HomeMy WebLinkAbout94-04 Surface Water UsageCITY OF PRIOR LAKE
ORDINANCE NO. 94-04
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE TITLE 9, CHAPTER 3.
The City Council of the City of Prior Lake does hereby ordain:
Title 9, Chapter 3 of Prior Lake City Code is hereby amended in
its entirety to read as follows:
CHAPTER 3
PUBLIC WATERS
Section:
9-3-1:
9-3-2:
9-3-3:
9-3-4:
9-3-5:
9-3-6:
9-3-7:
9-3-8:
9-3-9:
Title
Purpose
Definitions
Watercraft Speed Limitations
Additional Restrictions
Exemptions
Notification
Enforcement
Penalties
9-3-1:
TITLE: This Chapter shall be known and cited as the
"Public Waters" Chapter.
9-3-2:
PURPOSE: This ordinance is enacted for the purpose and
with the intent to control and regulate the use of the
waters of Prior Lake in the City of Prior Lake,
Minnesota, to promote its fullest use and enjoyment by
the public in general and property in connection with
the use of said waters; to harmonize and integrate the
varying uses of said waters; and to promote the general
health, safety and welfare of the citizens of
Minnesota.
9-3-3:
DEFINITIONS: For the purposes of this Chapter, the
following terms shall have the meanings:
HIGH WATER:
an elevation of 904.0' or greater above
mean sea level on Prior Lake, as
determined by the Prior Lake/Spring Lake
Watershed District gauge.
PRIOR LAKE:
the body of water given that name and
assigned the lake numbers 70-26 and
70-72 by the Department of Natural
Resources.
9-3-4:
(A)
(B)
(c)
(D)
SHORE:
the line separating land and water which
shifts as lake levels increase and
decrease.
SLOW NO-WAKE:
the operation of a Watercraft at the
slowest possible speed necessary to
maintain steerage and in no case greater
than five (5) miles per hour.
WATERCRAFT:
any contrivance used or designed for
navigation on water, except: (1) a duck
boat during the duck hunting season; (2)
a rice boat during the harvest season;
or (3) a seaplane.
WATERCRAFT SPEED LIMITATIONS:
No person shall operate a Watercraft, at any time, at
greater than a slow no-wake speed within one hundred
fifty feet (150') from Shore.
No Watercraft towing a person on waterskis, innertube,
aquaplane or similar device shall be operated at any
time within one hundred fifty feet (150') of Shore;
provided, however, that any Watercraft launching or
landing a person on waterskis, innertube, aquaplane or
similar device by the most direct and safe route to
open water or Shore shall be exempt from this
provision.
Daytime Speed Limit: No person shall operate a
Watercraft at greater than forty (40) miles per hour,
from sunrise to one hour after sunset, on all weekends
and legal holidays occurring from Memorial Day weekend
through Labor Day weekend.
Nighttime Speed Limit: No person shall operate a
Watercraft at greater than twenty (20) miles per hour,
from one hour after sunset to sunrise the following
day, at any time during the year.
High Water Slow No-Wake: No person shall operate a
Watercraft at greater than a slow no-wake speed on the
entire lake when the water level reaches nine hundred
four feet (904.0') sea level, as measured by the City
at the Prior Lake/Spring Lake Watershed District gauge.
Such restrictions shall become effective upon
publication in the local newspaper as a news item or on
a specified date, whichever is later. All public water
accesses and private ramps shall be posted prior to and
during the time restrictions are in place. In addition,
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9-3-5:
(A)
(B)
9-3-6:
(B)
9-3-7:
9-3-8:
9-3-9:
notice of said restrictions shall be posted at the
Prior Lake City Hall.
When high water levels have subsided and have remained
below an elevation of nine hundred four feet (904.0')
sea level for three (3) consecutive days, said
restriction shall be promptly removed.
ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS:
No person shall use an inflatable watertoy, air
mattress or innertube more than one hundred fifty feet
(150') from Shore, unless accompanied by a Watercraft.
No person shall swim more than one hundred fifty feet
(150') from Shore, unless accompanied by a Watercraft.
EXEMPTIONS:
~ authorized resource management, emergency and
enforcement personnel, while acting in the performance
of their assigned duties, are exempt from the
restrictions set forth in this Chapter.
A temporary exemption from the restrictions set forth
in Section 9-3-4(A) may be allowed under certain
circumstances. To qualify for a temporary exemption, an
application for a permit must be completed, which shall
include: the purpose of the exemption, the organization
or persons being exempted, the location of the
exemption, and the date and time of the exemption. The
temporary exemption permit shall be issued by the Scott
County Sheriff's Department.
NOTIFICATION: The City of Prior Lake shall notify the
public of this Chapter, which shall include but not be
limited to placing a sign at each public watercraft
launching facility outlining the essential elements of
this Chapter, as well as placing other necessary buoys
and signs.
ENFORCEMENT: The enforcement of this ordinance shall
be the primary responsibility of the Scott County
Sheriff's Department. Other licensed peace officers,
including Conservation Officers of the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources, are also authorized to
enforce the provisions of this Chapter.
PENALTIES: Any person who violates any provisions of
this Chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not
more than seven hundred dollars ($700.00), or by
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imprisonment of not more than ninety (90) days, or
both.
This ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage
and publication.
day of .June/ii.~: ,
~ity Mana~
Passed by the Cit~ Council of the City of Prior Lake this 6 th
1994.
Published in the Prior Lake American on the 11 day of June
1994.
Drafted By:
Lommen, Nelson, Cole & Stageberg, P.A.
1800 IDS Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
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