CCP 07-27-1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

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.' Mayor Robert Woodburn . City Council Members Public Safety Committee June 29, 1987 Page three In order to properly adopt a valid speed ordinance, the ordinance would have to be submitted for approval to the State DNR. If 40 m.p.h. is chosenr the approval 1S almost automatic since this is one of the three speed limits they are approving in order to standardize all speed restrictions on- lakes. The state will check wi th the county on their posi tion regarding the speed limit . It is my understanding the County would like to maintain a fixed speed limit of 40 m.p.h. on all county lakes so enforcement is unitorm and easier. The DNR is in agreement with a 40 m.p.h. speed limit. Whi te Bear has a lower speed due to the authority granted to the Whi te Bear Conservation District that waives State DNR approval. The County and State have also received inquiries from residents for speed limits on Turtle Lake, Snail Lake, Island Lake, Josephine Lake to name a few. In order to notify people of the restrictions on the lake, you will also need a better form of signage. The current signs are of little value. I have had to personally tell many people who have launched their boats at the public ramp that they are viOlating the law. -'Umos t all of them have indicated that they did not see the sign or . they did not understand it. Every weekend I tell someone that you can only ski counter-clockwise or from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 3 to 7:00 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, people ski all day long and they are generally people who launch their boats at the ramp. Any help in Changing the signage would be appreciated. Jim Tolaas of the Ramsey County Public Works Department, Lake Improvement Division said he was unaware of the problem and that he would try to make some improvements to the sign. Perhaps encouragement from the council would help correct this problem. Another item which I think creates a safety hazard involving surface water safety is the use of inner tubes, air mattresses, etc. for floating and drifting through the lake. There are many people who drift out into the lake on these inflatable apparatus. When the lake is being heavily used the drifters present hazards to people who are boating on the lake. The White Bear Conservation District addressed this same problem (see Ordinance No.4, Part II, Definitions, Section 1.01, Subd. 6 - in attached ordinance). This 1S a problem, but minor compared to the speeding and it only endangers those foolish souls who venture out. The other problem related to speed is the noise from said speeding boa t s, I think t11e problem of noise ~will be substantially reduced provided speed is also reduced. I certainly enjoy Arden Hills and its beautiful lakes. We built on . Lake Johanna because of the multiple use of the water. However! unlimited speed used by some individuals has detered our use of the lake for fear of injury from boaters using excessive speed. This should not be the case. -.--