RLAA Board Meeting Minutes for July 14, 2010

Location: Maple Grove Library (Room 105)                                                                                                    Time: 7:00 pm

Call to Order at 7:10 pm (George)

Approve this Agenda

Introduction of Board Members and Guests (George)

Present

Rick Stulac

Nika Rybinski

Larry Bick

George Schneider

Bill Kidder

Scott Roeglin

Joy Roeglin

Absent

Wade Quale

Guests

None

Treasurer Report (Rick)

Current finances

Any more new members since our last meeting on May 26?

Yes, David Johnson/Debra Davis (14269 88th Place).

Dues received to date

Received dues payments from 22 more households since May 26; now total 43 received

Total of $5,015 taken in so far (not including deductions for PayPal payments)

Total of $13,200 in the bank

NOTE: Our current PayPal permissions allow us to transfer up to $500/month to our RLAA bank account with WellsFargo.

Upcoming expenditures/bills

Nothing expected until the Zooplankton and Carp Exclosure projects end of summer.

Old Business

Board Member elections conducted by Zoomerang on-line vote

George, Wade & Nika reelected to 3-year terms through 2012.

We had forgotten to conduct this portion of business at the Annual Meeting on May 4th.

Membership concerns (George)

We are still missing many of the members who have paid dues in the recent past. What is the best way to reach out to the (and others) to renew interest in the organization?

Step 1 - Follow up e-mails (done in May/June)

Step 2 - Flyers (planned distribution for Maple Grove Days in mid-July)

Step 3 - Door to Door visits

Overview on the Membership Committee - First meeting was held on June 9th.

Planned projects

RLAA Flyer - Reviewed at this meeting and approved by Board with recommendation to add Membership information on backside.

E-mail reminders send out on May 29 to 115 e-mail addresses in our database

22 of 50 who paid in 2009 have not paid in 2010.

20 more homeowners paid since May 26 for a total of 42.

Rough Fish Removal project (Nika)

Is Jeff Riedemann going to get out on the lake this open water season (2010) to check for stumps, etc? Has anyone heard from him recently?

This would help determine where to set nets during the winter carp removal (2010-11).

Carp netting - Will be delayed until winter 2010-2011. Will come out of 2011 LIP budget.

Nika will follow up with Jeff on his plans to get out on the lake this summer? We need to know if he is still serious about coming through this winter.

Drag the lake bottom to see if safe from stumps?

Winter Access via Arboretum instead of Glacier?

Staging area for loading carp?

Bullhead netting - Hold off on any action for now. Wait to see how Lake Nokomis experiment with Channel Catfish works.

Carp removal is the primary focus of this project.

Carp Busters - Nika mentioned an e-mail response she got from a group called 'Carp Busters' , who guarantee results by bowfishing. She will follow up with them for more info.

Slalom Ski Course Permit request (George)

Course was set up in June. No further action required by board at this time.

It was noted that the course is used by at least 3 different parties several times per week.

On-Going Business

Q1 2010 Newsletter - Plan on releasing by 2nd half of July.

Annual Meeting is the feature story

Other topics to include

"Green" update? (Joy/Scott)

Membership update (based on info from Membership Committee)

Add section to Page 1 for RLAA Flyer distribution at MG Days

Elm Creek Watershed TMDL Project Plan (George)

Stakeholders meeting held on June 23 and attended by George as Rice Lake representative. Next planned meeting is going to be in September (quarterly updates). RLAA to keep ECWMC updated on activities undertaken on the lake to insure they do not conflict with TMDL Project.

Question was brought up if the RLAA Lake Management Plan is in line with the Watershed plan. The answer is "yes" - Bill Kidder elaborated on how on-going conversations have been taking place with the Watershed (Randy Lehr).

Storm Water Drain Inventory (Bill)

Anything new with the City on this project?

Bill is working with Brett from the City on getting latest maps matched up against the photo database we have built since last year. Will work with City to clarify any unknown drain locations and confirm all are working according to specifications.

Nothing new since our last meeting, but may be a good time to review locations around the lake when the trees are bare (either fall or spring).

New Business

Drawdown requirements review (George)

City must now request the drawdown to DNR.

Discuss actions and requirements with City Engineering department.

Curlyleaf Pondweed is on the increase - when it becomes a nuisance, can we use a drawdown to control?

Action Item - Need to set up a sub-committee from the Lake Management Committee to concentrate on the concept of a drawdown, rationale for one, and how to justify to the City so they can move the request forward.

It was agreed at this board meeting that there is no need to request a drawdown for this winter (2010-11), since we need more scientific evidence (plant surveys; water quality testing) to justify the need.

Funding opportunities - Star Lakes project and how Rice Lake could benefit (Nika)

Nika forwarded information she got from Star Lakes on funding opportunities after this board meeting was held. Board needs to review this off-line and discuss at next board meeting.

We need to provide our members with scenarios of what we "could" do if we had the appropriate funding for projects:

Plan A - Existing Lake Management Plan goals and objectives.

Plan B - If we had xxxx in funds, what else could we do?

This topic is probably best suited to be with the Membership Committee. (George to forward)

Project Updates

Carp Exclosure update (George)

Preliminary report from FSS on 7/14 was that the fenced in areas show all their plants still intact and growing, although some (such as Chara) are not flourishing as much as we had hoped. There were some plants in the unfenced areas which are gone, leading to the assumption that something removed them.

A final report will be available in the fall for both sites.

Zooplankton results (George)

Preliminary report from FSS in June was that the first sample in May showed support for game fish based on the type of zooplankton captured.

A final report will be available in the fall.

Task Team Updates

Lake Management (George)

Nothing new since last meeting.

Will forward Drawdown process/topic to this team to be reviewed by a sub-committee.

Membership (Rick/George)

Last meeting on June 9th came up with some good ideas.

Flyers to be distributed at Maple Grove Days 'Rice Lake Run' on Saturday, July 17 by a combination of Membership Committee and Board Member personnel.

Other Business?

No new items were raised.

Next Meeting date

The Library facility seems to be preferred by the Board, so we intend on having future meetings there.

Benefits over MG Government Center:

No charge for reservations or holding the room.

Wireless internet access (although no desk phones in the Room 105 we used)

Rooms are on outside walls with full length windows.

Adjournment at 8:50 pm

Minutes Draft written by George Schneider 7/15/10

Rice Lake Area Association website = http://www.ricelakemn.com