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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, October 28, 2013 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 14 (BIG ISLAND PARK REPORT & AIS UPDATE – GABRIEL JABBOUR, CUSTODIAN, Continued) Jabbour noted he has been somewhat involved with Lake Minnetonka and the LMCD since 1971 and that there are a number of individuals who have been committed to the organization over the years. Jabbour stated the LMCD has done a good job addressing the milfoil problem but has fallen behind on their efforts to address aquatic invasive species due to a lack of resources. Jabbour reported that he and two other individuals have been appointed by the state to be on the AIS committee. Due to the fact that the LMCD receives less than $300,000 through the various levies, it is difficult for the LMCD to make progress on the AIS problem. In prior years the LMA donated to the LMCD for joint projects, but for the past two or three years, the LMA has not provided any funding to the LMCD, which has cut into the funding for boat inspections. Jabbour commented the State of Minnesota does a better job at containing AIS in the lakes than the State of Wisconsin does. Jabbour stated a number of experts sit on the AIS committee, including people from the University of Minnesota-Duluth as well as Concordia College and the DNR. In the middle of the summer, a meeting was hosted for the Minnetonka area on AIS. At that meeting the DNR brought in three rescue dogs that have been trained to sniff out zebra mussels. Jabbour commented the dogs helped bring a lot of attention to the AIS problem. Jabbour reported there are a number of new aquatic invasive species that are coming to this area. Jabbour stated he was informed in one meeting that there is a minnow farm that has become contaminated and that they have been selling Asian carp minnows. Jabbour noted the minnow farm falls under the jurisdiction of the DNR but they were limited in what they could do to address the situation. Jabbour stated the Fish and Wildlife Department has asked him to participate in a conference call with the western region and that he will be speaking on developing a semi-green boat. Jabbour stated in his view a semi-green boat would help reduce the costs associating with boating. Jabbour stated it is their goal to develop a semi-green boat that would allow the brow to be lifted up to a certain degree, which would help speed up the inspection process, and allow the boat to self-drain, which would help save money on storing the boat. McMillan commented the idea of a semi-green boat is a great concept. Jabbour stated an annual report will be prepared for the AIS committee and that he will provide a copy of the report to the City Council. Jabbour stated as it relates to the legislative agenda of the DNR, mandatory operator permits are currently in place for anyone over the age of 17. Jabbour stated in order to address the problem of AIS, focus has been on education rather than on closing down access points. Jabbour noted currently there is no means under which the Water Patrol can remove someone from the water even if they have 17 DUIs. Jabbour stated boater operator permits is one way to prevent people who break the laws from using a boat. Printup asked how things are going in the Minnetonka area related to the AIS issue. Printup asked whether they are starting to work together on the problem. Jabbour commented some people are playing chess and others are playing checkers. Item #03 - CC Agenda - *11/12/2013 Approval of Council Minutes 10/28/2013 [Page 3 of 14]