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Mayor Johnson recessed the regular Council meeting at 8:30 pm and
called to order the public hearing on the proposed revision of the
snowmobile ordinance, #239. The Mayor explained that there has been
a study commission consisting of various municipalities who have
met with the county attempting to write a new ordinance which would
conform operation of snowmobiles on a county -wide basis. As some
of the proposed laws may not be acceptable the municipalities were
asked to discuss the new ordinance and to take action, either
adopting or denying it.
Administrator Achen read Ordinance #239 with its proposed changes.
Mayor Johnson asked for questions from the floor or from the Council.
He then asked if there was any action to take on the proposed ordinance.
Councilman Baumgartner moved that the Council adopt Ordinance #239
and this was seconded by Councilman Hodges.
Councilman Shelquist stated that there have been some significant
changes, ie - the right to drive on municipal streets was restored;
the speed has been raised to 15 mph; the hours of operation have been
changed. Councilman Shelquist then moved to amend Section 202.03
of this ordinance, changing the hours of operation back from 11:00
on week nights to 10:00, and back from 1:00 am to 12:00 on Fridays
and Saturdays. This amendment was seconded by Mayor Johnson. The
comments were as follows:
Councilman Shelquist defended his amendment by stating that people
who go to bed early should not be disturbed. Councilman Pickar felt
that this would defeat the puiiose of trying to coordinate from one
city to another. From the floor Norm Ekland, who had chaired the
meeting to write the ordinance, Vice President of the Ramsey County
League of Local Governments, stated that the hours were liberalized
as a compromise. Ramsey County will also change the hours in their
parks. Hopefully there will be regulated trails that will be
maintained so that people will not be disturbed. Many communities
will not allow operation on the streets, but possibly through this
new ordinance they will be able to operate on the streets just to
get back and forth onto these new snowmobile trails. Gary Sward,
1176 - 44 Greenfield, mentioned that two years of work has gone into
the writing of this ordinance and if we don't compromise this will
just go on year after year. Councilman Baumgartner said that a part
of this new ordinance was to get the people from the streets and onto
the trails, but to get from their homes they are going to have to
travel on streets.
Mayor Johnson asked for a roll call vote.
Councilman Shelquist - aye
Councilman Pickar - nay
Councilman Baumgartner - nay
The amendment to the ordinance failed.
Councilman Hodges - nay
Mayor Johnson - nay
Mayor Johnson asked for questions from the floor on the main ordinance.