HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05-05-2015 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
May 5, 2015
Mayor Slavik called a Special Meeting of the Plymouth City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. in the
Parkers Lake Room of City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on May 5, 2015.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Slavik, Councilmembers Beard, Carroll, Johnson, Prom, Willis,
and Wosje.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: Administrative Services Director Fischer and City Clerk Engdahl.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Interviews
The Council interviewed applicants for the vacant seat on the Housing and Redevelopment
Authority.
Following the interviews, the Council directed staff to prepare a resolution appointing Kira
Vanderlan to this seat for the May 12th Council meeting agenda.
Medicine Lake Water Level Study
Immediately following the interviews, the Council proceeded to the Medicine Lake Conference
Room to continue their study session.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Slavik, Councilmembers Beard, Carroll, Johnson, Prom, Willis,
and Wosje.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF/STAKEHOLDERS PRESENT: Administrative Services Director Fischer, Public Works
Director Cote, Water Resources Manager Asche, City Clerk Engdahl, Ed Matthiesen, Wenck
Associates, John Barten and Rick Brasch, Three Rivers Park District, Karen Chandler, Laura
Jester and Ginny Black, Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, Randy Anhorn,
Hennepin County, and Kate Drewry, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Water Resources Manager Asche provided a presentation on investigating the low water level of
Medicine Lake during the months of July, August, and September, which has an impact on the
recreation opportunities. He stated a proposal was developed by the cities of Plymouth and
Adopted Minutes 1 of 3 Special Meeting of May 5, 2015
Medicine Lake to investigate options to improve the recreational opportunities during those
months. The options for investigation are:
Medicine Lake outlet modification
Modification of upstream structures
Sprinkling/water appropriation review
Dredging
Effect of private well use
Effect of late season (July, August, September) evaporation
He mentioned the current fixed weir system that was installed in 1996 or going to a
variable/adjustable weir system.
He stated the cost of the study would be $45,012 which would be split evenly between the cities
of Plymouth and Medicine Lake. The City of Medicine Lake has approved their portion of the
funding, but for Plymouth, this expenditure isn't identified in either the 2015 recreation or water
sources budgets and would need approval by the Council.
A number of Councilmembers voiced their frustration in the process by which this came before
them this evening. Typically, before any project would get to this point, study session(s)
would've been held by the Council to receive and discuss the issues (goals, who's involved,
current policy, cost, etc.). This item is already at the point of allocating funding for the study or
there is an expectation for the City to do so. This is a policy issue as the storm water utility fee
collected by the City is used only for water quality improvements not for recreation. It appears
to be more of a watershed issue as other bodies of water empty into Medicine Lake. This is also
an equality issue as the City has a number of lakes in the community. Lastly, after the study is
completed, there will be an expectation to fund improvements.
The Council received the following comments from the stakeholders:
John Barten, Three Rivers Park District: The recreation needs from the park area are being met.
Challenges have increased due to the increased size of boats. Their goal is to preserve the
natural resources while taking care of recreation.
Kate Drewry, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: In order to change runout elevations
lake outlet dams), it will take 51% of the property owners to submit the petition for the project.
However, no project will be completed unless there is 100% of the property owners in support
for the entire project area (upstream, downstream, and water body itself).
Randy Anhorn, Hennepin County: No comment.
Laura Jester, Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission: The commission isn't
interested in funding the study as it's a recreational issue, but would be interested in the results.
A majority of the Council stated that they don't support funding the study for the reasons noted
above.
Adopted Minutes 2 of 3 Special Meeting of April 7, 2015
Pat Anderson, 267 Peninsula Road, Medicine Lake, and President of AMLAC, requested this
item be placed on a City of Plymouth's regular meeting agenda in order to receive public input.
He voiced his frustration that the information they received regarding process for this study and
any improvements to the dam prior to this evening, conflicts with the information presented by
the stakeholders.
The Council suggested to Mr. Anderson that he discuss the information he received this evening
with the City of Medicine Lake and AMLAC. Following those discussions, he can come back to
the City.
Mayor Slavik stated this item isn't scheduled to come back to the Council at any point in the
future.
Adiournment
Mayor Slavik adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
Standra R. Engdahl, ty Clerk
Adopted Minutes 3 of 3 Special Meeting of April 7, 2015