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bl~Y~ HiBH~ND CHaTeaU HCG B4~ H~i JUL 10 '~5 11:~Z July 10, 1995 Snowmobile Cxamnittee City of Ramsoy 15153 Nowthen Boulevard N.W. Ramsey, MN 55303 Post-it'" brand fax transmittal memo 7671 Re: Position Paper In Absenfia To the mexabem of the Snowmobile Committee: I am directing this l~tter in absentia to the members of the City of Ramsey Snowmobile Committee as representing my position in the issue of snowmobile ordinance reform. Due to a family commitment on July 10, 1995, I ara unable to attend the first committee meeting. My position in the issue of snowmobile ordinance reform represents a combination of my personal position and the position of the neighbors I n~present as a block captain for the Fox Ridge Neighborhood Watch. Of primary concern for myself and my neighbors are: safety of residents (particularly our young children); and preservation of personal propexty (keeping personal property free of damage from snowmobile traffic). The city residents in my neighborhood formed a neighborhood watch group two years ago in an effort to m~!maln a safe neighborhood for everyone, especially our young children. One prevailing concern during winter months is the safety of children at play on our properties, often in areas traversed by recreational snowmobilers. Another primary concern is damage to property. Most of us in my neighborhood have experienced the scars of damage to property from snowmobiles scraping across our driveways and/or tearing up recently planted gaas, shrubs or trees. Because the current ordinance provides for right of way for snowmobiles within a particular boundary on our properties, we cannot develop that right of way for fear of damage, or from citation for blocking right of way. The current ordinance restricts the rights of individual property owners to use their own property for simple and basic activities such as landscaping or outaloor recreation. I would support changes in the snowmobile ordinance that would permit snowmobile access to areas of the city that are not zoned as residential and to permit limited snowmobile access to city street surfaces only. Changes in the ordinance must prohibit free access to any residential property unless express permission is obtained from the property owner. The City of Ramsey is just that, a city. We are no longer a township or village sprawling with vast acres of agricultural and. recxeational property. We are a growing CITY of paved streets and residential development. We do not permit the variety of motorized and non-motorized vehicles to access our front lawns throughout the year. Why must we continue to permit snowmobiles unwanted free access to personal property where they inflict damage and threat to safety? Mark E. Anderson 6060 173rd Ave N.W. Ramsey, MN 55303