2005-10-05 P&R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Parks & Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes September 7, 2005 Per the Unapproved City Council Meeting Minutes from August 24,2005: Mr. Meyer, Finance Director, suggested Council consider authorizing the City Attorney to present a purchase agreement for the City's appraised amount of$285,000 to the Water Utility. The Parks & Recreation Committee agreed with this decision to attempt to move forward with the purchase of 1601 LaMotte Drive. Snowmobile Ordinance Chairperson Peterson requested a discussion of the snowmobile ordinance be added to the agenda. The Planning & Zoning Commission held a Public Input Meeting on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 regarding the possibility of banning snowmobiles within the City of Centerville. One resident was in favor of total banning because of property damage done by snowmobiles. Approximately a dozen residents were present to talk against banning snowmobiles stating many residents had moved to Centerville because of the rural location and access to snowmobile trails. Chairperson Peterson stated there were 23 police calls in the previous 2 years per Police Chief Makela, but enforcement of the snowmobile ordinance is difficult because the Centennial Lakes Police Department does not have a snowmobile or the manpower to chase down snowmobiles that violate the ordinance. The main problems are snowmobiles are driving on private property causing damage, speeding beyond the 10 mile per hour limit and driving on church and park property which is in violation of the ordinance. Chairperson Peterson stated that what transpired at the Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting was to set up a subcommittee with residents as members to review the snowmobile ordinance and try to come up with possible solutions to the problems and then reporting back to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mr. Tom Wilharber was present at the Planning & Zoning Meeting and as a trustee of St. Genevieve Church stated the church was considering disallowing snowmobiles riding through the church property to access Centerville Lake. This access has been an approved access in the past. The subcommittee was to discuss different options to get snowmobiles through town to trails and the lakes, as well as how to best get information to the public as to where they could and could not ride a snowmobile in the City of Centerville. Chairperson Peterson brought this information to the Parks & Recreation Committee as it was discussed at Planning & Zoning the possibility of a south snowmobile trail along the temporary dirt road from Centerville Road passing through Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park to the St. Paul Water Utility property on the lake which the City is attempting to purchase. This would give snowmobilers access to the lake. It was suggested this could be blocked off with fencing allowing snowmobiles minimal access to the property while still having a passage to the lake. On the north side of town snowmobilers do have access to Peltier Lake by following the creek to the lake. The DNR allows snowmobiles to ride waterways. A few residents complained that by snowmobiling on the creek it brought the riders close to their homes as their property abuts the creek, but the only way the City could control this would be to change the ordinance to say snowmobiles must keep a certain distance from homes, such as 30', but this would also affect the snowmobiles on the lake. Chairperson Peterson would like the committee to think about this issue as if the Snowmobile Subcommittee and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommend a trail through the parks it will need the Parks & Recreation Committee's input. VII. UPDATES Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park Plav Structure This item was discussed under the 2006 Budget. If the budget proposal is approved by City Council the committee will start work on planning a play structure for Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park for the spring of 2006. 40f5