2012-07-17 Council WorksessionCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP AGENDA
July 17, 2012 – 6:00 p.m.
Mendota Heights City Hall
1. Call to Order
2. Rogers Lake Electric Motors Draft Ordinance
DATE: July 17, 2012
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Justin Miller, City Administrator
SUBJECT: Proposed Ordinance Amendment to Allow Electric Motors on
Rogers Lake
BACKGROUND
At the July 3rd city council meeting, the Rogers Lake Property Owners Association (RLPOA)
presented a request to allow electric boat motors on the south portion of Rogers Lake. At this
meeting, the city council provided feedback and directed staff to work with the RLPOA to draft a
revised ordinance for future council consideration.
After the meeting, staff discussed the concerns voiced by the city council with representatives
from the RLPOA and asked them to present the city with conditions that were acceptable to the
association members. They provided this information back to staff and the city attorney has
incorporated many of their suggestions into the attached draft ordinance.
This item will be discussed at a workshop preceding the city council meeting, and it will also be
an agenda item on the regular agenda in case the city council wishes to proceed with an
ordinance amendment.
Attached is the staff report from the July 3rd meeting which includes a petition from the RLPOA
as well as surveys of other Dakota County cities and their policies regarding motors on their
lakes.
BUDGET IMPACT
N/A
RECOMMENDATION
If council desires, staff recommends that the Mendota Heights City Council approve the attached
ordinance amendment allowing electric motors on Rogers Lake. This action requires a majority
vote of the city council.
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. ______
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 6, CHAPTER 6
OF THE CITY CODE
The City Council of the City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota ordains as follows:
SECTION 1: City Code Title 6, Chapter 6, Recreational Vehicles, is hereby amended as follows:
6-6-1: Watercraft:
D. Prohibited Acts and Conditions
1. Motorboats: No person shall operate or cause to be operated a motorboat upon any body of
water within the corporate limits of the city except as provided herein.
2. Operation In An Annoying, Dangerous Manner: No person shall navigate, direct or handle
any boat in such manner as to annoy, unnecessarily frighten or endanger the occupants of
other boats or watercraft, or persons in or upon any body of water within the corporate
limits of the city.
3. Hours: No person shall be or remain in any boat or otherwise upon any body of water
within the city after twelve o'clock (12:00) midnight nor before daylight of the following
day.
4. Electric Motorboats Allowed on Rogers Lake: Electric motorboats shall be permitted on
that part of Rogers Lake that is south of Wagon Wheel Trail subject to the following
conditions:
a. Boats shall be restricted to a maximum length of 18’;
b. Motors shall not exceed the maximum equivalent of 10HP;
c. No motors shall be used outside of the posted Rogers Park hours; and
d. Any boat using an electric motor shall be required to have oars on board.
SECTION 2: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its publication according to
law.
Adopted this ____ day of July, 2012. CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
By_______________________
Sandra Krebsbach, Mayor
ATTEST:
___________________________
Lorri Smith, City Clerk
7073026v1
DATE: July 3, 2012
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Justin Miller, City Administrator
SUBJECT: Request to Allow Electric Motors on Rogers Lake
BACKGROUND
The City has received a request from the Rogers Lake Property Owners Association (RLPOA) to
allow electric motors on the south portion of Rogers Lake. Attached to this report is their
request, along with research provided by them about other policies on other Dakota County
lakes, and a petition showing support for their request. At the end of this report is an analysis of
lake ordinances found by staff.
The current ordinance language reads as follows:
6-6-1: Watercraft: D. Prohibited Acts and Conditions
1. Motorboats: No person shall operate or cause to be operated a motorboat upon any body
of water within the corporate limits of the city.
In consultation with the city attorney, the RLPOA request would best be worded as follows to be
consistent with the rest of our city code:
6-6-1: Watercraft:
D. Prohibited Acts and Conditions
1. Motorboats: No person shall operate or cause to be operated a motorboat upon any body
of water within the corporate limits of the city except as provided herein.
2. Electric Motorboats shall be permitted on that part of Rogers Lake that is south of
Wagon Wheel Trail.
If the city council wishes to accept the RLPOA’s request, staff would recommend that the
following factors also be considered:
1. What factors (size, location, etc.) will be used to determine where electric motorboats
will be allowed?
2. Will there be a maximum power of motor allowed?
3. Will there be restrictions as to time of day (i.e. not after sunset)? Current code prohibits
boats between midnight and “daylight”).
4. Will this impact future request for weed control on Rogers Lake?
5. Are there other restrictions we should include?
BUDGET IMPACT
N/A
RECOMMENDATION
If the City Council agrees, staff recommends that the city council direct staff to develop a formal
ordinance amendment, with any clarifying conditions, to a future city council meeting for
approval.
Staff Survey of Dakota County Ordinances Relating to Motorized Boats
City Allows Motors Allows Electric Motors No Motors
Apple Valley Yes Yes No
Burnsville Yes (5 hp or less) Yes No
Eagan No Yes No
Inver Grove Heights No No Yes
Rosemount No No Yes
South St. Paul (no lakes)
West St. Paul No No Yes
Lakeville Yes Yes No
Mendota Heights No No Yes
Hastings (Lake Rebecca) No Yes No
Hastings (Lake Isabel) Yes Yes No
June 11, 2012
John R. Mazzitello, PE, PMP
Public Works Director/City Engineer
City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota
1101 Victoria Curve
Mendota Heights, MN 55118
RE: Letter of Request
Dear John,
On behalf of the Rogers Lake Property Owners Association, please let this letter serve as our official
request to the City that ordinance 6-6-1: Watercraft: D. Prohibited Acts and Conditions be amended as
follows (added language in red): "1. Motorboats: No person shall operate or cause to be operated a
motorboat upon any body of water within the corporate limits of the city, except on the South side of
Rogers Lake (all areas of Rogers Lake that are South of Wagon Wheel Trail), in which case boats
powered by electric motors are permissible.”
Currently a majority of property owners are in favor of this change and believe that this will promote the
use of Rogers Lake as a true DNR designated “Recreational Lake.” Attached is a petition of support. Also
attached, for reference purposes, is a survey detailing the current status for motorboats in other Dakota
County lakes of similar size.
On behalf of the Rogers Lake Property Owners Association, I will attend the Mendota Heights City Council
meeting on Tuesday, June 19, to address any concerns, questions, or comments the mayor, council or
staff may have at that time. Thanks for your assistance throughout this process and I look forward to
continue working with you and the City to keep Rogers Lake healthy.
Sincerely,
Tim W. Carlson
President