Minutes - Council - 04/22/1997 - Joint with Andover and Anoka CC

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155. SPECIAL JOINT MEETING ANDOVER, ANOKA, AND RAMSEY CITY COUNCILS ANDOVER CITY HALL, 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD NW ANDOVER, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 1997, AT 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL A Special Joint Meeting of the Andover, Anoka, and Ramsey City Councils was called to order by Andover Mayor Jack McKelvey on April 29, 1997, at 7:18 p.m. at the Andover City Hall. City of Andover Councilmembers present: Councilmembers absent: Also present: Mayor Jack McKelvey and Councilmembers Mike Knight and Ken Orttel. Bonnie Dehn and John Kunza. City Administrator Richard Fursman. City of Anoka Councilmember present: Councilmember absent: Also present: Mayor Peter Beberg and Councilmembers Mark Freeburg, John Mann, and Brian Wesp. John Weaver. City Manager Mark Nagel. City of Ramsey Councilmembers present: Also present: Mayor Tom Gamec and Councilmembers Carolyn Beahen, Sheila Beyer, Natalie Haas-Steffen, and Jerry Zimmerman. City Administrator Ryan Schroeder. JOINT DISCUSSIONS Rum River "No Wake" Zone Mayor McKelvey explained erosion has become a problem along the Rum giver. The suggestion has been that the Cities of Ramsey and Andover both adopt a "No Wake" ordinance along the entire common boundary of the Rum River. Mr. Schroeder explained that in 1990 the City of Anoka adopted a "No Wake" ordinance. A similar ordinance was considered by Ramsey along the Mississippi River in 1993, but the issue was the inability to control it. So the ordinance was not passed. Mr. Nagel summarized Anoka's ordinance, noting they have a grant from the DNR to install buoys at the boat access on the Rum River each spring. The enfomement has not been as good as they would like. It is posted through the "No Wake" section. They have had the ordinance in place for six years, and there hasn't been a problem with it. In further discussion, it was noted that the Anoka County Sheriff's Department will be doubling its patrol on the Mississippi River as of May 15, plus two jet skis will be available for patrol. They will be patrolling the Rum River as well. It was generally agreed that the banks of the Rum River are being eroded and that steps must be taken to preserve them. There was some discussion on the whether or not the size of motor on the river should also be regulated. It was then agreed that the size of the motor isn't as much of a concern as the speed and resulting wake splashing at the river banks. Representatives from the City of Anoka agreed to forward copies of their "No Wake" ordinance to the Cities of Ramsey and Andover. It was also suggested that possibly the three cities could enter into a joint powers agreement to financially support the patrol of the Rum River areas. There was general agreement that the Cities of Ramsey and Andover would draft "No Wake" ordinances similar to that of the City of Anoka, solicit DNR approval, and hold the public hearings. Establish A New Hunting Zone Mr. Fursman stated the City of Andover has been alerted by Andover residents of gun shots and stray bullets near the Rum River. He suggested both cities look at where the residents are along the river and redraw the hunting lines accordingly. Representatives from the City of Ramsey stated their ordinance does not allow the discharge of firearms within 1,500 feet of any building nor on private property without the written permission of the property owner. They do not have a specified hunting area within the city limits. In reality, the regulations limit hunting to about three pieces of property in the City. They have not heard of any hunting problems in Rarnsey. Andover Councilmember Knight thought the problem may be the duck hunters on the river in the fall. There was some discussion with the problem resulting from the rising deer population and the issue of bow hunting. It was agreed that there is little, if anything, that the City of Ramsey must do regarding hunting regulations and that Andover may want to review its hunting zones if a problem continues.