Lino Lakes Ledger
Animal Ordinance Action Postponed
The second reading of Ordinance No. 03-08 dealing with the keeping of animals within the city was removed from the Lino Lakes City Council Monday, March 10 council agenda. The new ordinance would repeal city code sections 502, 503, 506 and 607.
"We have about four different sections of city code that overlap and contradict each other, which is very confusing," Community Development Director Michael Grochala said.
Those inconsistencies have made the animal control ordinances diffi cult to enforce, Lino Lakes Police Chief Dave Pecchia told council members at the meeting. Those code sections would be replaced with a new Chapter 503, Animal Control Regulations, which - according to Grochala - will streamline the process of enforcement and clarify requirements.
Since the first reading of the ordinance on Feb. 25, a number of comments and concerns were received from residents about additional restrictions to be imposed on the keeping of dogs on private property, the use of hunting dogs for hunting within the city, and restrictions on the keeping of farm animals - specifically, chickens - in residential areas.
Based on the public comments received thus far, Pecchia said a neighborhood meeting will be held to hear residents' concerns before making any changes to the proposed ordinance, if any, prior to the second reading.
That neighborhood meeting will be held "soon," according to Chief Pecchia.
Council Makes appointments
The City Council approved appointments to the city's commissions and advisory boards following interviews conducted on Feb. 26 and 27.
Action was also taken to increase the number of members on the city's Economic Development Advisory Committee from 9 to 10. Th is action was possible, City Administrator Gordon Heitke explained at the meeting, because the number of individuals serving on this committee is not governed by state statute or city ordinance.
Council Member Jeff O'Donnell said the council was pleased with the "number of outstanding individuals willing to participate."
On the Park and Recreation Board, George Lindy was reappointed; Richard Jensen, Matt Koehn and Charles Evans are new appointees. On the Planning and Zoning Board, Perry Laden and Bob Nelson were reappointed.
On the Environmental Board, Martha DeHaven and Mary Jo O'Dea were reappointed; Pamela Hartley is a new appointee. On the Economic Development Advisory Committee, Kirk Corson and Bill Combs were reappointed.
Joe Stranik and Dave Roeser are new appointees, bringing the total membership to 10.
According to Director of Administration Dan Tesch, all incumbents who were interested in reappointment remain.
In other action, the council:
. Approved plans and specifications and authorized advertisement for bids for the city's 2008 sealcoat project, the contract for which will be awarded April 28.
According to City Engineer Jim Studenski, seal-coating is "a costeff ective way to extend the life of the road." A thin coat of bituminous oil and rock chips will be placed on 7 miles of streets in the southwest quadrant of the city, at a cost of approximately $150,000.
. Approved plans and specifi cations and authorized advertisement for bids for the city's 2008 overlay project. Meadowview Trail, Prairie View Place, and Country Lane in the northwest quadrant of the city will have a bituminous overlay applied this year. Studenski said this is "the next step in the process once seal coating is no longer eff ective." The estimated cost of this work is $188,000.
Editor's note: According to city staff , the Birch Street/Ware Road signal petition received by the city on Feb. 12 will likely be discussed at the March 24 Lino Lakes City Council meeting.