Agenda - Council - 01/22/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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INTRODUCE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO 5.03.03 (DOG REGULATIONS) OF CITY CODE: CASE OF THE CITY OF RAMSEY By: Amy.Geisler, AICP, Interim Asst. Com. Dev. Director Background: Case# City Code currently requires an Administrative Kennel License in order to maintain three .dogs per parcel. The Permit is currently processed by the .Community Development Department, in cooperation .with the Police Department. Staff is of the opinion that the License requirement has become somewhat ineffective and duplicative, and is proposing that Code be amended to eliminate the Administrative Kennel License requirement. The following items are included in your packet: 1} Proposed code change (markup version) 2) Proposed ordinance Notification: There is no public hearing associated with City Code amendments from Chapter Five. Discussion: Two dogs are permitted outright per parcel, without any kind of special permit. Three dogs require an Administrative Kennel License, and four dogs require a Conditional Use Permit. The intent of the Kennel License requirement is to ensure decent care and boarding of the 3 dogs, verify that all have received their regular dog license, and to check if any nuisance complaints have been received about any of the dogs. Community Development Staff also conduct a site inspection to verify that a fence and/or outdoor kennel is available to keep the dogs in the yard, and that kennels. and dog runs are at least 10 feet from neighboring property lines. In practice, very few residents call the City in advance to determine if a special license is needed to maintain. three dogs. Residents often apply for the Kennel License at the same time that they apply for the regular dog license: There have also been a few situations where the lack of a Kennel License has come to light after a complaint is made about a particular dog. Because of the complaint, Staff is compelled to deny the Kennel License under current code, and direct the resident to reduce the number of dogs- on the property. The Kennel License requirements do not allow Staff to .choose which dog is removed, however, and the problem dog may remain on the site. For reference purposes, from 2002-2006, Staff processed 13 Kennel Licenses. Staff received 8 applications in 2007. An Administrative Kennel License currently costs $30, on top. of $20 for the regular dog license ($10 for spayed/neutered). Staff recommends maintaining the requirement that a Conditional Use Permit be required to maintain 4 dogs on a parcel. -155-