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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/18/02 MINUTES OF THE LAKE ADVISORY COMMITTEE June 18, 2002 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Braddy called the Lake Advisory Committee (LAC) Meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. Members present: Dale Braddy, Charles Gerlach, Lauren Huntington, and Dan O'Keefe. Members absent: Shirley Gengler. Others present: Paul Nelson Prior Lake I Spring Lake Watershed District, Lynn Cyrus Prior Lake / Spring Lake Watershed District, Marv Mirsch, Sue McDermott; City Engineer, Larry Poppler; Assistant City Engineer. II. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MAY 21,2002 MEETING MINUTES MOTION BY GERLACH, SECOND BY HUNTINGTON TO APPROVE THE MAY 21, 2002 MEETING MINUTES. UPON A VOTE TAKEN, MOTION PASSED UNANlMOUSL Y. III. PRESENTATION BY LYNN CYRUS, PRIOR LAKE I SPRING LAKE WATERSHED DISTRICT ON THE LAKE FRIENDLY PROJECT Chair Braddy introduced Lynn Cyrus presenting the Lake Friendly Project. Cyrus described the Lake Friendly Project. Residents can call and request a site visit and a question/answer session from the Prior Lake/Spring Lake Watershed District. The visit is intended to review drainage patterns and observe yard care practices. The incentive for the property owner to participate in the program is $100 in property improvement coupons. The participants receive a letter detailing the results of the visit as well as useful advice to improve the property from a "lake friendly" standpoint. The participants also receive three packets. The packets include information, tips, CD, and reminder stickers. Homeowners don't need to live on the lake to participate in the program. To date 26 homeowners have participated in the program. Looking for 100 participants or more. Braddy asked what the next step would be for the program. 1 Nelson replied that the participants would receive a follow up call to see what suggestions were actually implemented. They will then evaluate the program to see areas that are worth targeting. Braddy asked if the Prior Lake Association is aware of the program. Nelson replied that the Prior Lake Association is a partner. Braddy asked what the LAC could do to help spread the word about the program. Cyrus stated that the program was advertised in the Wavelength at one time. Word of mouth seems to be the best method of spreading the word about the program. Braddy mentioned that the ongoing status in the Wavelength might be useful. Braddy asked if the City property around the lake has participated in the program. Nelson replied that when approached, they will evaluate City property. McDermott asked what can be done to deter geese. Nelson replied that tall vegetation and string-lines are the easiest and most productive deterrents for geese. O'Keefe asked what the funding was for the project. Nelson replied that the funding comes from a Grant from the Met Council. The grant was for $43,000, with $8,000 for the incentives. IV. OLD BUSINESS a. Surface Water Ordinance: McDermott stated that LAC needs to recommend action to the council on the surface water ordinance or write a report stating the need for no change to the ordinance. Braddy mentioned that further study is necessary. Huntington stated that officers need help in enforcement and a study may help get more enforcement. O'Keefe asked how is the survey done? McDermott stated that the White Bear Lake survey example was expensive and to do that type of survey, to find out that nothing needs to be done, would be excessive. Maybe the fall citywide survey with 2 additional lake questions would provide useful information that could be used in determining if the ordinance needs changing. McDermott also mentioned that she talked with Rick Brasch about doing some low level aerial photography over the lake during a high use day and on low use day to compare the boat traffic. Braddy mentioned that maybe we should approach the people on the lake who have airplanes to see if they would be willing to help. Huntington said that on the days of the fly-over photographs, a person should count the number of boats coming from the landings. Braddy asked if maybe Boy Scouts could be used to question the people at the boat landings and count the number of boats. They could also count the docks and rafts. Gerlach said the other way to know if the traffic on the lake is local is to have someone count the number of boats on the docks in the early morning. Braddy questioned whether the DNR has data regarding Prior Lake as they could be concerned with similar issues and asked if McDermott would check into that. Braddy suggested members identify several issues that could be included in the citywide survey for discussion at the next meeting. b. Water Testing at the Beaches: McDermott distributed information from Rick Brasch regarding bacteria testing in Hennepin County. Braddy questioned whether any of Prior Lake beaches have been closed in the past due to water quality. McDermott mentioned that none that she knows of. Most of the beaches closed in the Hennepin County Parks system were due to goose droppings. Huntington asked if there is a problem with geese on Prior Lake? Braddy replied that there really isn't a goose problem on Prior Lake. McDermott mentioned that the recommendations from Three River Park District were to test consistently. They test once a week to determine the public's exposure to bacteria. Tests are less than $20.00 per sample. E- Coli is the bacteria that causes illness. Braddy and Huntington asked if the water coming in from Spring Lake can be tested as well as the beaches. 3 Huntington mentioned that in another community baggies for dog droppings are distributed in the parks. McDermott will propose testing in next year's budget. Mirsch mentioned that the chlorides from the June were higher than expected. McDermott stated that those areas will be retested. V. NEW BUSINESS a. Lake Issues to be included in Community Survey McDermott stated that the survey is performed over the phone during the winter months and the LAC can include a few questions for the survey to gather input regarding the lake. The 1999 phone survey contacted 400 residents. Braddy asked when does the LAC have to have their questions completed and how many lake questions can be included. McDermott replied that if the LAC members develop 10 questions or issues each, the LAC can discuss which may be proposed for the survey. Braddy stated that members of the LAC should bring in their 10 questions for discussion at the next LAC meeting. b. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance relating to water oriented accessory structures McDermott stated that the Planning Commission is requesting input from the LAC regarding the ordinance relating to the placement of water oriented accessory structures. The current language in the ordinance allows one water oriented accessory structure on lots that have a slope of at least 20%. The proposed language in the ordinance would allow one water oriented accessory structure regardless of slope. After much discussion the LAC decided that they approve of the ordinance modification. Braddy thanked the Planning Commission for involving the LAC in this item. 4 VI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY O'KEEFE, SECONDED BY GERLACH TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Sue McDermott City Engineer Larry Poppler Assistant City Engineer Note: There will be no July meeting due to the citywide tour on July 29th. More information will follow. 5