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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/16/1976 . • . CITY OF APPLE VALLEY URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE September 16, 1976 PRESENT: George Hecker, Hank Myers, Jim Ronay, Dick Edwards, B. Erickson repr. the Police Dept. , Bill Holton and the following repr. snowmobile clubs: Jim Wheelock, Bob Johnson, Darrel Bonin. Hecker called the meeting to order and said that the group was together to discuss with the police their problems regarding the snowmobile ordinance and to get the snowmobilers and police to work together to patrol the snowmobile areas. Erickson said that there would be an insurance problem with the snowmobilers -- the committee said that they had discussed having the snowmobilers follow behind the police as Mr. Erickson had stated at an earlier meeting that the City has only one snowmobile and they prefer not to patrol� alone. Erickson said that they have gotten together with Eagan and Burnsville police and patroled together. Basically, he said, Apple Valley hasn't had the problems with snowmobilers the last couple years. The police dept. has used the clubs in the past and they have had offers of assistance from the different clubs. They have used the clubs in the past and appreciate their response. If there are times when they anticipate an officer being along, then they would call on the clubs. He reiterated that there have not been many problems the past couple years and they have not been out patrolling with the snowmobile. It is difficult to take a man off the street and put him on a snowmobile if there are not any problems. Erickson said that the DNR controls the snowmobile licensing, ordinance, etc. The committee is concerned about problems from snowmobiles �rom the surround- ing areas. If someone from outside the area is riding on the local clubs trails can the club member tell them to get off? Erickson said that the land owner would have to give them a warning. He referred to a situation at the Skelton gravel pit -- Mr. Skelton said he did not want snowmobilers on his property -- the police asked to get off and they left. It is difficult to keep them off private property unless you have an ordinance like Burnsville. Ronay asked if there was some way to keep the snowmobilers on the trails? You could limit the activity with designated trails -- is there any logical way of doing this? The Committee would like to propose an ordinance that would still serve the community three years from now; they would like to have an ordinance that could be enforced if we have a "good snowmobile winter." He asked if it would do any good to have designated trails? ERickson said that it is impossible to keep the snowmobilers off the city streets; you would have to include all the city streets in your designated trails so the residents can get on and off the trails. The only thing you can do is completely prohibit them from riding on the streets and there is not that much of a problem at present to do this. The ordinance seems adequate at the present time. The people from outside Apple Valley are the ones that cause the problems. � Page 4�2 Urban Affairs Comm' e September 16, 1976� � There was considerable question regarding the portion of the ordinance prohibiting snowmobilers from unloading on the street. The committee felt that people should not unload on a busy street. Erickson said that if they came off the trailer in a disorderly manner then he would give them a citation for careless driving. He felt that if they would issue a citation for parking on the street and unload- ing the snowmobile in an orderly fashion, a judge would throw it out. The Committee would like to have the City Attorney's opinion on Section 9, of Ordina�ce 48. Edwards asked if the ordinance should read that the police could designate areas that are unsafe for unloading snowmobiles -- example busy streets. Myers indicated that it is difficult to just "chug around" on your snowmobile now as the trails are busy and the riders seem to be in a hurry. Ronay reviewed the July 22nd meeting minutes. Holton said that he did not think that the ordinance needed to be changed; and added that there is no reason to have a law that is unenforceable. He thought that the general information sheet was a good idea. There was some discussion regarding the "lights-on" at all times and enforcing the knelling position on the street. The committee would like to have the City Attorney�s opinion regarding enforcement of a "24 hour lights-on policy" for the snowmobilers. Holton asked the committee to include only what is necessary. Meeting adjourned.