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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 13, 2012 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 11 (LMCD REPORT, Continued) mussels and some of the other invasive species that could be coming to the lake in the future. McDermott noted the plan can be amended to address those other species if it becomes necessary. The three bay, 5-year, study on the chemical treatment has been completed. Overall the project was relatively successful and has controlled the milfoil to a point. The vegetative management plan would consist of a combination of chemical/herbicide treatment as well as harvesting. The committee has assessed all the bays and determined which bays would be suitable for chemical treatment and which bays would be suitable for harvesting. The LMCD will be holding a public meeting on the plan sometime in December and public comment will be allowed. Part of the plan will require an additional contribution from the City of Orono if adopted. Currently Orono pays, along with the City of Minnetonka, the highest percentage of the LMCD budget. As it relates to the costs for the milfoil eradication portion of the plan and to assist with chemical treatment, the LMCD is looking at an additional $75,000 from all the member cities. Approximately 20 percent would come from the City of Orono, another 20 percent from the City of Minnetonka, and the balance would be paid by the rest of the cities. The LMCD is also looking at an assessment to fund the capital equipment fund, which was depleted with the purchase of the new harvester. The fund balance is currently at zero. Given the age of the harvesters, the LMCD will need to look at replacement of some of the harvesters in the next few years. The total special assessment among all the cities would be $25,000. McDermott noted the LMCD has not voted on the plan at this point and will be discussing it further at their meeting next week. McMillan stated it sounds like the harvesting will incur approximately the same costs as it has in the past and that the chemical treatment would be an additional cost. McDermott stated the harvesting is good for navigation areas and that the chemical treatment is done on different bays. McDermott stated it appears that treatment will need to be done every other year or every third year. McMillan asked if the chemical treatment will be done throughout the different bays of Lake Minnetonka. McDermott stated there is a matrix that has been created and the committee selected the bays that would benefit the most number of residents. The committee arrived at five or six bays that made the most sense to treat. Franchot asked if the plan includes money for new treatment of aquatic species such as weevils. McDermott indicated it primarily addresses the harvesting of milfoil and chemical treatment. The plan could be modified or adapted as other aquatic species increase in the area bays. The weevil study is still being undertaken. McMillan requested McDermott contact the City Council with any new information on the plan and assessments following their next meeting. McMillan asked when the City should provide input on the plan. McDermott indicated those discussions will likely occur in January or February. Item #03 - CC Agenda - 11/26/2012 Approval of Council Minutes 11/13/2012 [Page 4 of 11]