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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SEPTEMBER 3, 2002 Mayor Hunt called the workshop to discuss Keats Avenue issues to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PRESENT: COUNCIL: Siedow, Hunt, Armstrong, DeLapp; Planning Commissioner Diane Taylor. Environmental Commissioner Dean Johnston. ALSO PRESENT: Administrator Kueffner, Code Enforcement Officer Jim McNamara, Finance Director Abby Grenfell, Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Shoeberg, and Animal Control Officer Kathi Pelnar Mr. and Mrs. Steve Ziertman started the discussion with concerns and changes they would like to see in Section 1320 Dogs of the Lake Elmo Code. Questions raised were: What is considered dog "at large"? What is the procedure for when a dog is "at large"? Kathi Pelnar, Lake Elmo ACO, responded they could call her if an animal needs to be picked up. Kathi would ask that they try to confine the animal, and she would come to pick the dog up as soon as possible. If the animal is threatening, they should call 911. Rod Sessing asked what would be considered threatening. Council member Siedow said he considered any rottweiller threatening, whether they are wagging their tail or not. Council member DeLapp noted, if you are on a bicycle and a large strange dog comes running toward you, this could be considered threatening. Rod Sessing reported the incident on July 29t" was not his dog. It was 1 '/2 year old dog that belonged to his daughter. This dog was playing with his dog, but wandered off for a few minutes. Mr. and Mrs. Ziertman asked what you think went through their children's mind when this dog came into their yard. The children weigh only 30 and 60 lbs. One child was smart enough to lock himself into a metal kennel for protection. Mr. Ziertman asked Mayor Hunt why he reacted frightened of the dog when he came to the house. Was it the size or the bark that caused him to be afraid? Mayor Hunt stated the dog was heading toward the property line and barked continually until it was called back. He has been on the attacked side in his life and has backed away from large breed dogs. The Ziertmans explained they wanted to fix the problem with relying solely on invisible fencing as the method of containment. When the power goes out, and this happens frequently in Lake Elmo, there is no signal to keep the dogs contained in the yard. The Ziertmans said they know for a fact that the invisible fence is not enough. There should be some responsibility by the owner. If the dog owner is not home, the dog should be in a kennel or restrained. Rod Sessing reported his two dogs are contained on his property and have not been out in over a year. On June 9tt' the invisible fencing did not work He has put in new wiring around the entire perimeter and installed larger collars because the original collars were not working properly. He also added additional fencing on the back property line. LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SEPTEMBER 3, 2002