Minutes - Planning Commission - 06/02/1998 - Public Hearing @ 7:53

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16~0Oiui'leSIreetNVV I~m~y,l~l ~ June 2,1998 Ramsey Planning Commission To the Planning Commission Members: In the matter of the request from Phillip and Francis Teelzel, for a conditional use permit for a private dog kennel, on the property known as 16405 Quartz Street NW. This matter has our full support! We (my wife and I) recommend that the City of Ramsey grant their request. As adjacent neighbors to the southeast of their property, we have had the pleasure of meeting Phil, Fran and their dogs. They are very responsible dog owners, and should be commended. This how ever bdngs up a larger unrelated issue that the City of Ramsey needs to be aware of, and we ask for the City's help and guidance in correcting the increasingly menacing problem that is in our neighborhood. This being: LACK OF ENFORCMENT OF THE "RAMSEY LEASH ORDINANCE". Ramsey City Code states that no person shall allow any animals to run at large. Additionally, eve~ owner or keeper of a dog shall have the dog 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... Violation of the leash ordinance is a misdemeanor. We are faldy new to the City of Ramsey; we began our residence on Labor Day weekend of 1997. We do not want to be labeled as problem makem or complainers. However, this is a big problem in our neighborhood. Moreover, as the City of Ramsey is now one of the fastest growing metropolitan suburbs. We feet that this issue needs to be given a high priority in being addressed and corrected before someone is seriously hurt and/or property is damaged. Our dogs are taken for walks several times dudng the day. They are always on a leash dudng these walks. Daily, without fall other dogs in the neighborhood charge our dogs. These other dogs are not on a leash, they are outside, and more often than not, the owners of these dogs are not around. And if the owners are around, and they are reminded of the City Leash Ordinance, the most common reply is, '~Nho are you, moving into our neighborhood and telling us how to control our dogs." Last fall we checked with the City Police, to see if anything could be done to help correct this situation. The reponse that wa received at that time was; yes, the city does have a leash law, but it really is not enforced. Because most of the residents still see Ramsey as a country community. When we asked what we could do, the response was to remind the residents of the leash ordinance, and to ask these pet owners to please have better control and custody of their dogs. This approach unfortunately, does not work for the many irresponsible dog owners (they do not like to be told). We at this time, ask that the City Planning Commission review and forward our concems to the City Council. To also ask them: '"What can be done about this growing problem of uncontrolled dogs, and to make it a 'WIN -WIN" situation for both the residents of the city, and also for the City of Ramsey?'