04-22-81 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MIt~IUTES City Council Flpril 22, 1981 The Flttorney agreed that this word should be added to the ordinance. Fahey suggested the phrase "Except as provided in subparagraph C above" should be added to the beginning of paragraph D. Mayor Hanson stated that to his knowledge the City of North Oaks is the only city that is total7y closed to hunting and trapping. Mr. Hanson asked the position of Ramsey County on these subjects, Flttorney Parks informed the Council that in the past Ramsey County was a game preserve, as was the City of St. Paul. However, since 1964• trapping and hunting have been permited in the County, Mayor Hanson questioned whether this ordinance would provide an enforcement enforce thisttype~of ordinancey PParksSSUggestedtthat~certaincCitytofficials would have to watch for violations of the ordinance and then notify the Sheriff's Department. The Attorney also informed the Council that the County does prohibit the taking of game in open space. Mrs. Nardini commented that she felt the proposed ordinance will give the City the authority that they are looking for with regards to trapping. It was commented by Mrs. Scalze that the Sheriff's Department, in the absence of a local ordinance, is enforcing the State Game Law. However, this is almost impossible to enforce. Maplewood requires that when a trapper is trespassing on someone's property, the property owner must send a registered letter to the trapper objecting to their trapping on the property. Mrs. Scalze commented that she felt this was an unfair burden to put on the property owner. Both Mr. Fahey and Mr. Hanson stated that they have received calls and letters from citizens favoring the prohibiting of trapping in the City. Mr. Hanson stated that he received only one call from a citizen against the proposed ordinance. Mr. Roger Runyon, a resident of LaBore Road, appeared before the Council. Mr. Runyon stated that the proposed trapping ordinance is the same proposal that was before the Council in the past that was turned down. Mr. Runyon expressed concern that the leg-hold trap wi11 be banned by this ordinance. Mr. Runyon informed the Counci7 that live traps cost 14 times more than 7eg-hold traps. Mr. Runyon was also concerned that he wou1d not be allowed to trap on his property. Mr. Runyon stated that Minnesota Statute 100.27 Subd9vision 7 allows the trapping on a person's property as long as the pest is a nuisance. Mr. Runyon also informed the Council that there are State Statutes that prohibit the poisoning of animals. Mr. Runyon stated that he felt the trapping ordinance was unneeded and that property owners should be allowed to do as they wish on their own property. Mr. Runyon fe7t the State Statutes were more than adequate to regu7ate these types of things. Page -2-