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<br /> <br />Memorandum <br />To: Gem Lake City Council Project Reference: Hunting Ordinance Review <br />Copies To: Melissa Lawrence, City Clerk <br /> Kevin Beck, Attorney TKDA Project No.: 21076.000 <br />From: CJ Sycks, Planner Client No.: <br /> Evan Monson, Planner <br />Date: September 11, 2024 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Discussion regarding the Gem Lake Hunting and Weapons Discharge Ordinance <br /> <br />MEETING DATE: September 17, 2024 <br /> <br />ITEMS REVIEWED: Gem Lake Ordinance 124B, MN DNR Turkey Hunting Regulations <br /> <br />OVERVIEW <br /> <br />Ord. No. 124B was adopted in November 2016 and updated in August 2021. The ordinance prohibits the <br />discharge or use of dangerous weapons within the City of Gem Lake. There are currently 4 exceptions: <br />1. Archery Deer Hunting <br />2. Target Archery <br />3. Defense of Self and Property Against Vicious Animals <br />4. Law Enforcement <br /> <br />The Planning Commission directed staff to consider amendments to the ordinance to add archery turkey hunting. <br />On Tuesday, September 10, the Planning Commission reviewed proposed amendments. A draft of the amended <br />ordinance is available for the Council to review. <br /> <br /> <br />OVERVIEW OF ORDINANCE UPDATES <br /> <br />Proposed Ordinance Structure <br />The exceptions to discharging dangerous weapons are listed in Section 4. They are written in the order listed <br />above. With the addition of two additional hunting sections the order will be as follows: <br />1. Target Archery <br />2. Defense of Self and Property Against Animals <br />3. Law Enforcement <br />4. Archery Hunting <br />5. Archery Deer Hunting <br />6. Archery Turkey Hunting <br /> <br />Section 4.1 is proposed to regulate “Target Archery .” The proposed changes are listed below. <br />c. Currently states ‘…the “clear” area must be at least 1/3 of the estimated maximum shot distance…’. <br />Proposing to add “beyond the target” for clarification on the clear area. <br />d. Proposing to include a prohibition of target archery on October 31st. <br /> <br />Section 4.2 is proposed to regulate “Defense of Self and Property Against Animals .” The proposed changes are <br />listed below. <br />• Proposing to remove the descriptor “vicious”. Stating “…against an animal while acting in self -defense or <br />defense of another, or to defend property…from harm or damage” is sufficient. <br /> <br />Section 4.4 is proposed to regulate “Archery Hunting.” This subsection will include the regulations that apply to <br />both deer and turkey hunting permits. Below is an overview of the section: <br />a. requires a hunting permit.