Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lake Access Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Okoboji council discusses tightening lake-access permits; directs staff to draft ordinance changes
Summary
Mayor Mary VanderWoude and councilmembers discussed multiple proposed changes to Chapter 147 governing public lake access, including limits on hoists, shorter permit durations, application cut-off dates, higher insurance requirements, and prohibitions on rafts/diving boards and mooring; staff was directed to prepare ordinance revisions.
Mayor Mary VanderWoude opened a discussion on potential revisions to Chapter 147 of the Okoboji Municipal Code, which governs public lake access areas. The council reviewed a range of proposed changes intended to clarify permit administration and public-safety and liability standards.
Among the policy options discussed were setting maximum hoist sizes, shortening permit durations, establishing a cut-off date for permit applications, increasing required insurance limits, and prohibiting rafts, diving boards, tie-ups and mooring at public access points. Councilmembers and the mayor discussed both process changes for administrative handling of permits and substantive rule changes that would alter what is allowed at public access areas.
City Administrator Michael Meyers was directed to continue working on the proposed ordinance revisions and return a draft to the council at a future meeting. No ordinance was adopted at the June 9 meeting; the discussion provided direction for staff to prepare formal language and a possible future public-notice or hearing process.
