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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 13, 2013 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 24 of 26 (14. LAKE MINNETONKA CONSERVATION DISTRICT (LMCD) 2014 BUDGET, Continued) As it relates to Orono, for 2013, the City’s total levy is $58,406. Option one would increase it by approximately $100 and Option 2 would go up an additional $7,700. Printup commented it is impressive that over the last three or four years the levies have been kept low. Nybeck requested the City Council indicate which option they would prefer by the end of the month. Levang asked what would be eliminated as a result of the reduction in AIS management and prevention. Nybeck indicated that would likely come from a reduction in boat inspections. Levang asked how many boats would be inspected versus the prior year. Nybeck stated in 2013 there will be nine accesses that would be covered by watercraft inspectors this year. The DNR will cover Grays, Maxwell, North Arm and Spring Park. On the weekends during the peak periods, which are generally later morning through the evening hours, there will be DNR inspectors. The LMCD inspectors will be covering Halstad’s Bay, Crook’s, Carstons and Wayzata Bay, which are lower volume public access points. This year the inspectors will basically only be performing Level 1 inspections. Level 2 allows inspectors to go on the boat to check on live wells if needed and decontaminate boats. The LMCD Board is looking at the idea of purchasing of a decontamination unit at the local level to have available at some of the public accesses. McMillan stated she is in favor of Option 1. Option 2 sets a whole new benchmark for levies and that in her view it is too big of a jump financially for the cities and possibly unsustainable over time. Levang stated Option 2 is concerning and brings into question how the various cities would be able to maintain that level of increase over the years. Nybeck stated it is the LMCD’s intent to get feedback from the cities so the Board can gauge where the level of support is. McMillan noted the City’s tax base has declined by 24 percent over the past few years, which has resulted in a decrease in the levy for the LMCD. McMillan stated if the City’s tax base increases, the City will be paying more. Nybeck stated the amount that was being levied over the years versus the maximum level that could be levied was $200,000. Now it is down to $100,000 and it is due in part to declining taxable market values. Bremer stated in her view it is the wrong time to propose Option 2 but that philosophically she is not opposed to it. Bremer commented the minutes from the LMCD Board meeting reflect that they understand cities are having a harder time financing. Printup indicated he also is in favor of Option 1 and that it will be interesting to see how it will be projected out in future years. Item #02 - CC Agenda - 05/28/2013 Approval of Council Minutes 05/13/2013 [Page 24 of 26]