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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, April 8, 2013 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br />  <br />   Page 9 of 21    <br />(5. LAKE MINNETONKA ASSOCIATION (LMA) FUNDING REQUEST, Continued) <br /> <br />Lowe stated the LMA is requesting the City ask the LMCD to spend more money on herbicide control. <br />Lowe noted the LMCD is now promoting herbicidal control and they want to levy the city in order to do <br />that. Lowe stated the LMCD wants to take public dollars to treat milfoil with herbicides. <br /> <br />McMillan noted the LMCD just approved a management plan, and in that management plan is the ability <br />to use chemicals on eight bays. Mechanical harvesting was also approved as part of that plan. The <br />chemicals that were approved in the draft plan are for specific areas and not the entire lake. McMillan <br />indicated the plan was an outgrowth of the pilot program that found there were only certain bays on Lake <br />Minnetonka where herbicides will work in. The chemicals will disperse on the open bays and are not <br />effective to use in all lakes due to the currents. McMillan noted the LMCD did not approve any particular <br />funding source for the herbicide treatment or mechanical harvesting and that the funding will come out of <br />the general budget. <br /> <br />Bremer pointed out there are also certain bays where herbicide treatment is not needed. <br /> <br />Lowe commented the LMCD came to the conclusion that herbicide treatment is worthwhile as a result of <br />the 5-year pilot program, which was 60 percent privately funded. <br />Bremer asked what the LMA’s monetary request is. <br /> <br />Lowe noted in 2010 the City donated $3,000. Lowe commented since the pilot program was so <br />successful at eliminating milfoil, a number of people have forgotten what it was like in 2007 and 2008 <br />and that it has been difficult raising the necessary funds this year because of that. People get complacent <br />and think it is not that bad. The resurgence of natives has become a real issue for some of the residents, <br />but they do not want to donate as much because they need to do their own nuisance treatment around their <br />docks. Lowe reiterated it has been hard for the LMA to raise money this year. <br /> <br />McMillan stated if the Council would like to explore a funding request; it would need to be placed on a <br />future Council agenda. <br /> <br />Bremer asked if the LMA is interested in the same amount as in 2010 or what the specific request is. <br /> <br />Lowe stated the LMA would like $5,000. Lowe noted the LMCD typically gives them $8,000 every year <br />and last year they received $18,000 from the DNR. However, the DNR has cut back on their contribution <br />twice. Lowe indicated this year has been a bad year for raising funds. <br /> <br />Anderson commented public funding is difficult for everyone given the economy. <br /> <br />McMillan asked if the City Council is in favor of exploring this request. <br /> <br />Bremer indicated she would be fine with exploring it if it is placed on the agenda with a specific dollar <br />request. Bremer stated placing it on the agenda cannot guarantee anyone else will show up but that it <br />would allow other people to appear. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Item #02 - CC Agenda - 04/22/2013 <br />Approval of Council Minutes 04/08/2013 <br />[Page 9 of 21]