PRESCOTT – When following up on a resident request extend the no wake zone along Lake Street, Prescott city staff learned it may be possible, but not without a lot of red tape.

At the Sept. 14 meeting, Joe Baumann of 440 Lake St. suggested extending the existing slow-no-wake zone approximately 300 yards north to help reduce shoreline erosion.

City Administrator Matt Wolf said city staff contacted Robert Kneeland with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regarding the city's authority and the process for considering an expanded slow no-wake area. Kneeland said the city could establish an expanded slow-no-wake zone through a local boating ordinance under state law. However, it would need to be consistent with existing St. Croix River regulations and other applicable state and federal laws.

“The St. Croix River is technically a federal waterway,” Wolf said. “He (Kneeland) recommended doing a proof, basically an erosion study for this particular ordinance because if it’s ever challenged in court or if somebody fights against it, they’re going to want to have to show extensive proof of why we needed to implement it and what the damage that’s being done to the shoreline as a result of the erosion.”

Because shoreline erosion is the primary concern, a condition report could document existing erosion, boat traffic and speeds, shoreline characteristics, photographs, the proposed 300-yard extension, effects on navigation and comments from affected property owners and river users, a city memo states. Kneeland also recommended the city consult with the U.S. Coast Guard, Minnesota authorities (since it’s a border waterway) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine if there are additional jurisdictional or regulatory requirements in expanding a no-wake zone.

Alderperson Bailey Ruona suggested asking those entities if they would consider conducting and funding an erosion study, since they’re responsible for regulating the riverway.

“It does have a special status as a scenic and wild river and there are only like three or four of them in the country, so you’d think that they would protect it,” Alderperson Maureen Otwell agreed.

Other challenges would include getting permits for any additional regulatory buoys or markers and enforcing a new slow-no-wake zone when the city doesn’t have a water patrol. The city would need to determine how to enforce it and whether an agreement with another law enforcement agency could be negotiated or if additional equipment and staffing would be necessary.

The council directed Wolf to reach out to other agencies about them conducting an erosion study.

Other business

• At the Sept. 23 Finance & Personnel Committee meeting, members discussed concept plans and costs for a potentially combined police, library and city hall building with the possibility of adding a fire hall in the future. The committee requested a tax impact review on two concept plans, which they’ll go over at the Oct. 7 meeting.
• The council approved placement of an 8-x-6-foot firewood shed at Magee Park for use by park visitors. The Prescott High School woods/technical education program will build the shed and be responsible for keeping it stocked. Money raised from the wood sales would go toward the program.
• The council voted to remove the three-hour parking restriction on the west side of Borner Street between St. Croix and James streets.
• The council approved a State/Municipal Agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the Prescott US Highway 10 and State Highway 35 Bike/Pedestrian Transportation Alternatives Program Project. The project includes a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over U.S. Highway 10, multi-use trail and sidewalk connections along Orrin Road, Campbell, St. Croix, Borner, Pine, Henry and Filkins streets, and the closure of Orrin Road east of Campbell Street.