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City Council Minutes May 10, 1995 Page 3 REQUEST TO AMEND THE CITY CODE TO REQUIRE LEASHING OF CATS Jo Behm, 1417 W. California Avenue, requested that the council consider changing its cat ordinance to require that cats be leashed. Unleashed cats are killing birds in her neighborhood, spraying her front stoop, and harassing her small dog. Ms. Behm has spoken to the owners and they are not doing anything about the problem. Mayor Baldwin stated that it would inappropriate to use city ordinances to regulate the balance between predators (cats) and prey (birds). In addition, enforcement of cat laws is more difficult than dog laws, and would require the energy of the police department to chase cats up trees and so on. Administrator Hoyt noted that the ordinances that are already in place do make it a violation of code to own a cat that destroys or defecates on other people's property. The current ordinances do not, however, require leashing of cats. Councilmember Hustad stated that all of Ms. Behm's concerns appear to be covered by current ordinances with the exception of the killing of birds. Councilmember Jacobs noted that cat ordinances are difficult to enforce even when they exist and suggested that Ms. Behm continue to work with her neighbor to alleviate the • problem. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 95-02, DELETING FROM THE CITY CODE THE INTERIM MORATORIUM ON COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT Administrator Hoyt reported that the council's action on zoning for gun shops was the last step in the city's review of the commercial development district, and that it would be appropriate to repeal the commercial development moratorium from the zoning code. Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to adopt Ordinance 95-02, deleting from the city code the interim moratorium on commercial development. Motion passed unanimously. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 95-16, SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES' LOBBYING EFFORTS REGULATED TO THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN Mayor Baldwin reported that the National League of Cities, Falcon Heights' national lobbying organization, has requested the support of its member cities. They have asked that the city pass a resolution in support the League's opposition to the repeal of the national assault weapons ban. The League has taken the position that the ban is a good thing for cities and is proposing to oppose these efforts. • Charles Peterson, 1591 Garden, stated that he was a lobbyist for the United Sportsmen of Minnesota, although he was speaking as a private citizen in this instance. Mr. Peterson stated that he is opposed to the restriction of guns and that it is unnecessary to pass laws that aren't needed.