Sherburne County adopts parks ordinance updates setting 20 mph trail speed limit, adding e-bike definitions

Sherburne County commissioners voted to approve updated amendments to the county Parks Regulations Ordinance (No. 270) after a public hearing and a recommendation from staff and the Parks and Trails Advisory Committee. The motion to “approve and adopt the proposed amendments to the parks regulations ordinance number 270 as recommended” was made by Commissioner Danielewski and seconded by Commissioner Felber; commissioners voted in favor and the motion carried.

The changes, presented to the board by a parks advisory committee representative, add four updated definitions — including “electric assisted bicycle” and “electric personal assistive mobility device” — aligned with Minnesota state statute, and revise the definition of “vehicle” to list examples such as motorized bicycles, motorized foot scooters and one‑wheeled electric skateboards. The presenter said the draft also incorporates the county’s Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan (dated Feb. 2005) into the definition of “trails.”

County staff and the advisory committee proposed a single, enforceable speed limit of 20 miles per hour for all county park trails and the Great Northern Regional Trail. “20 miles an hour on a trail, whether you're just pedaling or using an electric assist, is plenty fast for the safety of other trail users,” the presenter said during the hearing, noting that visual enforcement of ebike classes is difficult and a uniform speed limit is more practical to implement. The committee recommended communicating and enforcing the limit with posted speed signs along trails.

Other amendments adopted by the board include a provision to allow ceremonial tobacco use by Native Americans on county lands and a clarification of penalties: most violations would be classified as misdemeanors while the use of cannabis and hemp in parks would be a petty misdemeanor punishable under state law (up to a $50 fine). The ordinance packet submitted to the board noted the committee reviewed the draft language across two meetings and coordinated with county attorneys.

The ordinance passed without additional amendments. County staff said the updated ordinance language in the board packet reflects the advisory committee’s discussion and the county attorney’s office review. The board closed the public hearing before taking the vote.

Speakers at the hearing included the advisory committee presenter and members of the board; no members of the public spoke during the public hearing portion before the vote. The county will communicate the new speed limit and definitions through signage and the published ordinance once codified.