Mentor City Council passed legislation at the October 6, 2015 City Council Meeting adopting rules and regulations for the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve. The new rules assure proper protection for the sensitive ecosystems that make up the Preserve. A Council Committee chaired by Council Vice President Janet Dowling, and including Ward 3 Councilman Bruce Landeg, and Ward 4 Councilman John Krueger, worked with the City Administration to craft the rules that cover everything from walking dogs to littering in the Nature Preserve area.
Here is a complete list of rules that have been adopted:
- The Nature Preserve is open from sunrise until fifteen (15) minutes after sunset;
- Guests may access the preserve only through designated public entrances and exits;
- Preserve guests are encouraged to stay on marked trails;
- Dogs are permitted, but must remain leashed at all times;
- Preserve guests must immediately clean up after their dog(s);
- Preserve guests shall not disturb any plant or animal within the preserve;
- Swimming or wading within Lake Erie is discouraged and done at own risk;
- No littering; please deposit all trash in marked receptacles;
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited and violators will be prosecuted;
- Feeding of wildlife is prohibited;
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited unless operated by City personnel;
- Any fires are prohibited and subject to prosecution.
Additionally, Council passed further legislation specifically addressing fires at the Nature Preserve. While everyone enjoys a campfire, the Nature Preserve is not a proper location to build a fire. The new law reads:
521.13 Prohibition of Recreation Fires Within Specified City Property
- No person shall start, permit to burn, or be within a one hundred (100) foot proximity radius of any intentionally created fire within the geographical area known as the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve which area is further defined as any portion of lands owned by the City of Mentor contiguous to the north of Permanent Parcel Numbers 16-D-100-0-00-001-0, 16-D-104-0-00-004-0, 16-D-104-00-001-0 and any lands located within the boundaries of Permanent Parcel Number 16-D-099-0-00-008-0, 16-D-099-0-00-011-0, 16-D-099-0-00-012-0.
- Whoever violated this section shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor and upon a second or subsequent violation within one year of the first conviction a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
The Rules and Regulations of the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve will be posted at both the north and south public entrances to the Preserve.