Minutes - Council Work Session - 03/28/2006

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Councilmember Pearson stated this code affects his property and it puts a severe impact on the value of the property. The numbers do not work for developers looking at what can be done with the land. Ms. Geisler indicated staff understands properties along the river have extra burdens as far as the ability to develop, but feels this ordinance is an improvement. Staff has worked hard to put something together that will protect the river, but also allow properties that are in the MUSA to develop to urban densities. Mayor Gamec requested staffto include the proposed bridge area in plans for this area. He noted them will also be a treatment plant being built in this area. There is one owner in the area that will likely lose 80% of their property. He questioned what that property owner will have if they lose the river property as well. Ms. Geisler requested direction regarding notification for this code amendment. The consensus of the Council was to schedule the code amendment for another work session prior to a regular Council work session, and to notify the landowners at the appropriate time that the Council will be considering these changes. Case #3: Horse Care Board Human Resources Manager Reed reviewed that the Horse Care Board has not met since February 2002, and staff is seeking City Council direction regarding future plans for the Horse Care Board. Former Horse Care Board members were advised that the City Council will discuss the future of the Horse Care Board. Staff is looking for direction regarding the Board. Barbara Scottston, Vice Chair of the Horse Care Board, stated she was on the Board in 1990 and has been a continuing member even though there were voids where there was not an existing Board. She is still a resident of the City and still active with horses, but now keeps her horses boarded at a facility. The need for the Board was very forward thinking on the part of the City; there were many other cities with needs or problems as the horses interfaced with suburban encroachment. The City of Ramsey put a vehicle in place to assist the Council in managing those issues. Ms. Scottston explained the only two situations the Board really needed to deal with were to provide input to the Council regarding conditional use permit applications and to assess and provide input concerning challenges of neglect or abuse. In her activities regarding questions of neglect, never once did the Board find an actual case of neglect. Her question is why this is a concern at this time. She does not know how many horses even still live in the City of Ramsey; the Board may be a truly archaic structure that could be abandoned. Mayor Gamec noted the areas in the City that currently have horses are likely on larger acreage. It is likely that the Police Department and Animal Control could handle any complaints that would arise. Ms. Scottston commented, in the past, the Board spent quite a bit of time conceming what the Board could do in situations such as a loose horse in the City. After numerous meetings, the City Council Work Session / March 28, 2006 Page 4 of 5