HomeMy WebLinkAboutgr00090_000042_pg256September 13, 1976 Page 4
Referring back to Citizens Comments - Mr. Mavis asked if they should send
in the $30 fee now. Administrator Achen stated they should. Atty. Meyers
stated that he would move to have the court dismiss the case since they did
not get the notice and it would be more equitable to dismiss it. Atty. Meyers
suggested that Mr. Lindgren contact Mr. Rose about the damages.
At 8:43 Mayor Pickar closed the Public Hearing on Improvement Project 1973 -4 and
opened the hearing on the proposed 1977 city budget.
Mayor Pickar stated that for the past months the City staff and council
have put a lot of time and effort into the 1977 city budget. It is an
excellent piece of work by the staff.
Admin. Achen stated this is the tightest budget since he has been here
and the lowest increase in property taxes since the 1972 levy year. The
levy limitation law limits the amount of property tax levy to a 6%
increase annually. This law began in 1971 with the assumption that inflation
would grow at a rate of 6 %. Because the rate of inflation has been more
than 6 %, along with the new diseased tree program and recreational programs,
revenues are not expanding as fast as expenditures for services.
Mayor Pickar stated that one of the items which increased is the fire
department expenses. Councilmember Baumgartner stated that the fire
department has answered 419 calls this year versus 295 calls last year,
an increase of 42 %. The fire department budget reflected this in the
salaries of volunteer firemen.. It was the consensus of Mounds View,
Spring Lake Park and Blaine that Chief Fagerstrom requested a reasonable
budget for 1977. A lot of the fires were due to grass and peat fires
because of the dry season.
Councilmember Hodges stated that the City now has their own person working
out of the police department for animal control. Admin. Achen stated that
the Community Service Officer works about 30 hours per week and the Brighton
Veterinary Clinic is where captured animals will be kept.
Henry C. Becker, 7350 Spring Lake Rd., asked if this person just goes out
on nuisance complaints or is on patrol. Admin. Achen stated that he is
on patrol looking for violations. Mr. Becker asked if it was legal for
this man to come on private property and take a dog that is laying by the
steps, can the property owner stop him? Atty. Meyers stated that the
owner can keep him off and the City would have to get a warrant.
Mr. Becker explained that he does not believe in tying or fencing a dog.
In his neighborhood the only dogs making noise are tied or fenced. Atty.
Meyers stated the law required dogs be either leashed or fenced.
Admin. Achen explained that it is not the City's intention to capture
animals. The owner is responsible for the dog and it is the City's intention
to issue a citation to the owner. The City is concerned about dogs running
on the street or coming out to the street and barking at people. Mr.
Becker explained that he was worried because his dog is crippled and he
wanted the officer to call him instead of taking the dog. Admin. Achen
stated that they try to avoid picking up the dog because a lot of the time
the owner does not even come to get the dog.