7.A. PRSR 04-10-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk REQUEST FOR ACTION River TO ITEM NUMBER Parks and Recreation Commission 7.A. AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY Action Items April 10,2013 Michael Hecker,Parks and Recreation Director ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By Regulations regarding use of Bailey Point Park. Cal Portner, City Administrator REVIEWED BY ACTION REQUESTED City staff recommends the Parks and Recreation Commission approve the regulations regarding use of Bailey Point Park BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION The City acquired in November 2012 a 23-acre parcel of historic and scenic property with over 3,300 feet of natural largely untouched shoreline at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk Riven. This parcel is assumed to have the name of Bailey Point. The acquisition was completed with the assistance of a DNR Natural and Scenic Area Grant and a conservation easement with the MN Land Trust. Both the grant and conservation easement only permit low impact outdoor recreational use and nature observation on the parcel. It is important that the city be committed to preserving the conservation values of the parcel. Therefore, staff has developed regulations (attached) that are within the scope of both the conservation easement and the DNR grant. These regulations have been reviewed by the City Attorney. According to the MN Land Trust property baseline report,the property may be used for such uses as hiking, cross country skiing, canoe and kayak launching,fishing, nature observations and other non- intensive recreational and educational programs or activities that have no more than minimal impact on the conservation values of the property. Restrictions on uses such as fishing are possible and may be managed by restricting the activity to fishing platforms. Based on the recent Bailey Point work sessions, many of the neighbors have expressed concerns with fishing and suggest that the city restrict or even prohibit fishing. The prohibition of fishing will be difficult as the public may use public lands to access rivers and fish below the ordinary high water levels. Our Park Planner will present these DNR regulations at the meeting. While these may limit our ability to completely prohibit fishing, staff recommends fishing not be allowed on the parcel and be restricted along the river with fishing platforms.Access to the river is limited in the conservation easement as indicated on the attached property map. Staff is also recommending regulating river access to avoid erosion issues along the shoreline. ATTACHMENTS • Regulations Regarding Use of Bailey Point Park draft. • Land Trust Property Map indicating potential river access 'POWERED 81 N:\Departnrnrs\Parks and Recreazion\Commasion\Packets\2013\O4-10.13 PRC Packet\Item 7A Regulations of BPPark NATURE RFA.docx