Lino Lakes Ledger
First Reading Held On Animal Ordinance
The Lino Lakes City Council took steps to consolidate existing city regulations concerning the keeping of animals within the city by conducting the first reading of Ordinance No. 03-08 adopting City Code Chapter 503 entitled "Animal Control Regulations."
Currently, the keeping of domestic and non-domestic animals within the city is scattered between Chapters 502 (dogs), 503 (farm animals), 506 (non-domestic animals) and 607 (kennels). According to city staff , this makes it diffi cult for residents to comply with city requirements and diffi cult for the city to enforce.
Borrowing from regulations developed by Lino Lakes' neighboring cities and the League of Minnesota Cities model ordinance, the new ordinance will introduce further restraints on the keeping of farm animals and allowing animals to run at large in the city. It also changes some key kennel provisions for the keeping of dogs on residential property.
Dogs will no longer be allowed to be restrained merely by voice command. Dogs will be required to be controlled by a leash or to be confi ned in a motor vehicle while off the owner's property. At home, dogs must be restrained or confi ned. Staff stated that electronic collars and buried electronic fencing systems would likely comply with this requirement, but the ordinance does not specifically address this technology.
As a "number" of Lino Lakes residents own more than two dogs but have not complied with the city's kennel licensing requirements, the new code will simplify the application process. Pending an inspection, an administrative kennel license may be issued for properties of one or more acres in size. Previously, a minimum of 5 acres and a Conditional Use Permit was required.
In response to "numerous citizen complaints," farm animals will no longer be allowed to be kept as pets in residential neighborhoods; however, existing animals will be allowed to stay. Farm animals include cows, horses, poultry, fowl, goats, bees and other animals associated with a farm.
Regulations dealing with the keeping of dangerous dogs now comply with state statute.
"This proposed ordinance is among the more restrictive in how it matches up with neighboring communities," commented Mayor John Bergeson. The vote was a aye; the second reading will be held March 10.
In other action, the council:
. Approved Change Order Nos. 9, 10 & 11 relative to the Lake Drive/I-35W project resulting in a net addition of $940 to the total contract amount.
. Approved Change Order No. 4 to the Legacy at Woods Edge Phase 2 - Streetlighting contract in the amount of $2,811.44 for repair of damage to the street lighting system caused by a lightning strike last fall. The contract with W. H. Response specifi cally exempts "acts of God" from the responsibility of the contractor.
. Approved the addition of a parttime Community Relations Coordinator to be added to the Lino Lakes Police Department. The starting wage of the 3/4-time position, which provides for supervision of the department's many volunteers in addition to other duties, is $53,913. LLPD Chief Dave Pecchia estimated the cost value added to the department in 2007 by its 64 volunteers at over $100,000, and expects the number of volunteers to continue to rise. He reassured council that the civilian liaison will not supervise field operations but serve instead as a "conduit between what's going on in the field and the elected officials."
. Held the second reading rezoning Vaughan's 1st Addition from PUD to R-1X (Single-Family Executive). The preliminary plat for the one residential lot plus 14-acre outlot created by the subdivision was approved by council on Feb. 11. All aye.