Okoboji, IA (northwestiowanow) — A proposed update to Okoboji’s public lake access regulations advanced Tuesday night after the city council amended the measure to continue allowing swim rafts at public access areas.

Ordinance 290 proposes revisions to Chapter 147 of the city’s code to clarify rules governing structures and activities allowed at Okoboji’s public lake access sites.

As the council was preparing to consider the ordinance’s first reading, Councilman Jim Hentges halted the vote.

He asked to remove restrictions on swim rafts after questions were raised about why swim rafts were being prohibited in the proposed language.

Hentges questioned whether there was any reason to ban the structures.

Council members ultimately voted 3-2 to approve the first reading of Ordinance 290 with the swim raft prohibition removed.

The council then considered waiving the second and third readings to advance the ordinance. However, the motion failed to receive the supermajority vote required for immediate adoption.

As a result, Ordinance 290 will return to the council for additional readings before final adoption can be considered.