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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 2 of 24    <br />   <br /> <br />(4. DONATION GARDEN, Continued) <br /> <br />Levang stated when they first started the garden, it was basically clay soil and that a substantial amount of <br />nutrients and mulch have been added to the soil over the past couple of years. This year students from a <br />variety of schools were invited to help with the garden, which added another dimension to the garden by <br />providing an education to the students. This past year the garden included sweet potatoes and regular <br />potatoes. Levang noted they unfortunately lost quite a bit of produce due to a rat problem that resulted <br />from the use of hay. There were some crops that did not do well, such as zucchini, but that they had a <br />bunker crop in tomatoes and other vegetables. <br /> <br />As part of this year’s garden, the volunteers plan on utilizing soaker hoses that have been donated. The <br />City of Long Lake last year installed a spigot near the garden, which allowed them to have access to water <br />close by rather than having to haul it in. Levang thanked the Long Lake Mayor and City Council for <br />allowing that. <br /> <br />Levang noted they have approximately $2,000 in their bank account and that some of that money will be <br />used to purchase additional nutrients for the soil. They have experienced problems with deer jumping the <br />fence and eating some of the produce. <br /> <br />The core group of volunteers for the garden came from Long Lake, Orono, Independence, and Mound. <br />Overall 17 volunteers helped out at the garden last year and they donated approximately 615 volunteer <br />hours. Most volunteers worked at the garden two to three times per week. A number of individuals and <br />businesses also donated a variety of crops and herbs that were grown as well as flowering plants that were <br />given away. <br /> <br />Levang stated the donation garden is a very valuable asset to the local community. Levang thanked <br />Mayor McMillan for installing two blue bird houses and noted that they now the very proud parents of <br />blue birds. The plan for this coming year is to invite more local churches and community groups to help <br />with the group as well as add more volunteers. In addition, a master gardener will be helping the <br />volunteers with the garden this year and a meeting has been scheduled for this Saturday. Another goal is <br />to partner with other groups who have donation gardens. <br /> <br />McMillan noted two year ago the group experimented with a truckload of milfoil on the garden. The <br />milfoil was rather stringy so it was hard to work with but once it was put down, it made a nice mat around <br />the plants. McMillan thanked the donation garden volunteers for all their hard work. <br /> <br />The Orono City Council took no formal action on this item. <br /> <br />5. BOW-FISHING REGULATIONS – GREG NYBECK, LAKE MINNETONKA <br />CONSERVATION DISTRICT (LMCD) <br /> <br />Greg Nybeck, Executive Director of the LMCD, addressed the Orono City Council regarding bow fishing <br />regulations. Bow fishing is not currently a problem on Lake Minnetonka but it is increasing in popularity. <br />The LMCD is currently working with various local cities on identifying how they interpret bow fishing <br />and the regulations they have in place. Nybeck noted bow fishing is allowed by state law but regulated by <br />local ordinances. <br /> <br /> <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 02/25/2013 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 02/11/2013 <br />[Page 2 of 24]