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<br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To Item Number <br />Mayor and City Council 8.1 <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br />General Business October 5, 2020 Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />Great Northern Trail Closure Ordinance Ron Nierenhausen, Police Chief <br />Reviewed by <br />Cal Portner, City Administrator <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Discuss a hunting ordinance amendment to close the Great Northern Trail (GNT) for annual firearms season. <br /> <br />Approve, by motion, an ordinance for the Chief of Police to close the GNT during the time hunting is permitted. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />City Council directed staff at the September 28 Work Session to work with City Attorney Peter Beck to draft an <br />ordinance for GNT closure during the time hunting is permitted. This is based on the recommendations from the <br />Parks and Recreation Commission the Council close the GNT through an ordinance as part of the overall city <br />hunting ordinances. <br /> <br />Legal review of the proposed ordinance found additional concerns regarding the potential liability the city may <br />incur with the proposed ordinance. Therefore, staff is bringing this to City Council for further discussion. <br /> <br />An adjacent property owner who legally hunts his property explained why he believes the trail should be closed for <br />the nine days of the firearms season. <br /> <br />In 2010, the Commission recommended the GNT be closed. Under Chiefs Beahan and Rohlf, volunteers posted <br />signs stating, “Closed by the Order of the Police Chief”. Chief Nierenhausen would like an ordinance amendment <br />which his department can legally enforce. The firearms season this year is November 7-15, 2020. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br />N/A <br /> <br />Mission/Policy/Goal <br />A legally enforceable city ordinance <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> Proposed Ordinance Great Northern Trail Closure <br /> <br />The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional <br /> <br />service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity. <br /> Updated: August 2020 <br />