Agenda - Council - 09/14/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I i I ~ormal complaint via the city attorney. This type of operation would be done as a sort of saturation in specific problem areas. Another suggestion was to do a sobriety checkpoint sort of operation on highway #10 and other main roads. I don't think that sobriety conditions are a major factor in our local complaints but it is something to consider. One of the most prevalent suggestions was to do more educating of the citizenry regarding the ordinance. This would be done through the Ramsey Resident, for the most part and by whatever other means that are available and practical (schools are one avenue). One person suggested that the city maintenance crew, during their "wing-back" operations might adjust the wing so as to flatten out a space along the boulevard areas and thereby create a riding area. This would need to be done on only one side of a street, preferrably on the opposite side from mailboxes. I don't know if this is feasible and would have to be discussed with Merle. The question came up about the city providing for trail systems throughout the city for many variety of activities but snowmobile use seems to be never mentioned. They asked why the trail areas being acquired can't have an area designated for snowmobiles. There was a suggestion that perhaps the Ramsey Expo could provide a booth space at little or no cost to the snowmobile club(s) in order for them to do some educating. Perhaps Jim Gromberg could take a look at this possibility. The general feeling of those present was that they don't see damage being done to boulevard and ditch areas by normal operation of the machines, even on rather light snowcover. My observations, done early this spring and just recently, agree with this in that I looked at some areas that I know were used by snowmobiles this past winter and I see no sign of those areas having been travelled. As to driveways, cement and asphalt, they said that some of the machines that have carbon steel wear bars and studs will cause some gouging and scratching, particularly when the operator may be accelerating when crossing. Again, education and guidance would come into play in asking operators to swing out around driveways and even travel exclusively on the streets when there is sufficient snow or ice on the pavement. It was noted that in some city or other the plowing crews raise their blade so as to create a snow area on the roadway adjacent to the curb or shoulder. It was thought by all of us that this could create a liability problem and be cumbersome for the street crew. As to the present ordinance there was general satisfaction with its present construction. A couple of changes would address lowering the age for street operation to 14 instead of 16 as long as the person has a safey certificate. One of those present lives in the urban area and said that he.and several of his neighbors area quite avid snowmobilers and it seems discriminatory that they have to trailer their machines a few blocks in order to ride about the city. He said they will frequently go up to places such as McDuff's and other