Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 03/08/2012

Home

Dog Regulations The Ramsey City Council recognizes that dogs are an important part of the community. They provide companionship, recre- ation, and protection for many citizens. However, if not properly trained and controlled, a dog may become a nuisance and a hazard to people and property. One way the city controls dogs is through licensing. City Code requires all dogs to be licensed. Licenses are available from the city, for a fee, upon proof of rabies vaccination. Licenses are valid for a two -year period. The city limits three dogs per residence. Four or more dogs requires a conditional use permit for a kennel license. Call the Community Development De- partment at 763- 433 -9824 for additional infor- mation on kennel licenses. When a dog is offits owner's premises, it must be in control and custody of a person of sufficient age to adequately control the dog at all times. Control and "custody" means on a leash of not more than six (6) feet in length. It is legal to have a dog in an automobile without a leash, but it must be on a leash if taken out of the vehicle. Remember to take a scoop along when walk- ing your dog! City Code requires any person who owns or has custody of a dog to clean up dog excrement and place it in a proper receptacle. To protect citizens, no person may keep a dog that howls, yelps or barks to the reasonable annoyance of another person. The city's Animal Control Officer may request the person to stop or prevent the annoyance, and if they refuse to comply, a citation will be issued. If the officer needs to stop the annoyance, the dog may be taken to the Animal Pound. Call the Animal Control Officer at 763 -427- 6812 for additional information regarding dog regulations. City Owned Lands Inventory Consideration to Eliminate Underutilized Park Spaces; Peltzer Park As a part of its 2011 strategic goals, the City Council made it a priority to identify an inventory of all city owned lands and their uses. The inventory was completed in Au- gust 2011 and a report was provided to the City Council in December 2011. The report identified a number of salable properties with no title limitations. Transitioning these properties back to private ownership returns them to a taxable status and reduces maintenance costs. In its review, the City Council looked at 36 properties which were identified as potentially developable and no longer needed by the city. Of the 36 reviewed, eight (8) properties could be to be put up for sale. The remaining 24 properties require further review by staff, as they have a significant level of legal restrictions. After review by city staff, it has been determined that Peltzer Park is an underutilized park when compared to other improved and maintained parks within the city. Peltzer Park is located at 146th Lane and Kamacite Street. One reason Peltzer Park may be underutilized is its rela- tively close proximity to Alpine Park; a highly improved, large and well - maintained community park. Peltzer Park is being considered for elimination by the City Council. As expressed by the City Council, the demand for parks is shifting away from small neighborhood `pocket parks' and refocusing on large regional multi -use parks. Furthermore, the cost to maintain a large number of small neighborhood parks can be greater than the cost to main- tain a small number of regional parks. Persons wishing to learn more about the City Owned Lands Project, or the elimination of Peltzer Park, may come to the Mayor's Town Hall Meeting between 7 and 8 pm on March 12, 2012 in the Lake Itasca Room at the Ramsey Municipal Center. If you would like additional information on any of the properties under consideration for disposition (including reference maps), please contact Patrick Brama, 763 -433- 9903, pbrama @ci.ramsey.mn.us or visit the City's website under "In the News."