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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 11, 2013 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 5 of 24 (5. BOW-FISHING REGULATIONS – GREG NYBECK, LAKE MINNETONKA CONSERVATION DISTRICT (LMCD), Continued) McDermott stated if the LMCD is able to pass ordinance regulating bow fishing, it would allow the Water Patrol to enforce it. McMillan asked if there would still be a permitting mechanism if an ordinance is adopted. Nybeck indicated he is not able to answer that at this point but that it would make sense to streamline the permitting process. Printup asked if the City Council is interested in removing bow fishing from its fee schedules since there is such low demand for a permit. Loftus stated in Staff’s opinion, having an ordinance through the LMCD would simplify things. The biggest complaint the City receives is from sportsmen who are attempting to organize events and the lack of consistency among the cities. Staff would recommend that the LMCD have one ordinance, which would eliminate the need to obtain a permit from the City. Nybeck noted there was a tournament this past summer and that he offered to meet with the tournament coordinator. That person declined to meet but he did indicate that through his research, he found out that the only city requiring a permit was Orono. Nybeck indicated he was informed that was incorrect and that there are actually five or six other cities that require permits. Nybeck stated there is some confusion on the part of the cities and the general public regarding this issue and that one single ordinance would be beneficial to all parties. It was the consensus of the Orono City Council to recommend the LMCD adopt an ordinance regulating bow fishing on Lake Minnetonka with a nighttime restriction being included. LMCD REPORT – ANDREW McDERMOTT, REPRESENTATIVE Greg Nybeck stated milfoil was first discovered in Lake Minnetonka in 1987. At that time the LMCD began working with various municipalities and a number of forums were held in an attempt to identify the means to manage the milfoil. The conclusion at that point was to do mechanical harvesting of the milfoil, which did commence in 1989. Currently the LMCD owns three paddle wheel harvesters and a transport barge. The main elements to the milfoil program involve clearing impediments to open water, which could mean clear cutting or channel cutting, and a harvesting season that lasts from June through August. The LMCD has adopted a rotating schedule to avoid starting each year in the same spot. The statistics collected as part of the program are truck loads, harvester loads and acreage. The acreage number is to meet a DNR requirement for permitting and does not indicate the success or nonsuccess of the program. Item #02 - CC Agenda - 02/25/2013 Approval of Council Minutes 02/11/2013 [Page 5 of 24]