Minutes - Council - 04/27/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Zimmerman aye Councilmember Hendriksen aye Councilmember Anderson aye Mayor Gamec aye Motion carried. Case #12: Adopt Ordinances to Amend Chapter 5 (Animals and Fowl; Dog Regulations) and Chapter 9 (Zoning and Subdivision of Land; Definitions) of the Ramsey City Code Zoning Administrator Frolik stated that Ramsey City Code currently restricts the number of adult dogs allowed on a single parcel of land without a special permit from the City to two. The Planning Commission directed staff to draft an ordinance to consider increasing the number of dogs allowed on a parcel from two to three. The public hearing for such ordinance was held on March 16. The proposed ordinance also provided definitions for commercial and private dog kennels and permits necessary for legal operation of these types of uses. At the hearing, some citizens and commissioners raised concerns that perhaps the number of dogs allowed on urban parcels should remain at two. The Planning Commission amended the proposed ordinance to state that three dogs would be allowed without a special permit from the City on parcels exceeding 25,000 square feet. Council introduced the proposed ordinance on April 13. Because it affects two chapters, and because it takes a 3/5 vote for amendments to Chapter 5 and a 4/5 vote for amendments to Chapter 9, staff separated the amendments into two separate ordinances. The amendments to Chapter 5 would allow three dogs without a special permit on parcels exceeding 25,000 square feet in area and establish the new and amended definitions for boarding, dog, dog owner, commercial kennel, and private kennel. The amendment to Chapter 9 would eliminate the definition of dog kennel currently found in the definition section of the Zoning Chapter. The City Attorney has stated that the ordinance(s) should be re-introduced since they are now into two. Motion by Councilmember Hendriksen and seconded by Councilmember Zimmerman to refer this back to the Planning Commission for the purpose of reducing the number of dogs to two and that the administrative fee for a special permit be reduced to a minimal amount (less than $100) for a third dog. Further discussion: Mayor Gamec stated he would like to see the City get at least the cost out of the permitting. Councilmember Hendriksen stated he pays taxes and he expects to get some services from the City for that. Councilmember Anderson stated that she can see having two small house dogs and a guard dog and inquired why there is nothing in the Code about cats. Ms. Frolik pointed out that the Code does say that cats cannot run at large but that's about all it says. It does need re-doing. Councilmember Hendriksen agreed that two dogs in the house and one outside is not an imposition, however, sometimes three dogs outside and then, possibly puppies, would be an imposition. He is hoping the City will keep some control of this. City Council/April 27, 1999 Page 18 of 25