6.7. SR 07-18-2011E11~ REQUEST FOR ACTION
River
TO ITEM NUMBER
Ci Council 6.7.
AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY
Admuustration ul 18, 2011 Chris Leeseber ,Park Planner-Planner
ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By
Ordinance Amendment Regarding Disturbance of Natural Steve Benoit, Recreation Mana er
Resources and Wildlife in Parks VI ED BY
ACTION REQUESTED
Staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend the City Council approve the ordinance
amendment.
OVERVIEW
At their December 8, 2010 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, the Commission directed staff to
research ordinances regarding the removal of natural resources from City parks. They were concerned
with the harvesting of plants, which has happened in the past and with the removal of items such as deer
antler sheds.
Staff had contacted several agencies and received feedback from five. Ramsey County, Washington
County, Anoka County, Wright County, and Maple Grove Parks all provided ordinances with similar
language regarding the disturbance of natural features and wildlife.
Staff drafted an ordinance from the language provided by the other agencies. and presented it the Parks
and Recreation Commission in Apri12011. They supported the ordinance and recommended the City
Council approve the amendment.
ATTACHMENTS
^ Ordinance #11-
Action Motion by Second by Vote
Follow Up
ORDINANCE 1I-
CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER
ADDING SECTIONS 54-34 & 54-35 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES
RELATING TO DISTURBANCE OF NATURAL FEATURES AND WILDLIFE
I N PARKS
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1. That Section 54-34 of Elk River City Code entitled Disturbance of
Natural Features shall be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 54-34. Disturbance of Natural Features.
(a) Unless approved in writing by the City Administrator or their designee, it shall be unlawful
for any person and/or pet to:
1) Deface, remove, alter, cut, injure and/or destroy any tree, plant, flower, grass, rock, soil,
or mineral with in a City park.
2) Introduce any plant or other vegetation within a City park.
3) Dig trenches, holes, or other excavations ul a City park.
4) Remove any device, apparatus, or material installed for the protection, support, or
preservation of any tree, shrub, or plant.
Section 2. That Section 54-35 of Elk River City Code entitled Disturbance of
Wildlife shall be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 54-35. Disturbance of Wildlife.
(a) Unless approved in writing by the City Administrator or their designee, it shall be unlawful
for any person and/or pet to:
1) Kill, trap, hunt, remove, harass, annoy, pursue, or intentionally disturb or cause to be
disturbed, or have in their possession any species of wildlife found within the confines of
any City park, except that hunting, trapping, and fishing may be permitted by the City in
designated areas established by the City and shall be subject to the laws and regulations as
established by the City and the State of Minnesota.
2) Release or abandon any animal within a City park.
3) Feed any wildlife in a City park.
4) Remove any animal or animal remains, such as but not limited to, whitetail deer antler
sheds, from a City park. Any animal and/or remains so removed or taken contrary to the
provision of this Ordinance or the laws of the State of Minnesota, shall be considered
contraband and subject to seizure and confiscation.
Section 3. That this ordinance shall take effect upon adoption as provided by law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 18~ day of July, 2011.
N:\Departments\Parks and Recreation\Parks\Admuustration\Case Files\2011\OA 11-01\Ordinance Final.docx
John J. Dietz, Mayor
ATTEST:
Tina Allard, City Clerk
N:\Departments\Parks and Recreation\Parks\Admuustration\Case Files\2011\OA 11-01\Ordinance Final.docx