2009.10.19 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hugo City Council Minutes for October 19, 2009 Page 6 of 10 Thomas Rodriguez, 6150 151St Street North, said hunting waterfowl is a sport and there was prejudice against it. Thomas said 500 yards is extremely liberal, with the effective range of a shotgun being no more than 35 yards. Most hunters have been hunting with someone who has been hunting for years and it is tradition. His 8 and 11 year old children will be hunting with him this year, and he asked the Council to reconsider the Bald Eagle Lake regulation and to become more informed before making a decision. Rick Gwynn, 12277 Ethan Avenue North, said he is an avid duck hunter and it was a perceived safety issue; most residents on the east side of the lake are not hunters. Rick said there were other opportunities to hunt in Hugo, and irresponsible hunters were ruining it for all. Jacob French, 5343 Berry Lane, White Bear Township, said he mentors young hunters and would like to be able to take them to Bald Eagle Lake. He said to look beyond the noise issue and that it is a public lake, and Hugo should not have to conform with the other municipalities. Taylor Schmidt, 5897 Egg Lake Road, asked about having to be 500 feet from Egg Lake Road to discharge a air -soft gun. Community Development Assistant Dennis Fields clarified that the discharge of a controlled weapon within the limits of the road is prohibited. A resident at 6615 145th Circle North in the Diamond Point Development said he does not have a problem with hunters on Rice Lake, and the 500 -foot rule should be enforced. Crystal Burnston said she took offense to being called ignorant just because she disagrees. Crystal asked why canoeing, etc, should be less than those sports (hunting), and said there were more ways to enjoy family time outdoors that do not include hunting and shooting. Greg Mottl, 5353 West Bald Eagle Boulevard, said hunters don't have a lot of time to hunt before the lake freezes; people use the lakes year around. Greg asked the Council to reconsider hunting on the north end of Bald Eagle Lake. Dylan Tierney, 6360 151St Street Court North, asked about shooting off his deck. Sue Mottl, 5353 West Bald Eagle Boulevard, said she has lived on the lake for 47 years, and feels the ordinance is discriminating against duck hunters. She said she does not believe it is a safety issue and questioned how many citations had been issued. There were no other comments, and Mayor Miron closed the public hearing at 8:43 p.m. The Council discussed whether archery should be allowed in passive parks, whether hunting on Bald Eagle Lake was a nuisance or a public safety issue, establishing "zones" in the City, and if the definitions of a firearm and controlled weapon should be changed to include things that required a license. Mayor Miron asked for leadership from the group to meet with other governing bodies on Bald Eagle Lake to create a uniform, enforceable policy. Haas made motion, Weidt seconded, to table the issue to allow staff to address the concerns mentioned and work on a multi jurisdictional approach to hunting on Bald Eagle Lake.