HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974 11-21 CCM Special Session MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF
HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
SPECIAL SESSION
NOVEMBER 21, 1974
SOCIAL HALL
Call to Order The Brooklyn Center City Council met in special session and
was called to order by Mayor Philip Cohen at 7.35 p.m.
Roll Call Mayor Cohen, Councilmen Britts, Kuefler, Fignar and fensen.
Also present were City Manager Donald Poss and Adminis-
trative Assistants Daniel Hartman and James Lacina.
Snowmobile Hearing Mayor Cohen outlined the procedure to be followed during
the snowmobile hearing. He stated that each side will be
given time to present their positions and there would also
be time for rebuttal. He commented that the City Council
will take no action at this meeting on the snowmobile issue,
but will listen to both sides and be prepared to take action
at its next regular meeting at 7.30 p.m. , December 9, 1974.
Review of the The City Manager reviewed the snowmobile ordinance,
Snowmobile Ordinance outlining the development of the ordinance and the issue
before the City Council. He stated that the State of
Minnesota basically regulates snowmobiles and the City
cannot supersede State law.
Presentations in Favor The Mayor opened the meeting to those interested citizens
of Prohibiting the Use present to speak in favor of prohibiting the use of snow -
of Snowmobiles on mobiles on municipal streets. He recognized the residents
Municipal Streets of 6520 Brooklyn Boulevard, 3500 - 69th Avenue North,
6503 Drew Avenge North, 5731 Fremont Avenue North, and
5530 France A. ,7en.e North. Petitions were presented to the
City Council, signed by residents of the communit/ in
favor of changing the ordinance.
Mayor Cohen also read into the record c omrr cations he
had received fr m the League of Women Voters and from
residents in the community favoring a ban on the use of
snowmob lc�� r;n municipal streets. Concern was voiced
by those prH <=ert relative to safety, as well as noise and
the abuse of ' °4e present ordinance which prohibits
motorized v.31 icles in the parks.
Questions .17 .71arification were then directed to those who
made Councilman Kuefler inquired if the use
of snowrrob�il;s on municipal streets was for transportation
to the exist' trail system or as a place just to snowmobile.
Councilman Britts inquired of the movement of snowmobiles
into Brooklyn Park to use their open areas.
Councilman Jensen inquired of noise and the use of snow -
mobiles after the hours designated in the present ordinance.
He stated that there seems to be a problem with individuals
abusing the present ordinance relative to the times of
operation.
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The City Manager commented relative to the use of vacant
land in Brooklyn Center. He stated that the State law was
amended in the last Legislature requiring prior permission
from the land owner for someone to use vacant land for
snowmobiling. He stated that this in effect eliminates
much of the open area available to snowmobilers.
The Mayor then opened the meeting to those interested Presentations in Favor
citizens present to speak in favor of allowing the continued of Allowing the Use of
use of snowmobiles on municipal streets. He recognized Snowmobiles on
Mr. Terry Precht, 7101 Fremont Avenue North, who spoke Municipal Streets
as a representative of the Brooklyn Center Snowmobile
Patrol. Mr. Precht requested information relative to the
complaints received by the Police Department, as well as
the accidents which have occurred over the past few years.
He stated that the Snowmobile Patrol is in the process of
training people, especially young people, in the proper
use of snowmobiles. He commented that the patrol lacked
cooperation from the Police Department in controlling the
situation. He urged a cooperative effort of all interested
citizens working with the City to enhance the type of
recreational activity that snowmobiling represents.
The Mayor then recognized the residents of 4735 Lakeview
Avenue North, 6311 Brooklyn Drive, 7111 Drew Avenue
North, 6900 Oliver Avenue North, 6430 Fremont Avenue
North, 3606 Commodore Drive, 6931 Oliver Avenue North,
2901 Northway Drive, 3306 - 66th Avenue North, 7208
Humboldt Avenue North, 6315 Halifax Avenue North, 7224
June Avenue North, and 6919 Oliver Avenue North, who
spoke in favor of allowing the use of snowmobiles on
municipal streets. He also recognized Mr. Dale Gustafson,
Prestdent of the Brooklyn Park Snowmobile Patrol, who spoke
of the activities of their Snowmobile Patrol and its relation-
ship with the Brooklyn Park Police Department.
The general concerns of those citizens who spoke in favor
of allowing the use of snowmobiles on municipal streets
were that the use of the streets provides transportation to
existing snowmobile areas within the City, as well as to
Brooklyn Park. Many of those who spoke were also members
of the Snowmobile Patrol who provided examples of the way
the Patrol works with snowmobilers in the community.
There were also comments presented relative to the minority
of snowmobilers who violate the ordinance. It was their
contention that a small minority in the comn",unity has
created a bad image for the many who are courteous and do
not abuse the privileges afforded them under the present
ordinance.
Questions of clarification were then addressed to those who
made presentations. Councilman Jensen inquired of Mr.
Precht whether the people were using the streets as a form
of transportation or as actual trails. He commented that in
a majority of the cases the streets are being used as a
means of transportation to get to the open snowmobile area.
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Councilman Kuefler inquired of Mr. Gustafson for more
information on Brooklyn Park's operation. He stated
that the Brooklyn Park patrol has about 35 members which
patrol the six areas designated for snowmobile use by the
Brooklyn Park City Council. He also commented that flags
are required in Brooklyn Park. He stated that in terms of
safety the flags are important in the use of snowmobiles
on municipal streets. He commented that the patrol in
Brooklyn Park has made a snowmobile available to the
Police Department for their use.
Rebuttals to Both Mayor Cohen opened the meeting to those citizens present
Positions to speak in rebuttal to those who favored the use of snow -
mobiles on municipal streets. He recognized the residents
of 6101 Xerxes Avenue North, 6907 Nest Palmer Lake Drive,
5731 Fremont Avenue North, and 6503 Drew Avenue North,
who spoke against certain information presented by those
who favored the use of snowmobiles on municipal streets.
The Mayor next opened the meeting to those citizens
present to speak in rebuttal to those who would prohibit
the use of snowmobiles on municipal streets. He recog-
nized the residents of 3306 - 67th Avenue North, 3107
Quarles Road, and 7101 Fremont Avenue .North who spoke
against certain information presented by those who would
prohibit the -use of snowmobiles on municipal streets.
Mr. Precht was again recognized, who commented again
to the lack of cooperation between the Police Department
and the Snowmobile Patrol. He stated that the Snowmobile
Patrol is made up of approximately 50 members. He com-
mented that the patrol recommended the deletion of part of
the trail system in the Palmer Lake area due to the con -
structa.oz�, of walkway. He states tha afety is a primary
concern of the Snowmobile Patrol.
Concluding Remarks Mayor Cohen commented that the °'Ls )ue is mf 3t a si- ple
one but very complicated since the freedoms of those
individ e,ls w'ttt snowmobile in th(s c( m,,rrn rr!uty mint not be
abridged, yet t ae protection of rpnl e is the primary
concern of the City Council. He stateed that the City
Council wJ1.1 t scuss the issue at its December 9, 1974
meeting.
Adjournment Mayor Cohen adjourned the special session of the City
Council at 9.5/ p.m.
Clerk Mayor
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