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<br /> <br />Memorandum <br />To: Gem Lake Planning Commission 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: August 26, 2024 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Discussion regarding the Gem Lake Hunting and Weapons Discharge Ordinance <br /> <br />MEETING DATE: September 10, 2024 <br /> <br />ITEMS REVIEWED: Gem Lake Ordinance 124B, MN DNR Turkey Hunting Regulations <br /> <br />OVERVIEW <br /> <br />The Commission requested archery turkey hunting be incorporated into the Hunting and Weapons Discharge <br />Ordinance, No. 124B. <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 />ORDINANCE UPDATES <br /> <br />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 Vicious Animals <br />3. Law Enforcement <br />4. Archery Hunting <br />5. Archery Deer Hunting <br />6. Archery Turkey Hunting <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 <br />b. lists the requirements for applying <br />c. requires all materials be submitted no less than a week from a City Council meeting. <br />d. requires landowners notify their neighbors of the date and location of a hunt. <br />e. sets hunting setbacks 300 feet from neighboring homes and 1,000 feet from any school. <br />f. allows multiple properties to join in an application to total at least 5 acre s. <br />g. requires a security deposit of $500.00 and requires a hearing if terms were violated during a hunt. <br />h. any person hunting not on the permit, must carry written permission with them during the hunt. <br />i. the permit fees are listed in the fee schedule ($100.00) <br />j. the council may solicit hunting organizations to hunt on approved property. <br />k. failure to comply forfeits all fees. <br />l. if there are changes to the permit, the landowner must bring new documents to City Council before a <br />hunt.