5.g) Staff Report-Ordinance Regulating WatercraftSCANDIA
Staff Repovt
Date of Meeting: November 18, 2014
To: City Council
From: Kristina Handt, Administrator
Re: Ordinance No 155 Watercraft Regulations During High Water on Bone Lake
Background:
MN Administrative Rule 6110.3700 allows counties, cities, and towns to implement a no wake rule
on lakes under certain circumstances.
Staff began looking into this issue following a request from a resident on Bone Lake to post a no
wake sign. After the Council directed staff to prepare the ordinance for Bone Lake at the July work
session and a public hearing was held in August. As previously discussed, with the Council only
meeting at certain times in the month it can be difficult to plan for a temporary slow no wake zone
given the rainfall and weather fluctuations. Having an ordinance that sets the rules for the slow no
wake will allow staff to implement it when certain conditions are met.
After the August public hearing, staff sent the draft ordinance to the DNR for review. We received
approval in late October.
Issue:
Should the City pass an ordinance regulating watercraft use when the lake levels exceed the
ordinary high water level on Bone Lake as described in Ordinance No 155?
Proposal Details:
The ordinance would allow the City to implement a no wake zone within 300 feet of the
shoreline of Bone Lake if the water level exceeded the OHWL. Once enacted, the no wake
would remain until the water level is below the OHWL for three days. Washington County
sheriff's office would have primary enforcement.
Fiscal Impact:
The City would incur the cost of posting the signs.
Options:
1) Approve Ordinance No 155
2) Amend and then send Ordinance Back to DNR for review
3) Do not pass Ordinance No. 155
Recommendation:
Option 1.