CR 01-039 Ordinance Amendment-Skateboarding
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March 27,2001
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Council Report #2001-39
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT - SKATEBOARDING
Proposed. Acti&o
Staff recommends the following motion: Move to adopt ordinance 2001-853 for first reading.
Overview
Current Hopkins City Code 1330.09 prohibits the use of bicycles, skateboards or roller skates upon the
sidewalks within the B-2 District. Hopkins City Code 1333.01 prohibits the use of skateboards upon
public streets, alleys or sidewalks in the B-2 District. The B-2 District is described as the area
approximately from 8taAvenue to 11th Avenue and 1st Street North to 1st Street South.
Since 1987 when 1330.09 and 1333.01 were enacted, a number of Main street business areas have been
developed such as the Hopkins Center for the Arts, the theatre/restaurant complex and the Glenrose Floral
building. Additionally, due to the variety of businesses in the downtown area, skateboarding in particular,
has become a problem for those businesses outside the current B-2 District.
We are proposing to amend the ordinance to expand the boundaries prohibiting the use of bicycles,
skateboards, and roller skates as well as prohibit the use of scooters in the B-2 District and on Mainstreet.
Prima" Issues to Consider
What are the new boundaries?
Inclusion of scooters
Why consider the amendments to the boundaries?
Supportin2 Document
Ordinance
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Connie 1. Kurtz .
Crime Prevention Specialist
Council Report #2001-39
Page 2
Primary Issues to Consider
. What are the new boundaries?
The new boundaries would include the existing B-2 District and that portion of Main street from
Washington Avenue North to Shady Oak Road.
Why include scooters?
Scooters have become the latest trend in transportation and sport. Rollerblades and skateboards
have already proven their popularity and staying power, especially with young people. Scooters,
although relatively new to the scene, are fast becoming popular. It is only a matter of time before
their use on sidewalks, streets and alleys, becomes a problem.
Why consider the amendments?
Since these city codes were enacted in 1987, there has been considerable redevelopment of certain
areas of Main street; particularly the area between 11th Avenue and 12th Avenue on Mainstreetthat
is home to the Hopkins Center for the Arts and the theatre/restaurant complex. The existing city
code does not prohibit the use of skateboards, roller skates or bicycles west of 11 th Avenue or east
ofSth Avenue.
The Hopkins Police Department annually deals with numerous complaints of skateboarders and
roller skaters using the sidewalk areas in front of properties such as the Center for the Arts, movie
theatre, Hopkins Honda and Raspberry Ridge. The large concrete spaces, ramped sidewalks, and
retaining walls are too tempting to resist using. Because of the high pedestrian use of these areas,
this type of activity poses a hazard to public safety as well as a noted increase in damage to
property (chipped steps, sidewalks and walls). Additionally, a number of businesses along
Mainstreet use a small portion of the already narrow sidewalk area for outdoor seating and display
of wares. These businesses are currently located outside the B-2 District and do not have the
protection the current ordinance provides.
As it stands now, there is an area of approximately 3 square blocks where the police department
can enforce the no skateboard, bicycle and roller skate ordinance. Mainstreet spans an area of
businesses and housing that is 16 blocks long. By expanding the area of where skateboard,
bicycle, roller skate and scooter use would be prohibited, the Hopkins Police Department would
be better able to deal with complaints from citizens and businesses located along Mainstreet.
CITY OF HOPKINS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
ORDINANCE 2001-853
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 1330 AND 1333 OF THE HOPKINS CITY CODE
The City Council of the City of Hopkins does hereby ordain:
Section 1. The Hopkins City Code, Section 1330.09 is hereby amended to read as follows:
1330.09. Riding on Sidewalks. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, scooter or skateboard, nor shall any
person roller skate upon a sidewalk within the do.......nto..y..m business district of the City of Hopkins B-2 District
and that part of Mainstreet from W ashington Avenue North to Shady Oak Road. Any violation of this
subsection is a petty misdemeanor as defined in Minnesota Statutes Section 609.02, Subd. 4a.
Section 2. The Hopkins City Code, Section 1333.01 is hereby amended to read as follows:
1333.01. Prohibited. No person shall ride or operate a skateboard or scooter upon a public street, alley or
sidewalk within the B-2 District and that part of Mainstreet from Washington Avenue North to Shady Oak
Road.
.ection 3. The effective date of this ordinance shall be twenty days after publication.
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Date of Publication:
Date Ordinance Takes Effect:
Gene Maxwell, Mayor
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
City Attorney Signature
Date