06-09-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 9, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 22 (LMCD REPORT – ANDREW MCDERMOTT, REPRESENTATIVE, Continued) McDermott stated overall there will not be a lot of change at the marinas but that the new ordinance will allow marinas to be a little more reactive to the economy. In addition, the marinas cannot block the channels, cannot go into emergent vegetation, and will be required to comply with other requirements. McDermott stated the biggest benefit will be the ease of making changes to the marinas. McDermott stated the other issue the LMCD has been reviewing is the different levels of high water. In the past the LMCD had ordinary high water and high water. Last Monday the LMCD passed an emergency high water ordinance. McDermott reported the water level on Lake Minnetonka had reached 930.66’, which is the highest level the lake has ever been at. The new ordinance goes from a regular high water ordinance with no wake out to 600 feet, with wakes being allowed after 600 feet from the shoreline, to an emergency high water ordinance, which does not allow any wake at all on the lake and will stay in effect until the water level reaches 930.3’. McDermott indicated the normal high water level is 929.40’. McDermott stated the dam is currently fully open and is sending out 300 cubic feet per second. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District feels that if there is normal precipitation for the next six weeks, the water level will go back down to its normal level sometime in July. McDermott noted similar high water levels occurred in 2002 but those did not occur until mid-September and the LMCD did not take any action since it was near the end of the boating season. McDermott stated until the weather gets hotter and there is low humidity, the water level will not drop significantly. Printup asked if the LMCD is receiving positive feedback about the new emergency high water level. McDermott stated they are from the lakeshore owners given the damage they are experiencing to the shoreline. The LMCD was notified by a number of lakeshore owners that their docks were submerged. McDermott noted the new ordinance exempts emergency personnel from the emergency water level regulations and that it appears the majority of the people are following the ordinance. Levang asked if the Water Patrol has increased their monitoring of the situation. McDermott indicated they have and that the no-wake ordinance allows for easier enforcement. McDermott stated the final item relates to the LMCD budget. Orono’s share of the budget increased .5 percent or $278. The LMCD has kept a relatively flat budget and the majority of the increase will be going towards equipment replacement. Levang asked if the boat safety program will be done again this year. McDermott stated the program has been very popular, with two classes already being held and the third class already filled up. McDermott stated the biggest problem the LMCD has experienced with the classes if finding an ideal place to hold the event due to the fact that an Internet connection is required for a number of computers.