05-09-2011 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 9, 2011 7:00 o'clock p.m. (5. CITY OF ORONO WELLHEAD PROTECTIONPLAN, Continued) Janovec stated it came about as a result of an amendment to the Safe Drinking Water in 1996. The EPA charged the states with protecting the community water supply systems. The State of Minnesota, Department of Health, was given the responsibility to oversee that process. The purpose of the regulation is to identify potential threats to the aquifer and to be proactive by identifying possible sources of contamination and to mitigate any potential threats. Mayor McMillan opened the meeting to public comments at 7:29 p.m. There were no public comments regarding this item. Mayor McMillan closed the meeting to public comments. Rahn moved, Franchot seconded, to approve the City of Orono Wellhead Protection Plan, Part 1. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. LMCD REPORT - ANDREW McDERMOTT, REPRESENTATIVE, AND GREG NYBECK, LMCD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR • McDermott gave a brief presentation to the City Council on the LMCD's past history and a report on the • 2010 annual report. Efforts to improve the water quality of Lake Minnetonka began in 1889, when a special law of the State of Minnesota provided to protect the lake from pollution. In 1946, Minnesota residents formed the Greater Tonka Council to conserve and improve Lake Minnetonka. In the early 1950s, the League of Minnetonka Municipalities was formed to increase the effort through more direct liaison with local government. A coordinated and more specialized authority was deemed necessary, with the Minnesota Legislature passing enabling legislation and the LMCD was organized in October of 1967. The LMCD was charged with two general responsibilities: One, to regulate the use of the lake; and two, to develop a comprehensive program to eliminate pollution. Over the years, the LMCD has evolved. Early on, a key issue was red algae blooms on Lake Minnetonka caused by untreated sanitary sewage. This was resolved in the 1970s when sanitary sewers were installed. In the early 1970s, the concept of authorized dock use area rules was developed. This established reasonable riparian rights for the placement of dock structures and watercraft. These rules have been amended over the years. In 1978, regulations for boat density were adopted, which included the current 1:50' general rule. Other regulations have been subsequently adopted. The first Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) was discovered on Lake Minnetonka in 1987. In response to this, the LMCD purchased mechanical harvesting equipment and have since that time harvested EWM for navigational purposes. The LMCD has maintained that preventing the introduction of new aquatic invasive species (AIS) makes more sense than managing them after they have been introduced. Great efforts have been made on this since the early 2000s. • Page 4 of 17