05-14-2012 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 14, 2012 • 7:00 o'clock p.m. (S.• 'Milfoil Weevil Study, Continued) Marquette indicated they hope to have some results by August or September. Marquette indicated the milfoil problem may appear to be getting worse in Veterans Cove before it gets better due to the time it takes to get the weevils established. McMillan asked if the MCWD has a time commitment to this project or whether it will be done on a year - by -year basis. Marquette indicated the MCWD has approved the project for this year, and that if all goes well, they will be seeking approval for the project to be continued next year. Printup asked how the other lakes look that have been using the weevils., Marquette indicated they do experience swings in the weevil population depending on the amount of milfoil in the lakes and that it takes some time to bring the weevil population back up to adequately deal with the milfoil. McMillan asked where the weevils go in the winter. Marquette indicated they hibernate up near the drier areas of the shoreline. The weevils are driven by the temperature of the water in the spring. When the water gets warmer, the weevils will go back out into the . deeper areas of the lake. LMCD REPORT - ANDREW MCDERMOTT, REPRESENTATIVE McDermott reported the LMCD declared a low water emergency for Lake Minnetonka approximately one month ago. Since that time the lake has gone up above the emergency water level but the LMCD has elected to keep the low water emergency in effect since the lake is only about six inches higher and is approximately a foot below average for this time of year. The LMCD is anticipating the water level will drop back down in the middle of the summer. The LMCD has received a number of applications to extend docks as well as applications for multiple docks. The LMCD will be conducting spot checks to determine what is occurring in those areas. The majority of the homeowners have been fairly conservative in extending out their docks. McDermott stated the City Council should have received the proposed 2013 LMCD budget and noted that the LMCD is asking for an increase of .9% from Orono. McDermott indicated he is a proponent of increasing the budget since money has been coming out of reserves over the last few years and the reserves are not being replenished. McDermott noted the new harvester was bought with money from the reserves and that the rest of their harvesters are between five and ten years old. A work session will be held in June to discuss the budget further and Orono's city administrator has been invited to attend that meeting. The LMCD's budget is based on the net tax capacity of the City. The City of Minnetonka currently pays $66,000 a year, with Orono contributing $58,000. • McMillan asked whether there is any proposal to increase the AIS budget. Page 3 of 16