04-12-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 12, 2010 7:00 o'clock p.m. U (4. Funding Request for Milfoil Project, Continued) year and a death in Excelsior. Milfoil has been attributed in part to those deaths. In addition, the milfoil may impair the ability of some fish species to spawn in the littoral zone, which is the 0 -15 foot zone. Milfoil also has serious impacts on aquatic ecosystems since the dense canopies shade out native vegetation and it alters the community composition of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Additional reasons for supporting the project include the recreational and aesthetic appeal of the lake. The dense growth interferes with water -based recreation, can disrupt the use of waterways, inhibits fishing and boating, and reduces the overall aesthetic appeal of the lake. There is also a concern over property values dropping due to the large amount of milfoil. Other bays are able to sell their properties as mlfoil free. Carman's Bay was selected for treatment because it is one of the worst for milfoil. The community is committed to this project and has raised almost $36,000. Approximately 93 percent of the residents on Carman's Bay are participating in the fundraising. Over 150 people have signed a petition requesting that the City become involved in the project and help with funding. Drazan requested the City Council consider contributing $3000 in 2010 and $10,000 in both 2011 and 2012. White asked when the treatment is expected to start. Drazan stated they are expecting the treatment to commence next week. White stated he was not in support of this project last year and that the people who live on the lake, swim in the • lake, and have animals have to be well informed about the restrictions that will come with the treatment. White noted his property was skipped last year but yet he was not informed of the restrictions that applied to the properties adjoining his that were treated. Dick Osgood, Executive Director of Lake Minnetonka Association, indicated the applicator complied with the permit requirements of the DNR. The applicators are not legally allowed to go on to people's property who are not participating in the project. The minimum that is required is that the signs are posted the day before the treatment listing the restrictions. Osgood stated this year all of the properties in their e-mail data base will be notified about the upcoming application and the nature of the restrictions that will be applied. In addition, the day before the treatment the applicator will post the orange signs on the corners of lots where the treatment will be and those signs will face the neighbors who are not having the treatments. The signs are to be kept in place for the appropriate length of time that the restrictions are in effect. Osgood indicated there will also be an e-mail notice sent to all the residents when the restrictions are lifted. Bremer stated her area of the bay experiences problems with the milfoil harvesting but that she does have clear water in front of her property. Bremer stated in purchasing their property on the lake, it was important that the water quality be good, but that she does not know whether all the people who purchase on the lake have that same concern. Bremer indicated that she has learned that the length of time for the restrictions is exaggerated on the postings and that it is important the residents receive accurate information. Bremer stated once the treatment is applied, it is not 180 days before they can utilize their irrigation systems and recommended that accurate information be given to the residents. • Bremer stated the philosophy of Orono is to preserve the water quality of Lake Minnetonka but that there is also a nervousness about the use of chemicals in order to achieve that and that there is not enough information Page 4 of 15