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City Council Minutes February 3, 2020 Page 6 Ms. Erickson stated she's received no real direct reason why the city hasn't received a response which is the reason for tonight's resolution and letter of support from the City council, which would perhaps provide more weight. She indicated because of the tight deadlines, if it is required to gain signatures by doing door-to-door to obtain support, that's what would be done. Councilmember Wagner expressed her concerns with the opt -out method, stating she wondered if the message would be clear enough and if relying upon a mailing will be informative and reliable enough, as it could potentially kill the entire project. She felt gaining support by going door-to-door would provide a better outcome. Councilmember Westgaard stated the opt -out method shifts the responsibility to the property owners who don't want the project to happen. He stated all the planning and educating to discuss the benefits of this project improving the quality of Lake Orono could all be for nothing and much hinges on it. He was in support of asking the DNR commissioner to sign off on the permit with option two to approve the opt -out method and hopefully get a timely response. Mayor Dietz asked if the opt -out method didn't provide the necessary 75% response in support, can they still get signatures in support? Ms. Erickson stated no. Councilmember Christianson asked Patrick Plant from the OLID board if they feel confident that the groups have 75% in support. Mr. Plant stated yes, but as stated in the letter the signature collection process as done in previous drawn downs was slow and took over a year, which is why the opt - out option is appealing. Mayor Dietz asked if there's a segment of people against this that would mount a campaign to send out an opt -out form. Mr. Plant stated he didn't feel that would be the case. He stated with the numerous information sessions, public hearing for the OLID board, the LORE was a dominant topic there, including people against the assessment, but they weren't ever against the drawdown. He stated the most cost-effective way to address the dredging project and to kill the curly leaf pond weed is best done by drawdown and freeze, but he noted a hydraulic removal could be pursued and that doesn't require a permit. Councilmember Ovall felt this is risky if this one-time vote doesn't pass and it could withhold future improvements. He wondered if there was a waiting period before taking future action. Mr. Plant didn't know how long a set of signatures were valid but thought perhaps a year. I 0■EIEI I INATURE