Item Description:
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Neg Agmt with the State of Minnesota, acting through the Commissioner of the MN DNR, for long-term general maintenance through 12/31/46 and authorize parking and use regulations at the Lake Minnetonka North Arm Public Access
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate a cooperative agreement with the State of Minnesota, acting through the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, for long-term general maintenance of the North Arm Public Access site through the Environment & Energy Lake Improvement Program, during the period beginning on the date of execution through December 31, 2046; and that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the County; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that parking and use of the North Arm Public Access site be regulated in alignment with the City of Orono Resolution No. 7688 prohibiting parking and operating of special mobile equipment as defined by Orono City Code Section 6.12.7820, material staging, vehicle maintenance and business operations within the site.
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Background:
The North Arm Public Access, located at 3700 North Shore Drive on Lake Minnetonka, in the city of Orono, is one of many public lake accesses, fishing areas, and channels owned and operated under the county’s Lake Improvement Program (Resolution 78-5-93).
As part of the county’s North Arm Public Access redesign capital project (Project Number 1010122), the MN DNR has committed 30% of the construction costs up to $850,000. Funding contributions to lake asset improvements from the MN DNR require cooperative long-term maintenance agreements to ensure the shared investment continues to provide public benefit. This is a no-cost long-term maintenance agreement. After the redesign project is completed, routine maintenance costs for North Arm will be funded through the county’s Lake Improvement Program as part of the annual budgeting process.
The County and the MN DNR have worked together on shore fishing and public access sites through cooperative agreements for over 30 years, most recently funding improvements at the Coffee Cove shore fishing area in Spring Park.
In addition, the County’s North Arm Public Access redesign project received a conditional use permit from the City of Orono, for various aspects of the project, via City Resolution No. 7688, passed on June 8, 2026. The permit is conditioned on the County’s prohibition of “the parking and operating of special mobile equipment, as defined by City Code Section 6.12.7820, material staging, vehicle maintenance and business operations are prohibited within the site.” This condition prohibits most non-recreational, commercial activities on the site but still allows commercial access to the lake. Pursuant to Minnesota Statute sections 373.26, subd. 2 and 624.72, subd. 3, the county board has authority to regulate parking and access to and egress from public property, and can therefore promulgate, via resolution, reasonable rules and regulations implementing the parking and use restrictions contained in the city of Orono’s conditional use permit granted to the county.
Current Request: This request authorizes the County Administrator to negotiate a cooperative agreement with the State of Minnesota, acting through the Commissioner of the MN DNR, for long-term general maintenance, and authorizes parking and use regulations in alignment with the City of Orono Resolution No. 7688 at the North Arm Public Access site.
Impact/Outcomes: This action facilitates the necessary agreements to meet the obligations of the conditional use permit from the City of Orono and continues our partnership with the DNR to facilitate public access to Lake Minnetonka. The North Arm Public Access redesign project supports the county’s climate and disparity elimination goals by improving the natural systems resiliency and accessibility of the site. Our long-standing partnership with the MN DNR leverages additional resources that offset property taxes to ensure residents can access Hennepin’s natural resources for recreation and subsistence fishing.
This request funds services that are: N/A - no cost
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval