09-24-2001 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, September 24, 2001 • (Coffee Channel, Continued) and not a right, with snowmobilers needing to exercise proper responsibility and caution when snowmobiling. Soltau stated his mother's quality of life was destroyed by the snowmobilers trespassing on their property, and in his opinion the Council should not say that crossing the road at this location is a safe alternate. Soltau stated due to the limited sight lines in both directions, the Council should not allow snowmobilers crossing the road in this area. Soltau reiterated that using the lake is a responsibility and a privilege and not a right. Dave Elmquist, 1930 Shadywood Road, stated he has experienced problems with snowmobilers for a number of years, citing the fact that snowmobilers cut through their property illegally. Elmquist stated if snowmobilers see one track, they assume it is a trail, which winds up being heavily used by a number of snowmobilers at one time. Elmquist stated since snowmobilers tend to ride in packs, you have to deal with the noise from every snowmobile, not just one, at every hour of the day. Elmquist stated the fact of the matter is that snowmobilers damage property, bushes, and gardens, and tend to use a wider area than what is designated as a trail. Elmquist stated in his opinion there are a number of snowmobilers who are not responsible and do make water skipping a game, which tends to keep the channel open more than anything. Elmquist stated the snowmobilers routinely take down the signs erected by the Water Patrol. Elmquist stated another alternative to leaving the alleyway open needs to be found, with these two property owners having a right to live in this community and to have a happy, quiet environment. Elmquist stated the snowmobiles on the market are able to do over 100 miles an hour, with Lord Fletcher's being a popular place for the snowmobilers. Elmquist reiterated that the fire lane is not a viable option in his opinion. • David Albertson, 3124 Brooks Lane, Minnetonka Beach, indicated he was born and raised at 2100 Shadywood Road, and has been snowmobiling the majority of his life. Albertson stated he has used this fire lane as well as the channel the majority of his life since his property is landlocked. Albertson stated he did not experience any problems using the fire lane until the past three years, noting the sign prohibiting snowmobilers was actually taken down for approximately ten years and was only recently put up again two years ago. Albertson stated he has been chased out of this fire lane by the Soltaus, with the police informing him that he does have a right to use this fire lane. Albertson stated he is in favor of this fire lane being left open for snowmobilers, noting the property owners being aware at the time they purchased their properties that there is a fire lane in this area. Albertson stated the residence was constructed that close to the fire lane because a variance was granted by the City. John Thimmesh, 1945 Fagerness Point Road, stated he is a snowmobiler and has used Coffee Channel in the past. Thimmesh stated he was unaware of this alleyway until last year when it was blocked off, noting he would have used this alleyway when Coffee Channel was unsafe. Thimmesh indicated snowmobilers do cause damage to property as well as to the lakeshore, but that the alleyway is probably the only safe alternative to the channel when it is unsafe. Janet Soltau, 1998 Shadywood, stated at the time she purchased this property back in 1988, she was assured by the City that the fire lane was used for emergency purposes only, with the previous property owner informing them that the alleyway was only rarely used by snowmobilers. Soltau stated the fire lane was posted no snowmobiling at the time she purchased the property. Soltau indicated they have stored a boat and a fifth- wheeler in the fire lane until 1998, when the City requested they move the boat. • PAGE 6