3.7. SR 02-20-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Elk River REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Agenda Section Meeting Date Consent Februa 20, 2007 Item Description Resolution Requesting the State of MN to Modify MN Statute 169.14 Subd. 2.(a)(1);(c) to Allow Cities to Establish 30 mph in Rural Residential Districts Item Number 3.7. Prepared by effre A. Beahen, Chief of Police Reviewed by Lori Johnson, City Administrator Introduction Terry Maurer has been contacted by the City Engineer for the City of Andover, who requested our support in asking for a change to a Minnesota State Statute. The statute specifically applies to establishing 30 MPH zones in rural residential districts. The City Administrator for Andover, as well as their City Engineer and other concerned cities, are bringing this issue to the State Legislature, and they have already testified in committee and will be giving other testimony over the next few weeks. Discussion Elk River and Andover are very much alike in that during our growth and developmental phases, there are often areas created that are defined as "rural residential districts." These districts can have 30 MPH speed limits if they are in a Town. Elk River is a City. Until these new areas develop and become urban districts, by statute, we can't create 30 MPH zones where they are so often much needed. The speed provided by statute in these areas would be 55 MPH. A good example of an area that gets missed in the statute would be 175th Avenue between Twin Lakes Road and Fillmore. This is a rural residential area within a City and the speed limit legally should be 55 MPH. We have gone against the statute and made it less, but it does open up the question under what authority we have lowered the speed limit. Other areas included would be any development north of our urban district with 2.5 acre lots, like the Greenhead Additions. Everyone believes that the statute was written at a time when cities seldom had rural residential areas, and those issues were out state and in towns. Outer ring suburbs do indeed now have these residential areas, and we are seeking the statutory change to rectify the language deficiency. By merely adding City or Town to the subdivision noted in ~169.14, Subd. 2(c), our authority to establish 30 mph zones in these outer areas is both clear and legally supported by statute. Financial Impact There is no cost to the City. Attachments · Resolution 07-_ Requesting the State ofMN to Modify Minnesota State Statute ~169.14, Subd. 2 (a)(l);(c) to Allow Cities to Establish 30 mph in Rural Residential Districts · MN STATE STATUTE (Current version) ~169.14 S:\Council\Po!ice\Speed Limit.doc