Minutes - Council - 01/13/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Code pertaining to fences and asked that the City Council enforce the requirement of a wood or chain link fence. To have an eight wire fence with three electric wires was not acceptable. There is no guarantee this wire fence will not be vandalized just like their other fence was and it affects the lives of 13 families. Some of the families have lived there for 30 years and the Konzaks have lived there for only seven years. They personally were considering placing a playhouse in their backyard and they cannot do that with three live wires being located tight on the property line. From her back step to the proposed fence is only about 75 feet. There is a reason ordinances are established which is to benefit the community and they are worthless if they are not enforced. Deanna Heaton, 16531 Coquina Street NW, Ramsey, stated that she realizes that a lot of people have put a significant amount of time and effort into resolving the issue. The problem is that the letters that were sent out to the surrounding property owners stated that the City felt that what was agreed to was a compromise to all parties, but they feel it was all towards the Konzaks and not for the surrounding property owners. She has lived in Ramsey for 28 years and does not mind the horses, but she does not want an electtic fence six inches from her property line. She would not be able to even mow her property with her riding lawnmower without having concerns of touching the :el ectric fence. Tim and Sheri Smith, 16410 Azutite Street NW, Ramsey, stated that they have lived in their home for 24 years. She explained that the fence on the Konzak's property was never an electric fence to start with and they have never had a problem with horses getting out. They were all told that the fence would be setback two to three feet from the property line, which was acceptable to them, but now the fence is being placed six inches from the property line. With the fence being so close to the:property line they will now have horse waste coming onto their properties and who is going to clean that up. The other concern they had was if the electtic fence would negatively impact their property values. City Attorney Goodrich requested if Ms. Kleckner-Thiele could expand on her 'statement that staff was deviating from the City ordinance. Ms. Kleckner-Thiele replied that City Code states that fencing material must be made of wood or chain link unless otherwise approved. To her that would mean that there should be a compelling reason to deviate from wood or chain link. City Attorney Goodrich noted that the City Code does allow for other materials as approved by the Zoning Administrator. Ms. Kleckner-Thiele questioned why that clause would be included in the ordinance if there is going to be no criteria to deviate from wood or chain link. City Attorney Goodrich stated that the Council is heating a lot of comment about the location of the fence, but he advised the Council that the only issue before them was the type of fencing materials being used. He noted that the ordinance does allow for fences to be placed tight on the property line. Mr. Kubat replied that the ordinance states that fencing material must be chain link or wood unless otherwise approved. The reason staff would approve something other than wood or chain link would be to contain animals and it should be done so 100 percent and if the fence is placed City Council/January 13, 2004 Page 11 of 24