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• <br />MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, October 24, 2011 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. <br />(9. MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT (MCWD) PRESENTATION, Continued) <br />Bay. The MCWD does have a chance to do some controls on Lake Minnetonka and the other lakes and <br />there is some research that is promising that they would like to try in some of the smaller lakes. <br />Evenson stated in the past the MCWD has gone ahead and done different things without first getting the <br />input from the lake communities and received some negative feedback regarding that. Due to that <br />negative feedback, the MCWD is taking a new direction and asking for more input from lake <br />communities. Evenson reiterated that the MCWD cannot get involved in this plan and then walk away <br />from it. It will need to be a long -term commitment. Cities have a unique set of regulations, and if the <br />MCWD can combine forces with the cities and other government agencies, it will be more effective in <br />controlling the spread of AIS. <br />Evenson indicated he has spoken to other communities that are supportive and that he has not talked to <br />any city that has simply said no to the proposal. The City of Medina has not commented on it. The City <br />of Minnetonka has said that the MCWD is there to make tough decisions. Evenson indicated he will be <br />talking to Wayzata, Minnetrista, and Deephaven. Orono has a considerable amount of lakeshore and <br />carries a significant weight with the Watershed District. The MCWD is very interested in hearing what <br />Orono thinks about an AIS program. <br />McMillan asked if the MCWD wants to make this investment into the management plan without some <br />type of regulatory outcome. <br />Evenson stated that is not necessarily the case and that the MCWD does feel some form of regulation is <br />needed. Evenson stated education is important, capital projects are important, research is important and <br />regulation is important. Evenson indicated it could be that regulation could be delegated to other agencies <br />or their regulation authority could be delegated to the MCWD. <br />McMillan commented she gets a little nervous when regulation is discussed and that it is a complicated <br />situation given the number of lakes. McMillan stated when the MCWD talks about regulations, it results <br />in leapfrogging from studying the situation to regulating the situation. <br />Evenson stated that is a point that is well taken. <br />Printup stated one concern is boats transferring AIS and asked whether waterfowl also transfers AIS. <br />Evenson indicated the Army Corps of Engineers did a study and found that waterfowl do not transfer <br />AIS. The only lakes that have zebra mussels have boat access. The primary method of transfer is from <br />weeds on boats that harbor the zebra mussels. <br />Mayor McMillan opened the meeting for public comment. <br />Gabriel Jabbour stated as long as he has resided in this area, they have had different problems with weeds <br />and AIS on Lake Minnetonka. Jabbour indicated he is fond of the work the MCWD does but that he <br />generally ends up being frustrated at how the different government agencies were acting. Jabbour <br />commented they need to figure out a way to work on this collectively. <br />• Jabbour stated he is glad the MCWD is asking for input from the various lake communities and that he <br />has no doubt the MCWD has the authority to mitigate the damage but that they do not have the authority <br />Page 7 of 19 <br />