Agenda Packets - 2009/03/23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council February 23, 2009 Regular Meeting Page 4 Steve Jungwirth, 2236 Pinewood Drive, stated his belief that those statements are totally false. 1 2 Marcus Berry, 2273 Pinewood Drive, stated they love their dogs, play with them every chance 3 they have, and clean the yard when told to do so. He stated he is sorry if it smells bad and will 4 try to do a better job. Mr. Berry said if a dog is taken away, he does not know how he will be 5 able to take it because they are special dogs he has had for three to four years. 6 7 Hearing no additional public input, Mayor Flaherty closed the public hearing at 7:41 p.m. 8 9 Council Member Mueller thanked all who attended to explain their positions to the Council. She 10 stated she understands that pets can become like a family member so this is a tough decision to 11 make but the Council must look at what the Code requires, which has a limit of two dogs. A 12 third dog requires a kennel license and petition in support signed by 50% of the neighbors within 13 a 500-foot radius and the Code does not allow any “wiggle room” for vacant houses. She stated 14 that she cannot support the kennel license without the required signatures. Council Member 15 Mueller noted that Ms. Palm had mentioned a solution to give one dog to another family member 16 if they live close by. However, if the dogs are creating a situation of fear or loss of property 17 enjoyment in the neighborhood, the kennel license must be denied. 18 19 Council Member Hull stated vacant homes within the 500-foot radius are a disadvantage and 20 asked what “registered homeowner” means. Assistant Clerk-Administrator Crane stated the 21 Code clearly states the owner of the property must sign the petition. Council Member Hull stated 22 perhaps the City should look at that Code requirement for this and other petition processes. 23 24 Mayor Flaherty stated the properties do have an owner, but the owner may not live at that 25 address. City Attorney Riggs agreed the property is owned and it is the same situation when the 26 City is required to get a signature for something like an easements for road projects. 27 28 Council Member Gunn stated the petition is short of signatures so it is null and void. She noted 29 the Code states it has to be signed by more than 50% of all registered landowners within 500 feet 30 but it does not state that everyone around them needs to sign the petition. 31 32 Council Member Stigney stated that generally, there are two people in the house but one may 33 agree while the other does not agree. He asked how that would be resolved. City Attorney Riggs 34 stated that is a good question and it has not been resolved. 35 36 Council Member Mueller asked whether the Munstermans would be able to obtain the signatures 37 required if the matter is tabled for several weeks. Assistant Clerk-Administrator Crane advised 38 that Mr. Munsterman has indicated he feels the petition is now tainted because of the flyer and 39 has someone to take the Chocolate Lab. Council Member Mueller stated the Code does not 40 indicate which dog must leave the property and she is inclined to table for two weeks to allow 41 more time for the Munstermans to obtain the needed signatures. 42 43 44 45