|
AN ORDINANCE
<br />FOR THE
<br />CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF OPEN SPACE AREAS AND FACILITIES
<br />UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE BOARD OF RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
<br />THE BOARD OF RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ORDAINS:
<br />1.0 SECTION 1 • GENERAL PROVISIONS
<br />1.1 Purpose
<br />This ordinance hos been enacted, pursuant to Chapter 950, 1971
<br />Laws of Minnesoto, as amended, which authorizes the Board of
<br />Ramsey County Commissioners to enact ordinances to govern the
<br />conduct of members of the public during their use and enjoyment
<br />of the Ramsey County Open Space System so as to further the
<br />safety, health, enjoyment and welfare of all persons in the use
<br />thereof, and to protect public property and resources for pos•
<br />terity.
<br />1.2 Definitions
<br />a. "Board" shall mean and refer to the Board of Ramsey County
<br />Commissioners.
<br />b. "Open Space Site" shall mean and refer to any park,
<br />reserve, special use area, golf course, linear park or any
<br />other area owned, improved, maintained, operated or other-
<br />wise controlled by the Board of Ramsey County Commis-
<br />sionersforrecreation and natural resource preservation pur-
<br />poses.
<br />c. "System" shall mean and refer to the Romsey County Open
<br />Space System which includes the sites and facilities owned,
<br />maintained, and operated by or otherwise under the a~thori-
<br />ty of the Board of Romsey County Commissioners pursuant to
<br />Chapter 950, 1971 Laws of Minnesota.
<br />d. "Director" shall mean and refer to either or both the Director
<br />of Parks and Open Space • that person authorized by the
<br />Board of Ramsey County Commissioners to direct and ad•
<br />mtnistmte the Department of Parks and Open Space, and the
<br />Director of Recreation • that person authorized to direct and
<br />administrate the Department of Recreation.
<br />e. "Person" shall mean and refer to any individual, firm, part-
<br />nership, corporation and association of persons.
<br />f. "Department" shall mean and refer to either or both the
<br />Ramsey County Parks and Open Space Department and the
<br />Ramsey County Recreation Department.
<br />g. "'Open Space Waters" shall mean and refer to any lake,
<br />pond, river, stream or other body of water located wholly
<br />within the boundaries of a Ramsey County Open Space Site;
<br />or any public shoreline owned by or under the authority of
<br />the Board of Ramsey County Commissioners, including those
<br />waters lying within 300 feet and immediately abutting such
<br />shoreline.
<br />h. "law Enforcement Officer" shall mean and refer to any per-
<br />son duly deputized or commissioned by the Board of Ramsey
<br />County Commissioners, the State of Minnesota or the
<br />municipality in which a Ramsey County Open Space Site is
<br />located for the purpose of enforcing the laws, ordinances
<br />and regulations of their respective jurisdictions.
<br />i. "Positive Sign" shall mean and refer to ony sign or posted
<br />notice installed by the Department which authorizes a
<br />general or specific activity, function or use.
<br />j. "Negative Sign" shall mean and refer to any sign or posted
<br />notice installed by the Department which prohibits a general
<br />or specific activity, Function or use.
<br />1.3 Construction and Scope
<br />In the interpretation of this ordinance, all provisions contained
<br />herein shall be construed as follows:
<br />a. Any term in the singular shall also mean the plural.
<br />b. Any term in the masculine shall also mean the feminine and
<br />neuter.
<br />c. Any requirement or prohibition by any provision herein, shall
<br />respectively extend to and include the causing, procuring,
<br />aiding or abetting, directly or indirectly, of such acts; and
<br />the permitting or allowing of any minor by the responsible
<br />parent, guardian, or custodian to commit any such act.
<br />d. No provision herein shall make unlawful any act necessarily
<br />performed by any law enforcement officer; emergency or
<br />rescue officer, or Department employee as a /raining exer•
<br />vise or in the line of duty or work as such, or by any person,
<br />his agents or employees, in the proper and necessary execution of
<br />the terms of any contract or agreement with Ramsey County.
<br />e. Any act otherwise prohibited by this ordinance, provided it is
<br />not otherwise prohibited by statute orlocai ordinances, shall
<br />be lawful if performed under, by virtue of and strictly within
<br />the provision of a Department permit To do so, and to the
<br />extent authorized thereby.
<br />1.4 Hours and Access
<br />The recreation and education opportunities of the System
<br />shall be available to all members of the public regardless of
<br />race, sex, age, creed, national origin or place of residency.
<br />The System shall be open to the public during that period of
<br />time 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset.
<br />No person shall remain, stop, use or be present within the
<br />confines of any Open Space Site during that period of time
<br />30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise. Ex-
<br />ceptions may be made ai the discretion of the Director in the
<br />case of emergency or when special use permits have been
<br />authorized or for other reasons the Director may determine
<br />necessary or desirable. Open Space Sites are subject to
<br />curfew hours in force in the municipality in which the Open
<br />Space Site is located.
<br />c. Any section or part of any Open Space Site may be declared
<br />closed to the public by the Director at any time or for any in•
<br />terval of time, either temporarily or at regular and stated in-
<br />tervals, and either entirely or for certain uses os the Director
<br />shall find necessary.
<br />2.0 SECTION II • PERMITS
<br />2.1 Permits shall be required for the exclusive use of all or portions
<br />of specific areas, buildings and other system facilities; end for
<br />conducting special events of a cultural, educational, political,
<br />religious or recreational nature; and for specific exemption from
<br />any provision of this ordinance. Any person, group or association
<br />of persons required to obtain a permit shall file an application for
<br />such permit with the Director.
<br />2.2 The grontee of a permit shall be bound by this ordinance and any
<br />Department regulations in force as though the same were in-
<br />serted in said permit.
<br />2.3 The grantee of a permit shall be liable for any loss, damage or
<br />injury sustained by the System or by any person whatever, by
<br />reason of the negligence of the person or persons to whom such
<br />permits are issued.
<br />2.4 The grantee of a permit shall not transfer or relinquish said per-
<br />mit to another person or group of persons without the written
<br />permission of the Director.
<br />2.5 The Director shall have the authority to revoke a permit upon
<br />evidence of good cause.
<br />2.6 No person shall in ony manner disturb, harass, or interfere with
<br />the grantee of a valid permit, nor with any of the grantees' prop-
<br />erty or equipment.
<br />3.0 SECTION III • SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
<br />3.1 Picnicking
<br />No person shall picnic in any Open Space Site except in those
<br />areas specificolly designated and equipped for such use.
<br />3.2 Swimming
<br />a. No person shall bathe, wode, or swim in any Open Space
<br />Waters or at any Ramsey County beach except in such areas
<br />specifically designated for such use, and only at such times
<br />when a Ramsey County or otherwise authorized lifeguard is
<br />on duty.
<br />b. No person shall bathe, wade or swim at any beach except
<br />when dressed in bathing attire which is socially acceptable
<br />and conducive fo water safety.
<br />c. No person using Open Space Waters shall swim outside of
<br />the marked area.
<br />d. No person shall bring into or use at any beach ony inner
<br />tube, life raft or other inflatable or buoyant object intended
<br />to support a person except U.S. Coast Guard approved life
<br />jackets or vests when properly attached.
<br />e. No person shall possess, carry onto or scatter on any beach,
<br />any glass bottle, broken glass, metal can, or other debris
<br />which could be a safety hazard.
<br />f. No person shall use any beach area for purposes of picnick•
<br />ing.
<br />g. No person being in custody of any animal shall permit said
<br />animal to enter any beach area during the swimming season
<br />so established 6y the Director except for properly leashed or
<br />harnessed guide dogs trained to Itad the blind and accom•
<br />panted by Its blind mastor.
<br />h. No person shall launch, dock or operate any watercraft in
<br />any designated swimming area.
<br />3.3 Fishing
<br />a. No person shall take any fish, frog, turtle or crayfish by
<br />angling, spearing, archery, netting or trapping from any
<br />Open Space Waters or from any shoreline, pier or dock,
<br />under the jurisdiction of the Board except in specifically
<br />designated areas, and then only in accordance with Chapters
<br />98 and 101, Minnesota Statutes 1974, as amended.
<br />b. No person shall fish in a reckless or careless manner so as
<br />to create a nuisance or to endanger the safety of said per-
<br />son, or other fishermen or open space users.
<br />c. No person shall cut a hole in the ice of any Open Space
<br />Waters except where ice fishing is specifically permitted,
<br />and then only when said hole is less than ten inches in
<br />diameter.
<br />d. No person shall erect a permanent or portable ice fishing
<br />shelter on any Open Space Waters without the written per-
<br />mission of the Director.
<br />e. No person shall move an ice fishing shelter onto or off of the
<br />ice from any Open Space Site except from access points so
<br />designated by the Director, and then only when said shelter
<br />and placement is to be in accordance with Chapter 101, Min-
<br />nesota Statutes, 1974, as amended.
<br />3.4 Bicycling
<br />a. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle in any Open Space
<br />Site except on designated bikeways or surfaces normally
<br />provided for vehicular traffic.
<br />
|