8.1 SR 10-05-2020
Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 8.1
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
General Business October 5, 2020 Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director
Item Description Reviewed by
Great Northern Trail Closure Ordinance Ron Nierenhausen, Police Chief
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Discuss a hunting ordinance amendment to close the Great Northern Trail (GNT) for annual firearms season.
Approve, by motion, an ordinance for the Chief of Police to close the GNT during the time hunting is permitted.
Background/Discussion
City Council directed staff at the September 28 Work Session to work with City Attorney Peter Beck to draft an
ordinance for GNT closure during the time hunting is permitted. This is based on the recommendations from the
Parks and Recreation Commission the Council close the GNT through an ordinance as part of the overall city
hunting ordinances.
Legal review of the proposed ordinance found additional concerns regarding the potential liability the city may
incur with the proposed ordinance. Therefore, staff is bringing this to City Council for further discussion.
An adjacent property owner who legally hunts his property explained why he believes the trail should be closed for
the nine days of the firearms season.
In 2010, the Commission recommended the GNT be closed. Under Chiefs Beahan and Rohlf, volunteers posted
signs stating, “Closed by the Order of the Police Chief”. Chief Nierenhausen would like an ordinance amendment
which his department can legally enforce. The firearms season this year is November 7-15, 2020.
Financial Impact
N/A
Mission/Policy/Goal
A legally enforceable city ordinance
Attachments
Proposed Ordinance Great Northern Trail Closure
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity.
Updated: August 2020
Great Northern Trail Closure Proposed Ordinance
Add new section 50-120 to the City Code, as follows:
Sec. 50-120. Great Northern Trail.
(a) Hunting on private lands adjacent to the Great Northern Trail (“GNT”)is permitted with
written approval from the Chief of Police as provided in Section 20-117 of this Code.
(b) If approval to hunt adjacent to portions of the GNT is granted, the Chief of Police is
authorized to close the affected portions of the GNT for up to nine days during the time
hunting is permitted.
(c) Use of the GNT in violation of a closure order shall be a violation of this Code.
(d) Signs shall be posted at each end of the closed portions providing the public with notice of
the closure and that use of the GNT in violation of the closure order is a violation of Section
50-120 of the City Code.