03/23/2005 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MARCH 23, 2005 APPROVED • 1 CODE UPDATE — ANIMAL REGULATIONS, GORDON HEITKE 2 3 City Administrator Heitke advised at the request of City staff and the Lino Lakes Police 4 Department, the City's current animal ordinance has been revised to clarify regulations 5 and combine varying chapters of the City Code to be unified into one chapter addressing 6 animals. Currently, animal regulations can be found in various chapters of the City Code, 7 making it difficult for staff to address questions and maintain animal control. In an 8 attempt to organize and unify the existing chapters, an updated Chapter 503, to be called 9 Animal Control Regulations, has been drafted. 10 11 City Administrator Heitke stated City staff and Police Department staff have worked 12 together in an attempt to address all aspects of concern for citizens and staff regarding 13 animals through these updated regulations. The final draft of Chapter 503 has been 14 reviewed by the Chief of Police and Police Department Personnel, and any changes per 15 their request have been made. 16 17 Community Development Director Grochala indicated three major revisions have been 18 incorporated into this new Chapter. The first is the amended regulations regarding animal 19 control will state that animals, when not on the owner's property, are required to be in a 20 motor vehicle or controlled by a leash. The second major revision relates to the issuance 21 of private kennel licenses. The City will allow private kennels on a minimum of one (1) 22 acre of land, and will no longer require residents to obtain a Conditional Use Permit. A 23 private kennel may be allowed only after an inspection reveals that adequate safeguards • 24 are present to protect the surround neighborhood from nuisances and to ensure 25 compliance. The final major revision is that the City will no longer allow farm animals in 26 residential districts. 27 28 Community Development Director Grochala stated in an attempt to improve animal 29 control within the City, and to bring more residents into conformity with City regulations, 30 staff and the Police Department request that the updated Chapter 503 be approved. This 31 adoption will create one unified chapter that addresses animals within the City. 32 33 Community Development Director Grochala noted no action is required at this time. 34 These amendments will be made along with the codification process. 35 36 Councilmember Reinert requested information from the Police Department regarding the 37 problems the City has had with animal control in the past. 38 39 Councilmember Carlson requested information on a standard leash length. She also 40 questioned why cows are listed as domestic animals. She noted there is a resident within 41 the City that has been raising pigeons for years and under the new code that would be 42 prohibited. 43 44 Community Development Director Grochala advised there are sites that will be 45 considered non -conforming and will be grandfathered until that particular use is 46 discontinued for a period of one year. • 47