HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - July 6, 1988 (37)CITY CJOUNCL MEETING
JULY 6, 1988
ACS OF NON -POWERED
BOATS TO THE MOKELUMNE
R1VIR City Clerk Reimche presented the following letter which had
been received from Patrick Coulston, 1431 Lake Street, Lodi,
CC -16 regarding access of non -power boats to the Mokelumne River
cc -27(c) from Lodi Lake:
CC -O
"To the members of the Lodi City Council:
Recently, a new set of regulations have been adopted by the
City relating to boat access to the Mokelumne River from
Lodi Lake and Park. These regulations have ad the
unfortunate, unwarranted, and I hope unintended effect of
preventing the legal use of the Mokelumne River as it flows
through Lodi for such wholesome and innocuous activities as
canoeing, rowing, and flat -water kayaking, except by those
few fortunate citizens able to own property adjacent to the
river. The primary purpose of this letter is to request
that the you include in the agenda of the next City Council
meeting (July 7, 1988), time to consider a revision of the
implementation of these new regulations. In addition, I
would like to use this letter as an opportunity to provide
for your consideration, prior to the upcoming City Council
meeting, my views on the existing regulatory situation and
how it came about.
"You may not launch your canoe into the River from the Park
or launch in the Lake and paddle into the river, because if
you are run over by a powerboat the city may be held
liable". These words (approximately), recently spoken to
me by a well meaning and competent member of the City's
Parks and Recreation staff, still ring irritatingly in
ears. This is apparently the "bottom line" regarding the
City's policy of not allowing non -power craft access to
river from Lodi Lake Park, a conclusion I arrived at after
several lengthy phone calls to various members of the
City's Parks and Recreation staff. What twisting path has
led to this ironic policy? Please read on for ny
interpretation.
Sometime last year the city commissioned a study by a park
design consultant to provide a plan for the future of Lodi
Lake Park. Amcng his many recommendations were that the
City do what i t can to prevent the use of power boats on
the Mokelumne River adjacent to the Park because: I) it
was causing severe hank erosion, contributing to loss of
soil; and trees along the banks. 2) high speed power
boating (joy riding or water skiing) is fundamentally
dangerous because of the narrowness of the river and the
presence of snags and shoals, and 3) power boating (at
least by large and powerful boats) is inconsistent with the
desired future plans for the wilderness area, which is to
emphasize its wildlife habitat and nature study potential.