Rosemount Police Chief Presents Revised Animal Control City Code to Council

Rosemount Police Chief Presents Revised Animal Control City Code to Council


The Rosemount City Council listened carefully Tuesday as Police Chief Gary Kalstabakken read amendments made to the animal control city code during its first reading.

It was deemed necessary to make changes to the animal control portion of the city code after the state made changes to its potentially dangerous/dangerous dog statutes.

According to Kalstabakken, the animal control city code was last updated in 2004. In the amended city code, new sections were added, which would include state and city changes.

If the council decides to approve the amended animal control city code, some of the items it will include are:

    If a hearing panel upholds findings of a potentially dangerous/dangerous dog, the owner will be subject to pay up to $1,000 for the hearing cost (state law). There would be no cost if the dog was not found to be potentially dangerous or dangerous.

In addition, Kalstabakken informed council of changes that would be made to chicken coops in the animal control city code.

Currently, there are four known chicken coops in urban, residential areas of Rosemount. In the amended animal control city code, owners would no longer need a permit to have chicken coops.

Our experience in the last seven years has been that [chicken coops] are non-issues, Kalstabakken said.

Also, the ordinance would reduce the coop's setback from a principal residential structure from 75 feet to 50 feet.

"Other cities have had as little as 25 feet," Kalstabakken said. "We feel 50 feet took care of any problem regarding a chicken coop."

The amended animal control city code was shortened from 32 to 23 pages, and council will take a vote on it at either the July 19 or Aug. 2 council meeting. Mayor Bill Droste said the public is encouraged to call the City of Rosemount with questions or issues pertaining to the animal control city code.