RLAA Board Meeting Minutes for December 29, 2011

Location: Lynde's Restaurant in Osseo                                                                                                                                          Time: 7:30 a.m.

Call to Order at 7:10 am

Approve this Agenda

No changes made

Introduction of Board Members and Guests

Present: Bill Kidder, George Schneider, Wade Quale, Rick Stulac, Scott & Joy Roeglin

Absent: None

No guests were present

Treasurer Report (George for Rick)

Total of $12,5500 in the bank (Savings/Checking)

$621.10 for Dissolved Oxygen Meter

LIP request for 50% funding will be submitted in 2012 to LQC

$50.00 for Website hosting charges

Upcoming Expenses

No other expected bills coming up through at least the next 3 months

Old Business

Rough Fish Removal project

Need to reassign this task to another board member since Larry resigned.

Individual will just need to continue contact with the commercial fisherman during present time.

No need for any other action at this time.

Last Action siince June 8 Board meeting:

Larry contacted Jeff Riedemann and discussed contract needs, timing, commitment, etc

No plan for action at this time.

Next steps:

See how Foster Lake carp removal project goes with Jeff this winter to decide next steps

As of 12/27/11, Riedemann waiting for carp to school up before removing.

On-Going Business

Have a 2nd All Members meeting sometime later in the summer

Measure how RLAA has been doing and plans for the upcoming season.

Good method to get feedback from membership.

Do we want to investigate having such a meeting before the winter?

Plan to discuss at our next May (2012) Annual Meeting with members.

Elm Creek Watershed TMDL Project Plan (George)

·         Stakeholders Meeting #6 held on October 26

o        Participants broke into groups to discuss different concerns about the project

o        Some good information with more definite direction came out of this meeting

·         Project is still in the data collection phase through 2012

·         Next Meeting will be during the winter (TBD)

Update  on 2011 projects

·         Potential 2011 Projects for this season through  early spring submitted to LQC for funding:

o        Dredging out boat ramp channel

§         Follow ups with DNR Hydrologist and residents who denied project work. (George)

§         Based on those conversations, see if we want to pursue this project for this winter.

§         How do the respective Rapid Response groups (Hennepin County Water Patrol, City of Maple Grove, etc) feel about an unsafe channel access to the lake? Maybe we should be approaching these organizations to get their support. (Scott to research and collaborate with rest of board with possibly a RLAA-letter)

o        Carp Removal in 2011

§         Keep this on the possibility list for the future. No action planned for winter of 2011-2012. See how the Foster Lake project works this winter as a benchmark.

Q3 2011 Newsletter

·         Q1-Q3 2011 Newsletter released in October.

·         Plan next newsletter for Q1 2012 to be released in March/April

New Business

AMLAC (Bill/George)

This opportunity was discussed at our November LQC meeting, but the idea has since been cancelled and another group known as AMLAC (Association of Medicine Lake Area Citizens) has been introduced.

Membership consists of lakes which are in Three Rivers Parks District and have concerns about controlling aquatic invasive species.

First 2 meetings are free of charge and have been scheduled for January 18 and February 8 at the Plymouth City Hall.

Each interested lake association is asked to RSVP to the 2 meetings and participate.

Action Item: At our December board meeting two (2) board members volunteered to  attend as RLAA representatives (Bill Kidder and Scott Roeglin).

MN Waters Lake Management Plan for Communities (Bill/George)

This project is a little more extensive and consists of hiring MN Waters to get up to 4 Lake Associations together within a Watershed District or geographical area to expose both association board members and the general public to concerns/desires of their respective lake associations.

RLAA Consensus - Wait and see what the State of the Lakes project by the City of Maple Grove generates as interest and awareness within the community. Does that warrant further research into joining the MN Waters Lake Management Plan initiative.

State of the Lakes project (Bill/George)

A city newsletter will be compiled by Rachel Stangl, an intern with the City of Maple Grove, describing each of the city lakes, their unique qualities and needs.

Information produced from this project could help determine need to participate in the MN Waters Lake Management Plan for Communities project.

RLAA Member Appreciation event (George)

Discuss plans for conducting a Bowling Banquet at Sundance over the winter for those who paid dues in 2011.

Action Item #1: Scott & Joy Roeglin will look into availability and cost for the Sundance facility for an event, possibly in February and report back to the board.

Action Item #2:  Bill Kidder will check into the current member database for some noteworthy accomplishments by members such as longevity, etc.

Maple Grove Surface Water Fee (Bill)

Terrie Christian from the Medicine Lake Association discussed at the November LQC meeting how their group encouraged the local watershed to charge a Surface Water Fee for all residents in that watershed. Funds could be applied to projects improving/maintaining water quality within the watershed.

Karen Jaeger from Maple Grove City Council seemed interested in this concept.

What can RLAA do to help get the city to incorporate a Surface Water Fee for Maple Grove?

Fishing along shoreline in NE corner of Rice Lake (Tristan Bay to County Road 30) this past fall (Bill)

Heavy foot traffic along shoreline is leading to potential for shoreline erosion.

We should get the City to recognize the damage to the area and have them control access to prevent further damage in the future.

Task Team Updates

Lake Management

None at this time. Probably should have another meeting before the end of the winter.

Our Member Appreciation event may be a good recruitment opportunity to get more members to this team.

Membership

Have not met since initial meeting last year. This could be a key driver to help grow the association membership. Do we have any volunteers to help chair/manage this team?

Our Member Appreciation event may be a good recruitment opportunity.

Other Business

Kuznik shoreline restoration project

City of Maple Grove/DNR forwarded info to RLAA for board members to review and comment.

12/7 - Sent board approval to DNR with comments and some concerns on project.

Homeowner has been allowed to work on 200' of shoreline without permit; remainder cannot be done until permit granted.

12/20 - DNR announces they approved permit for full 600' of shoreline rip-rap with the condition they maintain a 6' natural buffer strip along the complete shoreline.

12/29 - Concern was voiced by several members of the board on how quickly this project was pushed through and completed. Further follow-up with the City and DNR may be forthcoming.

Shoreline tree trimming (navigation hazards) (Scott)

Can the large branch overhanging the creek behind the Grefe's home in Tristan Bay be trimmed? This currently interferes with boats passing on the creek.

Action Item: George Schneider to check with the Grefe's for their acknowledgement of the issue and see if they aren't willing to trim, are they OK with RLAA volunteers doing so?

Adjournment at 9:05 am

Minutes by George Schneider 12/29/11                                Rice Lake Area Association website = http://www.ricelakemn.com