02-13-2012 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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n U I MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 13, 2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. 5. HENNEPIN COUNTY NORTH ARM PUBLIC ACCESS AIS PREVENTION SIGNAGE PILOT PROJECT — TONY BROUGH Tony Brough stated he is with the Hennepin County Environmental Services, Lake Improvement Program, which has the responsibility to handle navigational hazards. Last year they experienced plenty of issues due to the high water levels. HCES has responsibility for all of the major channels on Lake Minnetonka and they oversee dredging and rip- rapping, as well as monitoring numerous fishing areas throughout Lake Minnetonka and two public accesses. Approximately five years ago he started. researching and applying for grants to help monitor the spread of AIS. Those efforts have now paid off and HCES has been able to hire a community based social researcher to assist in their efforts. Community based social marketing is used in a lot of things but it has never really been used in connection with public accesses before. Community based social marketing tends to look at people's behaviors, identify the barriers, and then develop strategies to deal with the issues. The group conducted a significant amount of research on AIS, and as a result of those efforts, have developed some signage they believe will help raise people's awareness on AIS. Brough displayed the proposed signage for the accesses. Brough indicated he is open to suggestions and feedback on the signage and that they are still in the design mode. At this time the signs have not yet • been ordered but they will be in the near future since they would like to have the signs erected by fishing opener. McMillan commented in her view this is a very smart approach. Printup stated the new signage should be helpful. Brough stated they will evaluate the results after the signs have been erected for a few months. Bremer asked whether there will be any flyers available to distribute. Brough stated to his knowledge there will not be flyers. Brough commented this program will only be effective if they approach it with education at a community level. The HCES does have an education outreach division, which will also have a part in this project. If the signage is effective, the HCES is hoping the AIS situation will improve somewhat. Brough noted the signage will not be a 100 percent solution since there are a number of different access points on Lake Minnetonka but that it is a start. LMCD REPORT — ANDREW McDERMOTT, REPRESENTATIVE McDermott reported that the Sheriffs Office has banned cars and SUVs out on Lake Minnetonka due to the thin ice. Snowmobiles are still allowed. They are experiencing some difficulty keeping the snow fences up due to the lake of snow and thin ice. The LMCD has agreed to purchase a new harvester this year and it should be delivered sometime in early to mid summer. The LMCD did hold a number of meetings regarding the harvester and concluded that it • is one part of the milfoil program. The LMCD did speak with a number of different states and universities and most of them have a combination of chemicals and harvester program. They find that the Page 3 of 22