08-22-1994 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR AUGUST 22,1994 • ROLL The Council met on the above date with the following members present: Mayor Edward Callahan, Jr., Council members J. Diann Goetten, Gabriel Jabbour, Charles Kelley, and JoEllen Hurr. The following represented staff. City Attorney, Kevin Staunton, City Administrator, Ron Moorse, Building and Zoning Administrator, Jeanne Mabusth, Assistant Planning and Zoning Administrator, Michael Gaffron, Public Works Director, John Gerhardson, and Recorder, Sherry Frost. Mayor Callahan called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. ( * #1) CONSENT AGENDA Kelley requested that items #7 and #9 be added to the Consent Agenda and #16 be deleted. It was moved by Hurr, seconded by Goetten, to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. The motion carried with 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. ( #2) LONG LAKE WATER QUALITY PRESENTATION BY MCWD • District Engineer, Mike Panzer, and Manager, Tom LaBounty, of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, updated the Council on the Long Lake Improvement Project. Their study has been conducted and the MCWD is ready to implement the project to improve the water quality of Long Lake. The improvements were identified as 1)building a wetpond south of County Road 6 where a stream comes in. (This stream is a major contributor to the lake's external phosphorus load.); 2)renovation of two ponds in Long Lake's park; and 3)inlake aeration (to reduce internal phosphorus loading). The MCWD is looking for renewed support and passage of this proposal to continue the process. The cost of this project would be paid through a county tax levy of approximately two million dollars over a six year period. Orono's share of this cost would be 4.9% or $100,000. Council members voiced many concerns regarding the cost to the citizens and the future operating expenditures once the MCWD turns the project over to the cities. Council members also expressed concern that this project is an after - the -fact solution to the problems which occur farther upstream and the ongoing problem with runoff from fertilizers. The MCWD representatives stated that this project would improve Long Lake, Lake Minnetonka, and the Creek downstream with a 70% reduction of phosphorus. Mayor Callahan stated that although this was a good plan the Council was not ready to give their approval of this proposal at this time and would like further discussion at a later date. The MCWD expressed their desire to field calls regarding the issue. •