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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, February 11, 2013 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  Page 7 of 24    <br />   <br /> <br />(LMCD REPORT – ANDREW McDERMOTT, REPRESENTATIVE, Continued) <br /> <br />The task force has recommended an additional $75,000 annually be allocated in the LMCD budget to <br />support chemical treatment. McDermott noted this will not pay for all the treatment but will supplement <br />whatever the residents raise. Orono’s portion of that amount will be roughly $13,500. <br /> <br />McDermott noted the LMCD has not taken the plan up for a vote at this point but at some point a vote <br />among the member cities will need to be held. Minnetonka has expressed the view that they are not in <br />favor of the chemical treatment. Currently Minnetonka and Orono contribute the highest percentage to <br />the LMCD. <br /> <br />McMillan stated she would like whatever the City Council’s decision is to be put into a letter. <br /> <br />Levang asked if Minnetonka is the only city that has provided input at this point. <br /> <br />Nybeck indicated Minnetonka Beach did put something in writing for the public hearing and that they <br />indicated they are not in favor of funding for chemical treatment. At this point there are some cities that <br />do support it and some cities that are undecided. The part of the plan that talks about the funding <br />mechanism is where some concerns are being raised. Nybeck noted there are some funding inequities <br />among the member cities, and if it is fixed through the state legislature, someone else will have to absorb <br />it. <br /> <br />McMillan noted this program would be more expensive than the milfoil harvesting program if the DNR <br />grant is taken out of the calculation and that the chemical treatment would cover a smaller percentage of <br />the lake. <br /> <br />McDermott noted the residents will still have to contribute almost at the same level as before. <br /> <br />McMillan commented they are talking about chemically treating less than 10 percent of the lake. <br /> <br />Nybeck noted the harvesting program will cover approximately half of the lake and cost approximately <br />$90,000. <br /> <br />Jabbour stated the City of Minnetonka has objected to the mission creed of the LMCD and not just the <br />funding. Jabbour noted at the time the milfoil harvesting program was started, Orono’s representative <br />raised $350,000 for the harvesters for the sole purpose of clearing passageways. The milfoil program has <br />drifted from plowing passageways to aesthetic appearance of the lake. Jabbour commented if the LMCD <br />is interested in changing the mandate, they should go to the legislature. <br /> <br />Jabbour stated in his view the LMCD is going to have a substantial amount of negative backlash if this <br />plan goes through and that he is not speaking tonight on behalf of any group. Jabbour stated there are a <br />number of individuals that feel the LMCD should rethink the funding mechanism. <br /> <br />Bremer asked what McDermott’s thoughts are on chemically treating the lake. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 02/25/2013 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 02/11/2013 <br />[Page 7 of 24]