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4.2. SR 01-16-2001City of River MEMORANDUM Item # 4.2. TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor and City Co~ci~l Michele McPhersoh",, Director of Planning January 16, 2001 Park and Recreation Commission Update for January The Park and Recreation Commission has met twice in January--the first on January 6, 2001 for a retreat to determine a work plan for 2001. The second meeting was the regularly scheduled meeting of January 10, 2001. The following is an update regarding activities from those two meetings: Attachments · Park and Recreation Goals 2001 · Proposed 2001 Park Expenditures · Articles on Snowmobiles January 6, 2001 Retreat 2001 Park and Recreation Commission Goals The Park and Recreation Commission identified the following six goals for work during 2001: 1. Develop park identification signage. 2. Create a marketing program for parks. 3. Create a separate Park and Recreation Department 4. Acquire or negotiate for acquisition of one property identified as a regional park. 5. Develop long term master plans for Youth Athletic Complex, Orono Park and Woodland Trails Park for budgeting and phasing purposes. 6. Develop resource management strategies. In discussing the various goals for 2001, the Commission felt that park identification signs were very important. In 2000, many park and trail boundary signs were installed, both by volunteers and by City staff. The Commission would to see an identification sign with each park name, the City logo, and an 13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone (763) 441-7420 · Fax (763) 441-7425 Memo to Mayor & City Council/January P&R Update January 16, 2001 Page 2 address for emergency response purposes which would help identify each park. The Commission briefly discussed the possibility of renaming some of the parks in order to avoid confusing situations such as Country Crossing 1 Park versus Country Crossing 3rd Park, etc. The Commission continues to investigate the components of a separate Park and Recreation Department and hopes to discuss the components and budget/staffing impacts with the Council by the end of 2001. 2001 Draft Park and Recreation Budqet The Commission reviewed the attached budget items for inclusion in a recommendation to the City Council. The Commission has not yet formally approved this proposed budget, however, staff would like to provide the Council with an update and the thoughts of the Commission regarding expenditures for 2001. In 2001, the Commission intends to continue developing neighborhood parks with the addition of new playgrounds, amenities, and other minor improvements. A major suggested budget item for 2001 is the development of a City Park and Trail Map which can be distributed to the general public and new residents. January 10, 2001 Meeting Snowmobiling within City Limits The Commission extensively discussed snowmobiling within the City limits, specifically, within the Urban Service District at the January meeting. The need to ban snowmobiles within the Urban Service District except on designated trails was debated amongst the Commission members, however, the Commission did not recommend at this time that the Council consider a ban on snowmobiles. The Commission will be discussing snowmobiling within the City limits again at its February meeting and during that discussion, several items will be included such as: 1) a local ban on the use of studs on City trails; 2) evaluating measures the Snowmobile Club has implemented to reduce damage at intersections; 3) the feasibility of identifying trails through the City that would not be plowed and would be designated as snowmobile trails, allowing the snowmobilers alternative ways through the Urban Service District; and 4) encouraging private property owners to grant permits for snowmobiles to cross private property. I will be in attendance to answer any questions the Council may have regarding these issues. Representatives from the Snowmobile Club will also be in attendance. S:\PLANNING\MICHMC\CCREPRTS~JANPARK.DOC o o 2001 Park and Recreation Commission Goals Develop park identification signage. Logo · Address · New park names Create marketing program for parks. · Logo · Brochure · Tag line Create separate Park and Recreation Department · Define Commission's new role Acquire or negotiate for acquisition one property identified as region park. Develop long-term master plans for ERYAC, Orono, Woodland Trails for budgeting and phasing purposes. Develop resource management strategies. S:\PARK&REC~2001 P&R.DOC Proposed 2001 Park Expenditures Barrington Park: all improvements $24,400.00 Riverplace Park: pl ayground $ 3 O, 000.00 amenities $ 3,000.00 Country Crossing 3ra Park: amenities Deerfield 4 Park: retaining wall landscaping Park Brochure/Map Unimproved Parks: Total: Devine Barn: $ 6,500.00 $ 3,000.00 $ 1,250.00 $ 8,000.00 $10,000.00 $86,150.00 Staff is currently working on an improvement plan for the Devine Barn. At a minimum, a new roof will be needed in 2001. S:\PLANNING\MICHMC\PARKNREC\2001EXPN.DOC Snowmobiling within city threatened despite effort Snowmobilers in Elk River have access to some of the best snowmobil- ing in the state via state highways 10 and 169 as well as an expansive county road system. They're also fortunate to have such a dedicated group ~- the River City Snow Riders -working to improve and preserve the sport within the city of Elk River. The group continues its quest to cre- ate a crosstown trail to connect high- ways 10 and 169 and a loop for Elk River, Otsego and Ramsey. These would be vital links to the communi- ties of Anoka, Otsego, Big Lake, Zimmerman and beyond; ones that the city fathers should have thought of long ago. Police Chief Tom Zerwas will tell you as much. But hindsight is always 20/20. The River City Snow Riders seem to keep plugging along. Hopefully, their persistence will pay off for this small but hard-working group. Unfortunately, there is another small and inconsiderate group of snowmobilers who may ruin it for all Elk River snowmobiling enthusiasts. This is the group who shows up in the Elk River Police Department blot- ter and the Sherburne County Sheriff's Department report for snow- mobiling illegally. New trails that were badly damaged last year are being damaged again. Driveways from snowmobilers riding on the boulevards in residential neighborhoods are also being dam- aged by studs. My sense is the city will stand for this for only so long. City officials are expected to meet this week to discuss the topic of snow- mobiling. The River City Snow Riders have been trying to educate the public about lawful riding, and they posted service district is very limited. Riding on sidewalks, paved trails, boulevards of city streets, private property without consent and on city parks is illegal. So, the only place to ride within the urban service dis- trict is between curbs on the edge of roadways en route to highways and the county road system. There are a few other rules to fol- low, like riding with the flow of Jim Boyle traffic and riding at legal speeds. It's a snowmobiler's fantasy land on snow days when access is good. But when the plows plow and the sun shines, the access deteriorates. Unless the city of Elk River decides to stop plowing, this problem won't go away anytime soon. The sheriff's department is also dealing with unlawful snowmobilers. A report on page seven of this week's paper illustrates some of the prob- lems deputies have been dealing with. Complaints about snowmobilers surfaced at an Otsego City Council meeting Monday night. A citizen group is forming to look at the matter in that city. Both the police and sheriff's depart- ments are taking snowmobile com- plaints seriously. Recent accidents involving snowmobiles highlight the need for safe, legal riding more than ever. Snowmobilers who want to preserve their sport would be wise to brush up on the rules of the game and make sure the children of the sport also "no snowmobiling" signs to the know how to play, too. It will take the ent?. ~ces, o~ a]'l' city~ trails and, in sev~,,',~-' cooperati~n~ of~ the w~ole~snowmobil- eral instances, barricades. ................ in~-c6misur/ity or ~e~56'd~ Wfll~l~6'~e h~s hasn t stopped the problem. A lot is at stake. Snowmobiling within the urban Flurry of frustration over snowmobiles by Susan M.A. Larson Staff writer Lack of law enforcement and lack of enforcement of snowmo- bile laws were the dominant sub- ject at the Otsego City Council meeting Monday. Several residents voiced com- plaints about snowmobilers speeding through city limits and the damage they are causing. They were equally frustrated by the lack of backing of the city snowmobile ordinance by the city council. One resident, Sharon Carter, said, "Every part of the law seems to be broken every day. My first concern is that I don't want to see a child killed. Disregard for private property is another concern." Merlin Bode, Otsego, said the city of Big Lake has banned snowmobiles from city limits and suggested Otsego do the same. The complainants stressed they have no quarrel':~ith the local snowmobile club ~ the Otsego Great River Riders, or the snow- mobilers who follow the rules. Many expressed concern at the lack of law enforcement the city provides (the city has a contract with the Wright County Sheriff's Department to provide law enforcement to the city). Some suggested if the city had its own police department, there might be more enforcement of the city ordinance. Others said what good is having law enforce- ment if the city council doesn't back them up? Jay Swanson, president of the Otsego Great River Riders, also expressed frustration with the "renegade snowmobilers." "I'd like to wring their necks," he said. "And I'd like to take them out with us when we clear the trails so they can see how much work goes into making a trail." According to Swanson, most offenses are being committed between 2-6 p.m., by youth whose parents aren't home. A lot of time, he said, parents don't know their kids are doing this. He advised everyone if they know the offending snowmobil- er, to tell his or her parents. Carol Swanson, secretary of the club, said their group is in the business of educating snow- mobilers. Last month the group held a snowmobile safety course attended by 27 youth. "It also frustrates me to see these abuses, because it jeop- ardizes something I love," she said. According to the Swansons, city ordinance allows snowmo- bilers to ride their sleds to and from a snowmobile trail on the right-hand side of city streets and in platted areas at 10 mph. Current state law reads that anyone born after Dec. 31, 1979, needs safety training and a safe- ty certificate to ride a snowmo- bile. That will be changed next year to anyone born after Dec. 31, 1976. Also, an individual must be a minimum of 14 before he or she can ride a snowmobile without a guardian on state trails, said Swanson. Mayor Larry Fournier suggest- ed a committee be formed from people on "both sides" of the issue to develop a starting point for the city council to find a solu- tion to the problem. Carter agreed a committee is a good idea, "But it goes back to enforcing. We can come up with all the rules we want, but they need enforcing," she said. In the end, 16 residents signed up. The first meeting will be Jan. 18, 7 p.m., at city hall. Council Member Vern Heidner will act as liaison for the group. Snowmobilers urged to heed rules Record snow brings complaints The record amount of snow in December brought with it a record number of snowmobil- ing complaints. According to Sherburne County Sheriff Bruce Anderson, deputies are taking these calls seriously and the number of citations being written is on the rise. "Our main objective is to ensure the safety of the snow- mobilers while protecting the rights of the landowners. Following the rules will help to ensure the continued use of trails on private land," Anderson said. The bulk of complaints received by the department involve trespassing. According to deputies patrolling the trails, a single snowmobiler operating in restricted areas leaves a trail that acts as an invitation to those who follow later that same day. Anderson said trails are get- ting very hard packed and rough, leading snowmobilers to search for softer riding con- ditions. "Unfortunately, the fresh powder is often on private property. Some riders are encroaching further up into yards, agricultural land and private property to find softer riding conditions," he said. It is illegal to operate snow- mobiles on the inside slope, shoulder and roadway of state and county highways. It is per- missible to operate in the bot- Deputy Scott Fildes of the Sherburne County Sheriff's Department, on patrol at the tom of the ditch and the out- side slope. Anderson said the number of citations for improperly oper- ating on the roadways is also increasing. Riders are allowed to go up onto the road itself to get around an obstruction. Riders must then return immediately to bottom of the ditch and the outside edge. There has been confusion among some snowmobilers who ride on the shoulders because state law differenti- ates between township roads and county and state aid high- ways, according to Anderson. Sand Dunes State Forest near Zimmerman. (Submitted photo) "It is permissible to ride on a township road as long as you're traveling in the direc- tion of traffic and staying to the right. My recommenda- tion: If you question whether you're on a township road or a county or state aid highway, then use the bottom and out- side slope of the ditch," he said. There have also been a num- ber of citations issued concern- ing the operation of snowmo- biles at night. Anderson reminds riders that from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, all riders must oper- ate their snowmobiles in the same .direction as traffic. That law includes those areas where there is a trail on only one side of a roadway. Finally, all individuals born after 1979 must have a safety certificate to operate a snow- mobile. Classes to obtain such permits are typically offered through local community edu- cation offices in local school districts. For more information contact Deputy Scott Fildes of the Sherburne County Sheriff's Department at 241-2500.