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September 13, 1976 Page 4 <br />Referring back to Citizens Comments - Mr. Mavis asked if they should send <br />in the $30 fee now. Administrator Achen stated they should. Atty. Meyers <br />stated that he would move to have the court dismiss the case since they did <br />not get the notice and it would be more equitable to dismiss it. Atty. Meyers <br />suggested that Mr. Lindgren contact Mr. Rose about the damages. <br />At 8:43 Mayor Pickar closed the Public Hearing on Improvement Project 1973 -4 and <br />opened the hearing on the proposed 1977 city budget. <br />Mayor Pickar stated that for the past months the City staff and council <br />have put a lot of time and effort into the 1977 city budget. It is an <br />excellent piece of work by the staff. <br />Admin. Achen stated this is the tightest budget since he has been here <br />and the lowest increase in property taxes since the 1972 levy year. The <br />levy limitation law limits the amount of property tax levy to a 6% <br />increase annually. This law began in 1971 with the assumption that inflation <br />would grow at a rate of 6 %. Because the rate of inflation has been more <br />than 6 %, along with the new diseased tree program and recreational programs, <br />revenues are not expanding as fast as expenditures for services. <br />Mayor Pickar stated that one of the items which increased is the fire <br />department expenses. Councilmember Baumgartner stated that the fire <br />department has answered 419 calls this year versus 295 calls last year, <br />an increase of 42 %. The fire department budget reflected this in the <br />salaries of volunteer firemen.. It was the consensus of Mounds View, <br />Spring Lake Park and Blaine that Chief Fagerstrom requested a reasonable <br />budget for 1977. A lot of the fires were due to grass and peat fires <br />because of the dry season. <br />Councilmember Hodges stated that the City now has their own person working <br />out of the police department for animal control. Admin. Achen stated that <br />the Community Service Officer works about 30 hours per week and the Brighton <br />Veterinary Clinic is where captured animals will be kept. <br />Henry C. Becker, 7350 Spring Lake Rd., asked if this person just goes out <br />on nuisance complaints or is on patrol. Admin. Achen stated that he is <br />on patrol looking for violations. Mr. Becker asked if it was legal for <br />this man to come on private property and take a dog that is laying by the <br />steps, can the property owner stop him? Atty. Meyers stated that the <br />owner can keep him off and the City would have to get a warrant. <br />Mr. Becker explained that he does not believe in tying or fencing a dog. <br />In his neighborhood the only dogs making noise are tied or fenced. Atty. <br />Meyers stated the law required dogs be either leashed or fenced. <br />Admin. Achen explained that it is not the City's intention to capture <br />animals. The owner is responsible for the dog and it is the City's intention <br />to issue a citation to the owner. The City is concerned about dogs running <br />on the street or coming out to the street and barking at people. Mr. <br />Becker explained that he was worried because his dog is crippled and he <br />wanted the officer to call him instead of taking the dog. Admin. Achen <br />stated that they try to avoid picking up the dog because a lot of the time <br />the owner does not even come to get the dog. <br />