HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/18/06
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MINUTES OF THE LAKE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
April 18, 2006
I. CALL TO ORDER
The Lake Advisory Committee (LAC) Meeting was called to order at 5:10 P.M.
Members present: Harry Alcorn, Charlene Jasan, James Marchessault, Donna
Mankowski, Dan O'Keefe (Chair).
Others present: Roger Kamin, (Citizen), Warren Erickson (Council Liaison), Larry
Poppler (Assistant City Engineer) Ross Bintner, (Water Resources Engineer).
II. CONSIDER APPROVAL MEETING MINUTES
Mankowski made a motion to approve the February 2151 meeting minutes, Alcorn
seconded that motion. (Pass 5:0)
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III.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Review Access Issues - Shady Beach and Sand Point Beach:
LAC received comments from Roger Kamin of 14253 Shady Beach TrI, N.E.
and a written comment including pictures. Roger suggested two mechanically
operated iron gates on timers that would automatically open and close access
at Shady Beach.
The LAC discussed the practicality ofthe proposed solution including
functionality for emergency access, cost, and practicality. The conversation
also ranged over a series of potential problems and solutions.
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a. A summary of the problems discussed
i. Late night noise due to winter access after park hours.
ii. Safety concern relating to parking cars in close proximity.
iii. Damage to private property due to cars parking near beach, or
being towed through private property.
IV. Jurisdiction between Sheriff, City, and DNR causing lack of
enforcement
v. Changes to Shady Beach or Sand Point access effects the other
access.
b. A summary of solutions discussed
i. Closing or restrict access to Shady Beach Access.
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ii. Providing additional accesses to disperse crowds.
iii. Enhanced enforcement of existing laws and ordinance.
c. Set Public Meeting Date
i. LAC recommended that review of surface water
ordinances take place prior to a public hearing. A meeting
with the City Police, DNR, Sheriff, and DNR will be
pursued by staff in May.
ii. September public meeting preferred.
d. Action Items
i. City Staff will coordinate the DNR, Sheriff, and police to be
present at the next LAC meeting
11. City Staffwill develop a chronology of events concerning the
accesses on the north side of Prior Lake.
111. City Staffwill check with other Cities to determine their
procedures for handling winter access issues.
IV. City Staffwill review current rules for the accesses on the
north side of the lake.
2. Promotion of Lake Clean-up Day - June 10th
Mankowski reported on her organization activities of for Lake Cleanup day.
a. Agenda item on May 1 st Council Meeting
b. June Wavelength sent out on May 271h
IV.
OTHER BUSINESS
The LAC acknowledged the contributions ofMarv Mirsch, who served on the
LAC, and recently passed away.
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V. STAFF UPDATE
1. May 1, 2006 - CC to consider LAC recommendation proclaiming June 10, 2006
Lake Cleanup Day.
a. LAC recommended using website to promote cleanup day and upcoming
access issue public hearing.
2. June 13, 2006 - annual "surf and turf' City tour for LAC.
3. June 19, 2006 - City Council workshop on lake usage.
4. Poppler reported that 2 dock complaints have been logged so far this year.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Capital Improvement Program
Poppler detailed water quality items in the CIP. Alcorn asked for clarification on
information regarding the prior Lake outlet channel. O'Keefe asked about
funding for rough-fish removal program. Poppler explained that some items
dealing with water quality and in the budget since they are maintenance items
rather than "capital improvement."
a. LAC reviewed CIP and suggested funding for a web camera on the
Prior Lake
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b. Details of a webcam were discussed: O'Keefe mentioned possible
locations as Yacht Club Island and Water Tower. Marchessault
suggested the possibility of using the 21 bridge as the location since it
has utilities. Mankowski mentioned Captains Jacks as a possible
location.
Marchessault asked for clarification on the CIP item "Non-degradation Report"
Bintner explained that this is a requirement of NPDES rules, and will result in a
study on pollution levels in the lake.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Ross Bintner P. E.,
Water Resources Engineer
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To: The Prior Lake Lake Advisory Cv......uittee
From: Roger D. Kamin, 14253 Shady Beach Trail NE. Prior Lake. MN 55372
Date: April 18.2006
Subject: Shady Beach Trail Access Road Issues
I live right next to the access road and in the past bavehad meetings with various
. neighbors regarding the problems we have had with this road. I would like to be a help to
the committee by ..........liding some research and some suggested solutions to these difficult
issues.
In the broadcast of the wrap up of the February 6. 2006 Council Meeting. Mayor Jack
Haugen talked about the Council keeping in mind to always do what ever they can to be a
win-win with the residents of Prior Lake. It is in that spirit that I bring to you today a start
of some suggested solutions and more of what I hope to bring to you in the coming
months as I do research for our neighborhood on suggested solutions that can be a
C'ULU.t'L....mise win-win for everyone.
We as a neighborhood recognize that we in no way want to restrict the rights of our
neighbors aOUl using the access road. For most of the year the access road is only used
by the neighborhood because there rightfully is no parking of trailers on any streets.
During Ice Fishing Season is when the problems arise and it is generally coming fiUAU
fishermen outside of our neighborhood who do not ....')pect our l".u,perty or our peace.
We as a neighborhood I believe would be willing to keep the access road open all year
round if our problems can be solved with various solutions.
Before discussing the problems and a few possible solutions. I want to point out that in
some years there are fewer Police calls because the ice may get thicker sooner and the
fishermen are not ....c:ul..:ng along the shoreline. or the calls are going to the Sheriffs Dept.
or at time we give up calling because we see it is not doing any good.
A major problem is that the Police and Sheriff's Departments each have only limited
jurisdiction. (The Police over the access road and the Sheriff over the Lake.) Both
departments tend to pass the buck off onto the other because the problems arise going on
and off of the Lake using the access road.
I PLEAD WITH YOU TO COME UP\\'UH COOPERATIVE RECOMMENDED
SOLUTIONS BETWhhN THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS TO AVOID THIS MAJOR
PROBLEM.
There are three specific major problems as follows:
1. Noise liVUl cars, trucks, ATV's, and snowmobiles past 10 pm using the access
road. The Police say they do not have the manpower to police it.
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2. Damage to private }J.luyerty, trespassing and littering as a result of vehicles being
allowed to park right at the shoreline of private homes. When ice is too thin, the
vehicles break through and at times have to be towed out of the lake across
private yards. What is not a problem is when the ice is thick enough and vehicles
drive to their own shanty.
3. Parking trailers on the neighborhood sL.v"j,.., against the law of the posted signs
causing congestion and safety issues. The Police need to enforce the law all year
round more strictly and do not just give warnings.
Some possible solutions at this time and which will be expanded as we do more research
include the following:
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1. Put up iron gate that are controlled on a timer to go down at 10 pm at both ends of
the access road to }J.lI,;,ilent vehicles 1iu:l.lJ. going halfway down the road, and then
the gates would go up at 5 am.
2. Enforcement of noise laws ct....lv.1.l11y in effect or added. _
3. Createaeity ordinance to not allow parking near the shoreline. The DNR has told
me that this is possible.
4. Not opening the access road when the ice is too thin along the shoreline when it
can be seen that it is melting or that the t.:,.1.l.lt'"..~.Jl'es will get above a certain level
during the day.
5. Looking into building a public trail as an access. Getting the cooperation of the
DNR to possibly use wet lands that are frozen as an access. There is an area just
east of the Sand Point Beach.
6. The Sand Point Beach Boat access road should be kept sanded and used for ice
fishermen.
7. As a last resort, vacate the prul'....llJ to a neighborhood association that would
Cv.1.lL.vl access only by members of the Association.
8. Various other alternatives to be submitted later.
I look forward to working with you on these issues. I respectfully request that you give
yourselves and our neighborhood more time to research various alternatives before a
public hearing so that we can perhaps placate many of the concerns that may be raised
and make life easier for all of us. I suggest that the hearings start sometime in June or
July.
Respectfully submitted,
4..d./(~
Roger D. Kamin
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