Ramsey Resident - 2004 - November

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6 DOG REGULATIONS The Ramsey City Council recognizes dogs are an important part of the community in that they provide companionship, recreation, and protection for many citizens. The Council realizes that if not properly treated and controlled, a dog may become a nuisance and a hazard to persons and property. One way the City controls dogs is through licensing. The City limits two dogs per residence. Three or more dogs requires either an administrative l(ennel license or a conditional use permit for a kennel license. Call Chris Anderson, Community Development Assistant at 763-433-9905 for additional information on a l(ennellicense. The City Code requires all dogs to be licensed. Licenses are available, for a fee, from the City upon proof of rabies vaccination (required once in every 24-month period and prior to the age of six months). Licenses are for a two-year period. The City of Ramsey sponsors a pet clinic in late April or early May of each year. At that time, dog licenses are offered at a reduced rate. An owner or keeper of a dog must require the dog to be under the control and in custody of a person of sufficient age to adequately control the dog at all times while the dog is off the premises of the owner. The owner of a dog found running at large is guilty of a misdemeanor. Remember to take a scoop along when walking your dog! Section 5.09.03, Subd. 19 of 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. Any dog placed in the pound may be reclaimed by the owner upon payment of the impoundment fee, plus boarding fee. PROPERTY LINES AND TREES ~~. ~.~,' r II Trees often grow limbs and roots across property boundaries. Sometimes the limbs of your tree impact your neighbor's space and its use. The impact may be positive and provide desired shade to a sunny spot, or negative and interfere with the growth and proper development of a neighbor's tree. The first step to correct a nuisance tree that interferes with the use of your property is to contact the owner, your neighbor. AsI( them to look at the impact across the boundary, and consider how to correct the problem while maintaining the health and function of their tree. You can prune the overhanging branches at the property line at your own expense, if you don't harm or kill the tree, but you can't trespass to "fix" the problem. A dead tree can also become a hazard as the limbs drop and roots rot and it can fall onto a neighbor's fence or structure. If the potential problem of trunk decay, excessive structural lean or disease is brought to the attention of the tree owner, and documented with photo and by letter, subsequent failure and impact is not a natural occurrence but a predictable or probable result. Communication and respect for your neighbor's property use can solve a problem and avoid bad feelings or a dispute. Foresight in your tree planting setback from boundaries can also provide years for your tree to grow without unduly forcing your tree choice on your neighbor. The Summer 2004, Shade Tree Advocate~ newsletter of the MN Shade Tree Advisory Committee, has a helpful article that clarifies the legal issues. You can soon access it on line at www.mnstac.org. We also have copies of the article available in the literature rack in the foyer at City Hall. If you have questions about cross boundary tree issues, have a look at this article, tall( with your neighbor and agree on a remedy. If you need technical recommendations, you may picl( up an excellent US Forest Service "HOW to Prune" pamphlet or "HOW to Recognize Hazardous Defects in Trees" as well, also available on line: < http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/fthpub.htm > If you have additional tree health or technical questions please feel free to contact Bruce Bacon, Environmental Specialist at 763-433- 9813. HEAD START Head Start is lool(ing for children for our available preschool program. Head Start continues to be a free comprehensive preschool program for lower income families in our community. We offer a variety of program options and services to parents. If you have any questions regarding our programs, please contact Anoka County Head Start Administrative Office at 763-783-4300. The quickest way to lnake a long story short is by interrupting.