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� MINUTES OF THE <br /> ' ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,October 28,2013 <br /> 7:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> (BIG ISLAND PARK REPORT&AIS UPDATE—GABRIEL JABBOUR, CUSTODIAN, Continued) <br /> Jabbour noted he has been somewhat involved with Lake Minnetonka and the LMCD since 1971 and that <br /> there are a number of individuals who have been committed to the organization over the years. Jabbour <br /> stated the LMCD has done a good job addressing the milfoil problem but has fallen behind on their <br /> efforts to address aquatic invasive species due to a lack of resources. Jabbour reported that he and two <br /> other individuals have been appointed by the state to be on the AIS committee. Due to the fact that the <br /> LMCD receives less than $300,000 through the various levies, it is difficult for the LMCD to make <br /> progress on the AIS problem. In prior years the LMA donated to the LMCD for joint projects,but for the <br /> past two or three years,the LMA has not provided any funding to the LMCD,which has cut into the <br /> funding for boat inspections. <br /> Jabbour commented the State of Minnesota does a better job at containing AIS in the lakes than the State <br /> of Wisconsin does. Jabbour stated a number of experts sit on the AIS committee, including people from <br /> the University of Minnesota-Duluth as well as Concordia College and the DNR. In the middle of the <br /> summer, a meeting was hosted for the Minnetonka area on AIS. At that meeting the DNR brought in <br /> three rescue dogs that have been trained to sniff out zebra mussels. Jabbour commented the dogs helped <br /> bring a lot of attention to the AIS problem. <br /> Jabbour reported there are a number of new aquatic invasive species that are coming to this area. Jabbour <br /> stated he was informed in one meeting that there is a minnow farm that has become contaminated and that <br /> they have been selling Asian carp minnows. Jabbour noted the minnow farm falls under the jurisdiction <br /> of the DNR but they were limited in what they could do to address the situation. <br /> Jabbour stated the Fish and Wildlife Department has asked him to participate in a conference call with the <br /> western region and that he will be speaking on developing a semi-green boat. Jabbour stated in his view a <br /> semi-green boat would help reduce the costs associating with boating. Jabbour stated it is their goal to <br /> develop a semi-green boat that would allow the brow to be lifted up to a certain degree,which would help <br /> speed up the inspection process, and allow the boat to self-drain, which would help save money on storing <br /> the boat. <br /> McMillan commented the idea of a semi-green boat is a great concept. <br /> Jabbour stated an annual report will be prepared for the AIS committee and that he will provide a copy of <br /> the report to the City Council. Jabbour stated as it relates to the legislative agenda of the DNR, <br /> mandatory operator permits are currently in place for anyone over the age of 17. Jabbour stated in order <br /> to address the problem of AIS, focus has been on education rather than on closing down access points. <br /> Jabbour noted currently there is no means under which the Water Patrol can remove someone from the <br /> water even if they have 17 DUIs. Jabbour stated boater operator permits is one way to prevent people <br /> who break the laws from using a boat. <br /> Printup asked how things are going in the Minnetonka area related to the AIS issue. Printup asked <br /> whether they are starting to work together on the problem. <br /> Jabbour commented some people are playing chess and others are playing checkers. <br /> Page 3 of 14 _________.m _ <br />