Agenda - Council - 05/13/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I ;I I I I I I I I I I I I CASE INTRODUCTION OF RUM RIVER "NO WAKE" ORDINANCE By: Ryan R. Schroeder Notification: Anoka County, Cities ofAndover, Anoka and Oak Grove, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are receiving copies of this case. If Council pursues this ordinance, owners of property along the fiver will be afforded the opportunity for a public hearing. Background: In 1990, the City of Anoka adopted a "No Wake" ordinance on the Rum River from the confluence of the Mississippi River, upstream to the border with Ramsey. In 1993, the Ramsey City Council considered a similar ordinance regulating boating traffic on the Mississippi, at the request of a resident on the river. Ultimately, this ordinance was not adopted due to possible costs and uncertain positive impacts of the restrictions on that river. At the April 29, 1997, joint Council meeting with the cities of Anoka and Andover, Andover requested that Ramsey consider adoption of boating restrictions on the Rum River in concert with consideration of the same within Andover. The Ramsey Council, by consensus, suggested that this item could be placed on the next regular agenda for consideration. Enclosed is a draft ordinance which is almost an exact duplicate of the Anoka ordinance presently in place. The only substantial difference is that this ordinance directs that Anoka County is the enforcement authority along with the Minnesota DNR. In Anoka, the local police department was also named as an enforcement agency. It appears, however, that in actuality, Anoka County conducts the necessary activities on the river in Anoka as is suggested in this Ramsey ordinance proposal. Prior to adoption of any regulations on a surface water, the Minnesota DNR will need to provide their approval. The appropriate application will be formally requested should Council introduce this ordinance. The DNR may take up to 120 days to complete their review. At the joint meeting noted above, it was represented that there are a significant number of sensitive areas on the fiver and its adjacent shoreline. It was also represented that boat traffic does have the potential of excessive speeds on the Rum, thus exacerbating any erodable conditions that may exist. It was also noted by Anoka Mayor Beberg that the Anoka County Sheriff's department does have the boating equipment available this year to monitor river traffic on the Rum. When we last took up the issue of river regulations, it was represented that the City would be responsible to provide buoys for signage purposes and to provide ongoing maintenance of these buoys. At that time, the cost estimate was $200/buoy. It would be