The City Council of the City of Watkins, Minnesota to promote the public safety, health, and welfare, hereby ordains:
PURPOSE: The City Council of the City of Watkins adopts this ordinance in order to provide for the public enjoyment of Watkins parks in a way that will leave them unimpaired and minimize conflicts among users.
HOURS:
A. No person shall enter or remain in a public park before 6:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m., except the Watkins Baseball Park and Watkins Softball Park, where the parks shall be closed by 11:30 p.m. and baseball and softball field lighting shall not be on after 11:30 p.m. The hourly restrictions in this ordinance shall not apply to the annual Kraut N’ Wurst event at McCarthy Park; however, the Watkins City Council may adopt hourly restrictions for this event. Any deviations from the hourly restrictions in this ordinance for other events must be approved by the Watkins City Council.
B. The City of Watkins may close any city park seasonally and may close any city park at any time at its discretion.
PERSONAL CONDUCT:
A. No person shall use a public-address system, amplifier or power equipment, or otherwise make noise of a high volume to arouse alarm, anger, or resentment in other park users or nearby residences to be considered a disturbance of the peace and quiet in a neighborhood. The operation of any device or other noise that is plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the source shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.
PUBLIC SAFETY: While in a city park, it is unlawful to:
A. Possess explosives of any kind;
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION:
The environment is for the enjoyment of all. Therefore, no person shall disturb, destroy, injure, damage, molest or remove any city property, including but not limited to wild flowers or vegetation of any kind, dead or alive, ruins, wildlife, geological formations, signs or facilities. Collections for scientific and educational purposes may be made with the written consent of the City Clerk.
FIRES AND REFUSE:
A. It shall be unlawful to build a fire in any park within the city limits.
B. Minnesota Statutes Section (as may be amended) 85.20, Subd. 6, and Section 609.68, forbidding littering, are incorporated in this ordinance by reference.
C. Where refuse receptacles are provided, they shall only be used for refuse generated at the area. Refuse is to be removed from the areas where receptacles are not provided.
MOTOR VEHICLES:
A. No vehicle shall be parked in such a manner as to obstruct any entrance or exit to the area, except for the purpose of unloading and loading equipment. If a park has designated spaces for parking, then vehicles shall be parked in the designated spaces. If the park does not have designated spaces for parking, then vehicles shall be parked in an orderly way, subject to maintaining adequate space for vehicles to enter and exit.
B. Motor vehicles may be operated only on designated roads. They may not be driven on roads which are posted, chained or gated prohibiting motor vehicles.
C. Motor vehicles shall not be operated in excess of posted speeds, nor in any reckless or careless manner.
SNOWMOBILES AND OFF ROAD RECREATIONAL VEHICLES:
A. No person shall operate a snowmobile in a city park unless in an area designated for such use, under conditions of snow cover considered adequate for the protection of the park by the City of Watkins. Unless an area is specifically posted for operation of snowmobiles, such operation shall be considered prohibited.
B. No person shall operate an off road recreational vehicle in a city park unless in an area designated for such use, under conditions considered adequate for protection of the park by the City of Watkins. Unless an area is specifically posted for operation of off-road recreational vehicle use, such operation shall be considered prohibited.
PETS, LIVESTOCK:
A. Pets may be permitted as long as they are restrained by a leash at all times and personally attended so as not to deprive or disrupt the enjoyment or use of any area by other persons.
B. Livestock shall not be permitted in any city park area unless approved by the City Council.
C. Persons with pets shall collect and properly dispose of the animal’s feces which is deposited in areas of the parks frequented by pedestrians, including picnic areas, playground areas, and trails.
PROTECTION FROM PEDD-LING AND SOLICITING:
It is unlawful for any person to engage in or solicit business of any nature, whatsoever, from visitors, without the prior written consent of the City of Watkins.
PENALTIES:
Any person violating all or a part of this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, subject to the penalties for misdemeanors set by State Law.
SAVINGS CLAUSE:
If any one provision of this ordinance shall be declared illegal or unconstitutional, then that provision alone shall be void and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This Ordinance shall be effective from and after its passage and publication.
Ordained by the City Council of Watkins this 12th day of July 2018.
Those Council Members voting for: Tschumperlin, Unterberger, Carlson, Wirz, Eder
Those Council Members voting against: None
Attest: (SEAL)
Frank Eder, Mayor
Debra Kramer, City Clerk
Published in the Tri-County News Thursday, July 26, 2018.