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e e e Mayor Dennis Probst, City Council Members And City Administrator City of Arden Hills June 18, 2001 Page 2 The State rules currently allow for the creation of speed zones of 5 miles per hour within 100 or 150 feet of shore. Amending the ordinance to one of these distances would bring the City into conformity with the State regs and rules now permitted and if 150 feet were to be used this distance would also conform to the current personal water craft rules. As noted in the testimony, Lake Owasso and Prior Lake (both are considerably larger than Lake Johanna) have adopted the 150 foot rule. It would also expand the usable surface area making the lake safer. Almost all ofthe people I have talked to before and after the meeting were of the opinion that limiting the lake to the surface area beyond 250 feet would not improve safety butactually make the lake less safe because of the concentration of the use in a much smaller area. In regards to the restricted speed area consisting of the shallower portion in the center of the lake off Northwestern College, a long time resident, Nancy Hanson. pointed out that the area was originally full of tall bulrushes or reeds. This vegetation has been lost due to changes in the water level of the lake over the years. The official DNR map indicates that most of the lake in this area is typically deeper than 5 feet (see copy of enclosed DNR map which was taken from the Internet). With the loss of the bulrushes and reeds and its depth, there is no real reason to keep this area limited to a reduced speed zone. The area is poorly defined in the ordinance which makes the enforcement impossible without the reeds being present to demarcate the area. I would encourage this area to be removed from the 5 mph speed zone ordinance if you amend it. Under the current boating laws. neither the City. County or the DNR has any duty to mark shallow areas. In the 15+ years I have lived on the lake, I have not heard of any accidents caused by this shallow area. I would also encourage the City Council to consider amending the ordinance to make it clear that the State law allowing a motorized water craft to launch or drop off a skier in the restricted speed zone is permitted. All of the other ordinances that I have reviewed which create a restricted speed zone within a specified distance from shore have specifically provided for the launching and dropping off of a skier or tuber. In addition; the adoption of such a rule would conform to the current State personal water craft laws that are, irieffect. It is very unsafe to drop skiers far from shore and then have to go back and pick them up. It is also very difficult to teach new skiers from deep water. I have taught over 150 people to ski and I can assure you that without being able to help a new skier in shallow water to correct his or her body position and to help control their skis, it would have been very difficult. In regards to any concerns about erosion, it was pointed out to the council that Lake Johanna is in fact a holding pond for the runoff and drainage of many areas including the Roseda\e Shopping Center area. Lake Johanna will often rise between 2 to 4 inches for each inch of raill received in the area. Thus, the lake level goes up very rapidly. It was pointed out by 10llg time resident, David Corlan. that there is also more erosion caused by the natural effect of wind creating waves that crash into the shore and tunneling caused by muskrats and other animals. One resident also pointed out tbe high banks cause hydrostatic pressure on the banks. Most residences around the lake have placed rock and/or other materials and vegetation to prevent erosion. Most ofthe erosion is caused by wind