05-11-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, May 11, 2015 7:00 o'clock p.m. LMCD REPORT — GABRIEL JABBOUR, REPRESENTATIVE (continued) Jabbour stated a few months ago he personally requested the MBA program at the Carlson School of Business to conduct a survey of the City's brand name. Jabbour stated Orono has always been concerned about its name brand and the quality of its brand, which has resulted in the City receiving hundreds of acres in donation. The results of that survey will be given to the LMCD Board and Orono this Wednesday at the LMCD meeting. Jabbour stated to his understanding City Staff was surveyed as well as the Orono Mayor. Jabbour stated he also made sure the LMA members were surveyed as well as lake service providers and the water patrol. Jabbour stated the results of that survey will likely bring about some changes in how the LMCD conducts business in the future. Jabbour stated he and Jay Green sit on the Initiative Foundation and that they are attempting to figure out which entity should be given a grant for combatting AIS. Jabbour indicated $4.4 million is available for new ideas in dealing with AIS that have not been done before. Jabbour stated the Watershed District presented a three-point plan, which would have a profound effect on Orono. The Watershed District has proposed approaching all cities abutting a body of water and asked them to pass ordinances regulating AIS. As part of the ordinance, the city's police department would ticket individuals that are found to have failed the inspection but yet still launch their boats. Jabbour stated there are approximately 62,000 inspections on Lake Minnetonka each year but that he cannot fathom someone driving to a site miles away from where they want to launch to get inspected and then have Orono's Department seek them out and give them a ticket after they have launched. Jabbour stated it will be confusing if one city says yes to the program but other cities do not agree to it. Jabbour stated in his view the local police departments are not the appropriate entity to be performing the inspections. Levang asked if the poaching on Big Island is new or whether it increased last year. Jabbour stated this is the first year he has seen it and that it is hard to see the carcass of a whole animal being wasted just so someone can get their antlers. McMillan asked if there is anything new on the harvesting program. Jabbour stated there was a major area where milfoil was being harvested but is now being chemically treated. Jabbour stated his question to the LMCD was, when that is taken into consideration, why is the LMCD still spending more each year for harvesting. Jabbour indicated he would like to see that looked at closer and that Staff is currently compiling that information. Jabbour stated in his view the LMCD needs to put one harvester aside for a while. Jabbour stated another item the LMCD will be looking at closer is funding just some of the depreciation instead of a lot of the depreciation. Jabbour stated in his view if the LMCD retires one harvester for a year; they might have a different depreciation schedule. Jabbour noted Tom Lowe is no longer willing to act as the bay captain for Carmen Bay and that Carmen Bay will not be chemically treated this year. Jabbour indicated the cities of Excelsior and Greenwood agreed to have a lake improvement district, which was an idea that was shared with their Councils as an alternative to the residents approaching the City asking for money every year. Jabbour stated in that situation the residents will create their own board, create a budget, and the money will be divided among the residents. Jabbour stated they are also thinking about doing that in other bays. Page 4 of 25