HomeMy WebLinkAboutLand & Water 06-01-05 ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Ron Raymond, Chairman
COMMITTEE TITLE: Land & Water Conservation
DATE: June 1, 2005
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Ag Center, Baldwin
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING: June 7, 2005
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
* Outdoor Rec Plan - Discussion
NEW BUSINESS:
PUBLIC HEARING - Amendment to Chapter 74
St. Croix County - Snowmobile Trails
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order)
SUBMITTED BY: Robert Heise
DATE: May 25, 2005; amended May 31, 2005
COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE BOARD
COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS
* ADDITIONS /CORRECTIONS /CHANGES
Land and Water Conservation Committee - June 1, 2005 Page 2 of 4
DATE: May 25, 2005; amended May 31, 2005
COPIES TO: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA /NOTICE
BOARD
COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS
* ADDITIONS /CORREC /CHANGES
MIN'U TES
LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
JUNE 1, 2005
Members Present: Lois Burri, Jim Cody, Gene Ruetz, Bill Peavey, Ron
Raymond, and Jan Zoerb
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Bob Heise, Joe Grant
Others Present: Brian Van Someren
Adoption of Agenda:
Ruetz made motion to adopt the agenda, seconded by Cody. Carried.
Date of Next Meeting: June 7, 2005
PUBLIC HEARING — AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER Z4 ST. CROIX
COUNTY — SNOWMOBILE TRAILS
Raymond asked staff to provide an overview of the proposed ordinance
amendments. Heise stated that the public hearing notice was published in
the official county paper for two consecutive weeks and a copy of the
hearing notice and amended ordinance was sent to each of the 12
snowmobile clubs in the county and the information was available on the
home page of the County web site.
Heise stated that the Snowmobile Association requested that the County
amend the snowmobile trail ordinance and develop language that would
provide law enforcement officials greater ability to prosecute individuals
that ride on the trails before the official opening or after the official closing
of the trails. To continue a positive working relationship between the
snowmobile clubs and private landowners, the Snowmobile Associations
supported the amended language in the snowmobile trail ordinance.
Essentially, landowners and the snowmobile clubs have worked cooperately
with each other to allow the County snowmobile trails to cross private
property. Damage can occur to the property (or future crops) if riding on
the trail occurs when there is not sufficient snow cover. To be sensitive to
the private landowner's property and to discourage riding on the trails when
they are officially closed, stronger language in the ordinance was necessary.
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Land and Water Conservation Committee - June 1, 2005 Page 3 of 4
The second purpose was to incorporate the 1979 snowmobile trail
ordinance, the 1993 amendment and these proposed amendments into one
document.
Joe Grant reiterated Heise's comments and presented signage that will be
placed at various locations in the County. Grant indicated that he had
purchased 6o signs which the various snowmobile clubs will install
informing snowmobilers to call the hotline number prior to riding the trails
to verify that trails are officially open.
Chair Raymond made a motion to open the public hearing for official
comments, seconded by Ruetz. Raymond asked. staff to read the public
hearing notice for the record. Heise read notice into the record.
Raymond offered to the audience if there are any comments, in favor or
against the proposed amendments.
Brain L. Van Someren,146o 9 1 h Avenue, Baldwin commented that he is the
AWSC (Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs) Director for the St.
Croix County Snowmobile Association and that the Association has received
and read the proposed changes to the snowmobile trail ordinance and the
Association supports the proposed language and acknowledges that
stronger language is necessary to allow our law enforcement officials to
prosecute violators.
Chair Raymond asked for a motion to close the public hearing. Peavey
made motion to close the public hearing, Ruetz seconded. Carried.
OUTDOOR REC PLAN — DISCUSSION
Raymond asked Heise to provide an update on the Outdoor Recreation Plan
(ORP). Heise informed the Committee that on June 7th the Committee will
review the Eastern and Western Facilities Analysis and Action plans. This is
a very similar format that was presented in previous plans. The snowmobile
and bicycle trail sections will need to be reviewed by the Committee at a
future meeting as well as reviewing the amended Administration section.
Staff has started taking photos of the park facilities and is updating maps to
be incorporated into the ORP. Committee will decide at the June meeting if
and when a special meeting may be necessary to review the entire plan.
Raymond stated that the committee chairs are to be meeting with the
Finance Committee to discuss the 2o06 budget. Committee discussed a
county impact fee ordinance. Raymond requested that Heise provide
documentation on the financial impacts to the Parks Department as a result
of eliminating the Park Dedication Fees in the Subdivision Ordinance.
Committee discussed that there appears to be a great amount of interest in
an organized trail system in the County. Committee discussed the potential
uses of a trail system and what should the compatible uses of a trail system
be in the County. Discussed a walking /biking type trail as well as other
multi uses, such as horses, ATVs and snowmobiles on the same trail
system. The consensus among the Committee is that it will be extremely
difficult to provide recreation for all users, especially all uses on the same
trail system. The Committee did agree that if we are going to develop an
organized trail system, more effort should be placed on developing a
walking /biking trail system that meets the type of passive recreation the
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Land and Water Conservation Committee - June 1, 2005 Page 4 of 4
county offers which meets the needs of the greatest number of residents and
communities.
Chair Raymond adjourned the meeting at 8:04 P.m.
Jan Zoerb
Secretary
Bob Heise
Recording Secretary
trot CARMICIIAF,I, ROAD * HUDSON WI 54M6
715.386.4600
I.,AS'r UPDATE: FEB 17, 2006
1}ISCLAI M ER
http: / /www.co. saint - croix.wi.us/ Committee /Minutes /2005/LWC /1wc060105.htm 2/23/2006