11-17-2003 - Memo: motorized vehicles on Big Island

Home Browse Search

MEMORANDUM To: Thomas Barrett, City Attorney Ron Moorse, City Administrator Greg Gappa, Public Services Director From: Mike Gaffron, Planning Director Date: November 17, 2003 Subject: Motorized Vehicles on Big Island For many years I have been hearing from assorted parties that they believe there is a City-imposed ban on motorized vehicles on Big Island,which I have been adamantly refuting. In fact,there is no currently codified City ordinance that prohibits the use of motor vehicles on the Island, and I have found no past ordinance that effectuates such a ban. However, pursuant to comments by Jean Deggendorf(long-time Island resident)passed on to me through David Lovelace (another Island property owner), I have discovered today that the City Council in 1971 did in fact take an action to prohibit motor vehicles on Big Island. Please review these complete excerpts from the following documents (originals attached): Council Minutes, July 12, 1971: "PETITION-Big Island. Searles moved,McCarthy seconded,to ask the Village Attorney for a legal opinion on the Village ability to prohibit motor vehicle travel on Big Island and to refer the request to the Planning Commission for study and recommendation. Motion, Ayes (5) -Nays (0)." Staff Memo to Planning Commission, July 22, 1971: "The following items are on the agenda for August 2, 1971: ...5) Big Island, Dennis Kilbane. Petition to Ban Motor Vehicles. Somebody owning an amphibious and land vehicle, named Richard Rowe, has property on Big Island and has started to use one of the many public lake accesses to get to his property by means of this vehicle. A number of people have petitioned to prevent any vehicle to use same." Planning Commission Minutes, August 2, 1971: "BIG ISLAND PETITION - Dennis Kilbane. Kuhlmeier moved, Kullberg seconded,that the petition of people on Big Island to prevent the use of motorized vehicles on public right of ways thereon be denied since there were no ordinances of the Village,County,or State to prevent the usage of same. Motion,Ayes(8)- Nays (0)."