposed restriction zone is far and away too close to shore. Waves formed by these specialized boats travel forcefully and for quite some distance before they dissipate. In addition, it will encumber those residents in the restriction zone to have clear or easy access or ordinary navigation from their docks to the lake. According to MN State Law, it is against the law to operate a water craft so its wash or wake endangers, harasses or interferes with any person or property. To operate a water craft so that it obstructs ordinary navigation. A person may not cause, contract for, or authorize an activity that causes excessive soil loss. From a quick check of the DNR website, the cemetery across the lake, which is in the proposed zone, is 1,042 feet at the shortest distance from shore to shore.