05-07-96 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES MAY 7, 1996 B. Parks Commission recommendation on deer hunt in Sunfish Park Mike Polehna, Washington County Parks Director, explained he accompanied the DNR in a flight over the Park Reserve, Sunfish Park and the neighboring 3M property to count deer. They counted approximately 64 deer in Sunfish and 80 in the Park Reserve. The DNR believes the count is only 75% of the actual, and that a manageable herd is 75-100 deer for his area. Two years ago the Park Reserve sponsored a hunt and harvested 40 deer and would like to coordinate another harvest this year which includes Sunfish Park. He would coordinate the permits, training, and newspaper notification. The City would set up the zones in the park, notify the neighbors, post the perimeters (shot gun slugs only) and coordinate police and helpers. The City can choose how many hunters they want to allow in the park. At their April 15, 1996 meeting, the Parks Commission recommended the Council allow a deer hunt in Sunfish Park this year. Mike Bouthilet will set up the two zones and have a separate lottery for 8 (10 at the most) hunters who live in Lake Elmo. M/S/P HunUDeLapp - to approve a deer hunt in Sunfish Park this fall in conjunction with the deer hunt in the Regional Park Reserve coordinated by Mike Polehna, Washington County Parks Director, based on the recommendation of the Parks Commission at its April 15,1996 meeting and charge Mike Bouthilet to set up the two zones, a separate lottery for 8 (10 at the most) hunters who live in Lake Elmo and to work out the details with the representative of Washington County and bring back proposal to Council for approval. (Motion passed 5-0). C. Review mower bids for Parks Department (and receive recommendation from MAC.) Mike Bouthilet explained at the May 6th meeting, the MAC reviewed the bids for a new grass mower for the Parks Dept. in order to meet the deadline for participation under the MnDOT bidding process. Bouthilet recommended purchasing the Kabota 2560E from Polfus Implement based on performance of demo unit, record with other agencies and price. A motion was made by the MAC recommending that the low bid for the John Deere 935 under MnDOT contract be rejected based on the Parks Supervisor's statement that he did not feel the John Deere was as good a choice as the other mowers. The current City John Deere mower has high maintenance cost and poor performance due to its age and felt it should be in better shape. Further, that Mike demo the Jacobson and the Toro in the next two weeks and report back to the MAC at their May 20th meeting. M/S/P HunUDeLapp - to table this item until the May 21, 1996 City Council meeting in order to receive the MAC recommendation on mower. (Motion passed 5-0). 8. PLANNING, LAND USE & ZONING: A. Browns Creek WMO The attorney for Grant Township is asking the members of the Browns Creek WMO to support dissolving the WMO and establishing a watershed district. By establishing a District, the Cities would lose their individual representation on the board because a District would be set-up similar to both Valley Branch and South Washington County. A district would have taxing authority which would have those in the watershed pay for water related planning and public projects. Those in rural areas are paying the same price as those in urbanizing areas. The City is paying approximately $540 in 1996 as their annual payment to the WMO which is an increase of $200 since 1995. It is estimated to be over $1,000 in 1997 since the Watershed is updating their plan. City Planner Terwedo recommended that Brown's Creek remain a WMO with a joint powers authority and that if a taxing authority is established, the method for establishing a fair taxing policy take into consideration rural vs. urban areas and up stream vs. downstream land uses. M/S/P DeLapp/Conlin - to direct the City Planner to write a letter on behalf of the City expressing her recommendations to the Browns Creek WMO. (Motion passed 5-0).