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Home My WebLink About08/17/94 MINUTES OF THE LAKE ADVISORY COMMITTEE August 17,1994 1. CALL TO ORDER: The Lake Advisory Committee meeting was called to order on Wednesday, August 17, 1994 at 6:50 p.m. by Vice Chair John Wingard. Members present were: Bill Packer. Pete Patchin. Tom Watkins and John Wingard. City staff present were City Engineer Larry Anderson and Water Resources Coordinator Lani Leichty. Public attendees were David Hunt. Jim Peterson and Jerry Meysembourg from the PL/SL Watershed District. Members absent were: Jody Stroh. Il. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING. Wingard mentioned that the July minutes pertaining to the Pike Lake Petition said that. "In the spring there were several people water skiing on Pike Lake". this should have read. "In the spring there were two people skiing on Pike Lake." MOTION BY WATKINS, SECONDED BY PATCHIN, TO APPROVE THE JULY 20,1994 MINUTES, AS AMENDED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Ill. EURASIAN MILFOIL UPDATE: Jerry Meysembourg. Prior Lake/Spring Lake Watershed District manager. briefed the committee on the status of this years milfoil treatment. Meysembourg stated that the DNR would pennit only 70 acres of milfoil to be treated and that approximately 130 acres were found during this years inspection. This year 25 acres of milfoil were treated. and those areas consisted of navigation charmels and bays near Kneafsy's Cove. Reeds Island and Martinson's Island bridge. The coverage of this years milfoil was very similar to 1993's coverage. No milfoil has been found in Spring Lake and Upper Prior Lake. Lower Prior Lake is 750/e- encompassed by milfoil. Approximately $5.800 was spent on treaunent this year with a balance of approximately $30.000 left in the milfoil budget. This was the fourth year in a row for treatment. with roughly $40.000 spent on treatment in 1993. Meysembourg stated that the Watershed Board would like the Lake Advisory Committee to take over the research and \!:atherin\!: of infornlation related to erosion milfoil and its trea011ent. There was discussion among the comnlittee as to the successfulness of the treannent over the past four years and where to go from here. Meysembourg commented that he questioned if the milfoil problem was any further ahead with the trea011ent over the past several years. than if no treatment had been done at all. The committee decided to try to detemline successful ways of treatment (i.e. alternative trea011ent methods). what further treatment should be done and which areas to treat. Several members of the LAC will be attendip\g an Eurasian Milfoil Workshop on September 17 to learn from others experience what has and hasn't worked in the trea011ent of milfoil. MOTION BY WATKINS THAT THE LAC DO RESEARCH ON EURASIAN MILFOIL AS REQUESTED BY THE DISTRICT, PACKER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4629 Dakota St. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER IV. PRIOR LAKE PUBLIC ACCESSES: Leichty showed the committee concept layouts for the two alternative public access sites, and the DNR concepts for additional parking at the Dewitte access. The DNR parking site was at the southeast comer of Kent and Dewitte Streets. Both alternatives consisted of 10 parking spaces each. Concepts for possible public access sites at Lakefront Park and at the north end of West Avenue were looked at and discussed. It was agreed upon that the West Avenue alternative would not be a good site. The parking area would have to be on the side of a hill and would require extensive retaining walls. The boat ramp launching area would be limited in length and vehicle turn around area. The Lakefront Park access site was agreed upon as the one to recommend to Council as a proposed third public access site. Concerns about this possibility were: 1) the distance from the boat launching area to the parking area of approximately 1,000 feet, 2) the current access to the park is marginable and would need to be rerouted off of Highway 13,3) the depth of the channel at the entrance to the bay, and 4) concerns the DNR might have due to the Herron rookery and Bass spawning bed in the bay. WATKINS MADE A MOTION TO PASS THE LAKEFRONT PARK ACCESS SITE ALONG TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS A POSSffiILITY FOR A THIRD SITE TO PRIOR LAKE. PACKER SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION PASSED UNANIl\'IOUSLY. The next item of discussion about public accesses was the Lord's Street access issue. A copy of what was thought to be a current legal opinion from Glenn Kessel, City Attorney, was reviewed. It was later learned that this document was prepared prior to David Hunt purchasing the land in question. No further action will be taken by the committee concerning this issue as Mr. Hunt indicated that he is in the process of torrencing the property to acquire title to the property. The LAC concluded that the Council would have to determine if the city will protect its' interest further by pursuing legal action. Leichty shared with the committee the DNR's response about moving the winter access from the emergency vehicle road in Sand Point Park west to the Public Boat Access. The DNR's main concern was the steep slope of the road leading down to the lake, and in the winter two-wheel drive vehicles would not be able to ascend the incline. They did not mention any past stipulations in the agreement restricting winter usage. The committee would like Staff to check into this further to see if winter access could be switched over to the Public Boat Access road. Packer commented that the emergency road access was similar in grade as the public access. The committee noticed that several waterfront areas dedicated to the public had been left off the list of recommendations as areas to be vacated. PACKER MOTIONED AND PATClllN SECONDED TO ADD ALL WATERFRONTS IN FRONT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY, THAT HAD BEEN DEDICATED TO THE PUBLIC, TO THE LIST OF AREAS TO BE VACATED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. V. SURFACE WATER USE REPORT Packer mentioned that he would like to see the LAC have a discussion with the Sheriff about placing more buoys around Reed's Island and other areas that have had problems with violations. VI. MEl\'ffiER TERMS Currently there are two vacancies on the Lake Advisory Committee. Patchin mentioned that he will be resigning January 1995, which will leave three openings to be filled. Current members Packer, Watkins and Wingard said that they would like to stay on the committee. Public attendees Hunt and Peterson mentioned that they would be interested in serving on the committee. VIT. ADJOURNMENT: Motion by Watkins, seconded by Patchin to adjourn the meeting at 8:43 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. _. Respectfully submitted, ,~ LACM8.ENG ,--- Lanol L. Leichty Recording Secretary The next LAC meeting is scheduledfor Wednesday, September 21, 1994 at 6:30 p.m. DEFINITIONS: 1) Scenic Overlook: Intended to be used by the public as access to the lake for viewing the lake. No swimming, boat/canoe launching or fishing would be allowed. 2) Winter Access: Intended to be used by the public to provide access to the lake during the winter. Access would be open during the period from November 1 through March 1 and would be closed from 11 pm to 6 am daily. 3) DNR Public Access: Intended to provide access to a public water body. The access will meet DNR's water access site criteria of being open 24 hours year around, unless posted. 4) Vacate: The City would release it's right to use or control property for a designated purpose. Vacate the property after research has been done to ensure no property will be landlocked. ,- 2) Lime Road - South The channel between Spring lake and Upper Prior lake runs through this property. Apple trees and evergreens have been planted. No parking is available. There is a street light 10ft. west of the Lime Road centerline on the south side of Spring lake Rd. Suggested Classification: Vacate and obtain a drainage easement. ~ 19) Lot 34 of Red Oaks Lot 34 of Red Oaks in the original plat was dedicated to the public, as was the waterfront. J Lots 35, 36 and 37 of Red Oaks are located in the flood plain and are unbuildable lots. The waterfront in Red Oaks for Lots 26 and part of 27 was vacated in 1979 and 1985 respectively. The waterfront for Lots 1 through 33 and the waterfront on the west side of Lot 35 clockwise through Lot 30 was vacated in 1987. Suggested Classification: Vacate Lot 34 and remaining waterfront in Red Oaks that hasn't been vacated. - ,- RECOMMENDATION FOR LORDS STREET ACCESS Classification: The only classifications that would fit this location are winter access, seasonal overlook or vacation. There is no parking available in this area and it is posted "No Parking". The issue to deal with is safety. Knowing that this access is used by ice4 fishermen and safety is an issue, for this reason the access should be recommended as'" a winter access. Restrictions: Posted hours of usage from November 1 through March 1. Closed daily from 11 pm to 6 am. Gate would be constructed which would be locked from March 2 through October 31. Pros:-Would allow easy access to the deepest part of the lake. The area close to - the access is actively used by ice fisherman. -It is located between the other winter accesses geographically. Closure of this access will coerce people to cross long areas of ice which increases the risk of people breaking through the ice, which is a safety problem. -This access would provide a safer travel route to desired fishing spots by the fishermen. -Two areas are notorious for having open water late in winter. The are adjacent to Beach Street has been open in February. One person has drowned and several have fallen through the ice. -Ice fishing is the best from ice freeze over to January 1 when the ice condition is the most unsafe. Many people walk out to this area and/or push houses out prior to ;the time one can safely drive on the ice. Closure of this access will tempt individuals to drive across the ice prior to it being safe. Cons:-Would permit winter traffic in a residential neighborhood. Closure would - reduce the traffic volumes and traffic complaints in the area. -Enforcement of traffic from 11 pm to 6 am would be difficult. Enforcement staff would not be available to lock and open the gate on a daily basis. Control would need to be by self-enforcement. Sportsman's Club would be responsible for distributing fliers on restrictions of the access. -Fewer ice houses would probably be located around Martinson Island. -Neighborhood noise would probably be reduced in the winter. Other Issues: *Would this help meet the long term lake access needs if this access is recommended? *The ownership of this property will likely change hands sometime in the future. *This is probably the only opportunity the City will have to classify this as a; winter access, if it so desires. ~ *If the access is recommended to be kept open, the Sportsman's Club should be encouraged to continue picking up trash and monitoring this access along with trash barrels being placed near the gate. c m ~ :i m ~ m ''"'2) _J to Lot __ ~__ ~ . un_ .. \ /.~ ....... ;i' ; '-~ 'I ~/~. ~.ji\~..~ ~\ I ~ /~" o. . ~ Jf~. 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"c = ~ I . ~ M ; ~ ~ ~~~~j~~~i ~~ ;~:~~go~~ ~s i:'~lz~~~ ~a :I!:;~ : i : ~ · ~ z ~ r a i ! ; < " ,.. ~ ~ ~ i ~ .. '" ,- , z iIi --t '.:: N o " . : ~;!II 'iHt!x, CEP-1Q-G4 NON 14:40 .J 1 ! V V SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL SVC FAX NO. 612 496 8305 P. 02 '-, ~,,""""'.;.",' :, 1',' ,-:~~ . " WILLIAM J. NEVIN SCOTT COUNTY SHERIFF COURTHOUSE ANNEX A105 428 $. HOLMES ST. SHAKOPEE, MN 55379~1391 (612) 496-8300 911 EMERGENCY' ONLY Sept~mber 19, 1994 Frank Boyle19 Prior Lake City Manager Prior Lake, MN 55372 RE: AUgust Activity an Prior L4k@ Dear Frank: r- I am going to maka the reports pertaining ~o water patrol on Prior Lake very shcrt and to the point. For the month of August: 162.75 hours were Spent patrolling Prior Lake and th@ fOllowing citations, or warnings, (written and verbal) were issued: 3 Citations 1 ~ritten warning 42 Verbal warnings Should you, or the council, have any specific questions, please feel free to call. Sincerely, ?;j) William J. Ne~in Sheriff wJ'N:mlk -- M Equal Opportu1tity IAflirm.atilli' Act(lI1t EmplO)"f!T