7.4.
CC Regular Session
- Meeting Date:
- 09/27/2016
- By:
- Jo Thieling, Administrative Services
Information
Title:
Approve Authorization of Application for Designation as a Snowmobile Friendly Community
Purpose/Background:
Purpose: To seek designation as a Snowmobile Friendly Community.
Background:
The Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association is the sponsor of the Snowmobile Friendly Community Program. The Association notes that snowmobilers provide a great economic benefit to communities while traveling during the winter months. They look for areas to ride where communities are friendly, safe, and provide amenities. The Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association (MnUSA) has been working with other states across the United States in the development of a Snowmobile Friendly Community Program to enhance snowmobile tourism and snowmobile opportunities, improve safety, and generate the partnerships so essential to the snowmobile trails. The program has become a national program supported by the American Council of Snowmobile Associations. MnUSA is excited to initiate this program in Minnesota to recognize its partner communities.
The Program Guide sets out requirements to be considered for the recognition. In order for a community to be deemed "snowmobile friendly" it will have created a partnership between the local snowmobile club, community, businesses, and law enforcement and must meet certain criteria as set out in the Program Guide. An application is completed on behalf of the community and sponsoring snowmobile club providing information about the community and snow-mobility. The applicants are scored and recognition determined by MnUSA.
Staff was recently contacted by former Ramsey Police Chief and current Ramsey resident Jim Way, and Anoka City Councilmember Jeff Weaver, to request Ramsey to apply for the Snowmobile Friendly Community designation. The snowmobile club the City would request partnership with would be the Sno-Ghosts of Anoka County. The Sno-Ghosts President has signed an MOU supporting this designation for the City of Ramsey. The deadline for application is October 1, 2016. Councilmember Weaver noted that the City of Anoka has submitted an application for this designation.
Review:
Staff spoke to Greg Lee, the City Manager of Anoka, and he confirmed that Anoka is a snowmobile friendly community, and at their last Council meeting, the Council approved additional snowmobile routes from the Rum River to Anoka High School based upon a request by an AHS student who lives in Ramsey.
Staff solicited comments from Police Chief Katers and Director of Public Works Riemer in regard to the program requirements. Several issues were identified, none of concern, but they will impact how the City completes the application. Chief Katers stated the following concerns: The Ramsey Police Department doesn't have snowmobiles for enforcement or a training education program. However, the Anoka County Sheriff's Department does and would provide those services upon request. The Police Department does snowmobile enforcement, just not from a snowmobile. The City's current public safety efforts are in compliance with the minimum standards of the program.
Public Works Director Riemer expressed some concerns. One of the requirements of the program is as follows: Community is directly connected to a system of groomed snowmobile trails and has at least one groomed snowmobile trail that runs through or directly adjacent to the community. Mr. Riemer suggests Ramsey may not meet this requirement, however, the presence of the Rum River as a major corridor on our eastern boundary, and the access to groomed trails via County and State road ditches, appear to meet the requirement for designation.
Another requirement is listed as follows: Manage local snow removal efforts, to the extent feasible, to help prevent unnecessarily removing all snow cover from designated connecting routes (streets and road shoulders) needed for snowmobile access to key fuel, lodging and food services. Mr. Riemer states that the City's current policy for snow removal is curb-to-curb. Staff will make it clear in the application that the City will not change its curb-to-curb plowing of City streets, but would only “designate” routes that would meet our current operational standards. County roads are the backbone of this system (see attached map). Businesses along these routes would potentially benefit from this designation. With regard to signage - Mr. Riemer stated we can control the signage on our roadways, but the County and the State are more restrictive with what they allow in their right-of-way. The City and the snowmobile club will need to work with the County and State as necessary for proper signage.
The Program Guide is attached for Council information.
Background:
The Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association is the sponsor of the Snowmobile Friendly Community Program. The Association notes that snowmobilers provide a great economic benefit to communities while traveling during the winter months. They look for areas to ride where communities are friendly, safe, and provide amenities. The Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association (MnUSA) has been working with other states across the United States in the development of a Snowmobile Friendly Community Program to enhance snowmobile tourism and snowmobile opportunities, improve safety, and generate the partnerships so essential to the snowmobile trails. The program has become a national program supported by the American Council of Snowmobile Associations. MnUSA is excited to initiate this program in Minnesota to recognize its partner communities.
The Program Guide sets out requirements to be considered for the recognition. In order for a community to be deemed "snowmobile friendly" it will have created a partnership between the local snowmobile club, community, businesses, and law enforcement and must meet certain criteria as set out in the Program Guide. An application is completed on behalf of the community and sponsoring snowmobile club providing information about the community and snow-mobility. The applicants are scored and recognition determined by MnUSA.
Staff was recently contacted by former Ramsey Police Chief and current Ramsey resident Jim Way, and Anoka City Councilmember Jeff Weaver, to request Ramsey to apply for the Snowmobile Friendly Community designation. The snowmobile club the City would request partnership with would be the Sno-Ghosts of Anoka County. The Sno-Ghosts President has signed an MOU supporting this designation for the City of Ramsey. The deadline for application is October 1, 2016. Councilmember Weaver noted that the City of Anoka has submitted an application for this designation.
Review:
Staff spoke to Greg Lee, the City Manager of Anoka, and he confirmed that Anoka is a snowmobile friendly community, and at their last Council meeting, the Council approved additional snowmobile routes from the Rum River to Anoka High School based upon a request by an AHS student who lives in Ramsey.
Staff solicited comments from Police Chief Katers and Director of Public Works Riemer in regard to the program requirements. Several issues were identified, none of concern, but they will impact how the City completes the application. Chief Katers stated the following concerns: The Ramsey Police Department doesn't have snowmobiles for enforcement or a training education program. However, the Anoka County Sheriff's Department does and would provide those services upon request. The Police Department does snowmobile enforcement, just not from a snowmobile. The City's current public safety efforts are in compliance with the minimum standards of the program.
Public Works Director Riemer expressed some concerns. One of the requirements of the program is as follows: Community is directly connected to a system of groomed snowmobile trails and has at least one groomed snowmobile trail that runs through or directly adjacent to the community. Mr. Riemer suggests Ramsey may not meet this requirement, however, the presence of the Rum River as a major corridor on our eastern boundary, and the access to groomed trails via County and State road ditches, appear to meet the requirement for designation.
Another requirement is listed as follows: Manage local snow removal efforts, to the extent feasible, to help prevent unnecessarily removing all snow cover from designated connecting routes (streets and road shoulders) needed for snowmobile access to key fuel, lodging and food services. Mr. Riemer states that the City's current policy for snow removal is curb-to-curb. Staff will make it clear in the application that the City will not change its curb-to-curb plowing of City streets, but would only “designate” routes that would meet our current operational standards. County roads are the backbone of this system (see attached map). Businesses along these routes would potentially benefit from this designation. With regard to signage - Mr. Riemer stated we can control the signage on our roadways, but the County and the State are more restrictive with what they allow in their right-of-way. The City and the snowmobile club will need to work with the County and State as necessary for proper signage.
The Program Guide is attached for Council information.
Recommendation:
Staff is recommending Council approve submitting an application for designation of a Snowmobile Friendly Community.
Action:
Motion to approve submitting an application to be designated a Snowmobile Friendly Community.
Attachments
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Kurt Ulrich | Kurt Ulrich | 09/22/2016 02:56 PM |
- Form Started By:
- Jo Thieling
- Started On:
- 09/07/2016 01:59 PM
- Final Approval Date:
- 09/22/2016