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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/27/20135. DISCUSSION ITEMS CITY OF APPLE VALLEY URBAN AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES AUGUST 27, 2013 . CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Urban Affairs Advisory Committee meeting was called to order by Chair Schwartz at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Barry Berg, Sandy Breuer, Edwin Holmes, Walton Mahlum, Sharon Schwartz, Pamela Sohlberg and Earl Wilson. Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Planner Margaret Dykes, Code Compliance Specialist Ben Pierson, City Attorney Sharon Hills and Department Assistant Joan Murphy. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Schwartz asked to make a change to the agenda to introduce the newest Committee Member Walton Mahlum. MOTION: of Sohlberg, seconded by Wilson, approving the agenda as amended. Ayes - 7 - Nays - 0. 3. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER Chair Schwartz welcomed Walton Mahlum and each Committee Member introduced themselves and stated how long they had been on the Committee. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES JUNE 25, 2013. Chair Schwartz asked if there were any changes to the minutes. Hearing none she called for a motion. MOTION: of Sohlberg, seconded by Holmes, approving the minutes of the meeting of June 25, 2013. Ayes - 7 - Nays 0. A. Animal Ordinances Review Planner Margaret Dykes reviewed the revised draft amendments to Chapter 91 (Animals), and the staff memo for the Committee's meeting of August 27, 2013, which addressed the following items: 1. Any criteria for the certification of service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes August 27, 2013 Page 2 of 3 2. Any certification for animal foster homes. 3. Procedures of various cities/counties with respect to stray animals. 4. Violations of City ordinances. 5. The September 24 public comment meeting. Committee Member Berg stated he had a concern on certified animals and that you cannot ask if a dog is a certified animal unless it is disruptive. Dykes provided information regarding the City's procedures on stray animals. Stray dogs are impounded by the Apple Valley Police Department but the City does not pick up stray cats. Violations are a misdemeanor. Committee Member Berg inquired why the City does not deal with stray cats as they do with stray dogs. Dykes answered it was cost prohibitive. Chair Schwartz asked where would a rabbit hutch need to be located. Attorney Hills stated rabbit hutches would need to follow the zoning code as it relates to accessory buildings on properties and would need to follow the setback requirements. Committee Member Berg asked if the City would be responsible for wild animals such as coyotes. Chair Schwartz commented that service animals should be included in the maximum number of pets. Committee Member Berg inquired why there would be a need for more than one service animal per person. Committee Member Mahlum asked why service animals were even being discussed. Dykes answered that the Committee wanted to call service animals out separately but now after discussion, service animals would be included with the three dog maximum. She asked what the .Committee wanted to do regarding rabbits. Committee Member Wilson commented there should be a limit on rabbits to alleviate hording. Chair Schwartz asked Code Compliance Specialist Pierson what his experience has been in the community with any abundance of pets. Pierson answered there was one residence with about one hundred parrots but has had no complaints on rabbits. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes August 27, 2013 Page 3 of 3 Chair Schwartz inquired what Mr. Pierson would do if he encountered conditions that were inhumane. Pierson stated he would contact the Police Department because they are more equipped to handle that type of situation. Committee Member Breuer commented she would like to strike the rabbit number and just leave it alone. 6. OTHER BUSINESS A. Review of upcoming meeting. Planner Margaret Dykes stated that the next Urban Affairs Committee meeting would take place Tuesday, September 24, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. and would be a public comment meeting. 7. ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further comments from the Urban Affairs Advisory Committee, Chair Schwartz asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: of Wilson, seconded by Breuer, to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 p.m. Ayes - 7 - Nays - 0. Respectfully Submitted, n Murphy, Planning 1 epa ent Assistant Approved by the Apple Valley Urban Affairs Advisory Committee on