Agenda - Council - 09/27/2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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INTRODUCTION Snowmobiling generates $22 billion in annual spending across the United States while also generating millions of dollars in tax revenues for state and local governments. It is extremely important to many local communities where it helps improve the quality of life during winter and brings tourism business in what otherwise would be an off-season for many areas. Snowmobile tourism can be particularly important in rural communities where it often helps businesses stay open and people employed year-round. The Snowmobile Friendly Community (SFC) Program is provided by the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) to help state snowmobile associations recognize communities and businesses that cater to the needs of snowmobilers. Communities and businesses designated as `snowmobile -friendly' can benefit from enhanced tourism promotion opportunities. In turn snowmobilers benefit from improved safety and access to services, along with easy recognition of communities and businesses that will cater to their trip needs. SNOWMOBILE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY What Helps Make A Community `Snowmobile Friendly'? Snowmobile Friendly Community offers some or many of the following elements to ensure sufficient snowmobile safety and access value is received to match SFC designation status: 1. Community is directly connected to a system of groomed snowmobile trails and has at least one groomed snowmobile trail that runs through or directly adjacent to the community (suggested that this be mandatory for SFC participation) 2. Community provides connections to services (fuel, food, lodging, repairs, etc.) within the community that can be accessed by snowmobile through any or all of the following methods: • allows snowmobile operation on designated routes (trail and/or non -trail) within the community • allows snowmobile operation on designated snow covered roadways • allows snowmobile operation within road right-of-ways • allows snowmobile operation on the shoulder of plowed roadways to cross bridges • allows snowmobile operation on plowed road shoulders or at the outside edge of plowed streets or roads in order to reach businesses and/or residences 3. Community has `snowmobile friendly' snow removal policies that help prevent: • creating safety hazards caused by snow removal operations unnecessarily depositing snow onto groomed snowmobile trails • unnecessarily removing all snow cover from designated connecting routes (streets and road shoulders) needed for snowmobile access to key fuel, lodging and food services 4. Community provides trail maps, signing and/or literature that clearly identifies designated snowmobile travel routes, along with any other materials which assist snowmobilers with trip planning 5. Community actively promotes snowmobile tourism and snowmobile -related businesses 6. Community educates area businesses about how to cater to the needs of snowmobilers 7. Community educates snowmobilers and motorists about proper rules and etiquette for road sharing and road crossings 8. Community regularly partners with local snowmobile club to promote: • snowmobile safety • equitable law enforcement related to snowmobiling • coordination of emergency response efforts 4