CITY OF RHINELANDER PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY MEETING Monday, September 28, :00 7:00 PM City Hall Al Jozwiak, Chairman

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1 CITY OF RHINELANDER PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY MEETING Monday, September 28, :00 7:00 PM City Hall Al Jozwiak, Chairman MEMBERS PRESENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Al Jozwiak, Alex Young, Bill Freudenberg, (6:10) Tom Kelly, Tom Gleason, and Mayor Dick Johns Fire Chief Terry Williams, Police Chief Michael Steffes, City Administrator Bill Bell, Ald. Joe Salzer, Administrative Assistant Lisa Kuczmarski, City Health Officer Harry Whidden, Tom Waydick, Kathy and Tom Marlega, Dr. Paul Goossen, Paul Mueller, Lorilee and Jerry King, Mona and Christian King, Chris Hansen, Robert Stockman and Giles Morris of the Rhinelander Daily News CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chairman Al Jozwiak called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. The meeting was properly posted and the media notified and a quorum present to do business; roll was taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION FREUDENBERG/GLEASON TO APPROVE MINUTES AUGUST 31, ALL AYES, DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS Chairman Al Jozwiak advised the committee to review the Fire, Police and Animal Shelter reports in their committee packets. Unfinished Business PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS/APPROVE AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE SECTION KEEPING OF ANIMALS AND FOWL TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE PROHIBITING KEEPING BEE HIVES (APIARY CULTIVATION) WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS Chairman Jozwiak stated this hearing is for informational purposes only in order for the committee to gather information and will not be voted on at tonight s meeting. Dr. Paul Goossen explained he has been a beekeeper for over 50 years beginning in He served as the President of Iowa Honey Producers and was sent by the United States Department of Agriculture to the Ukraine to speak on beekeeping. He has a wealth of knowledge on this subject and expressed his concern for the city anticipating prohibiting bee hives in the city. He advised how very beneficial pollination is to ecology with crop and flower growth and to wildlife. Dr. Goossen stated, with his background and experience, he will gladly help educate the city and public. Paul Mueller a resident of the west side also stated he keeps bees and did so in South America too. He questioned why the city is even considering this and asked if there have been 1

2 complaints of people getting stung? He advised that Minneapolis reversed their decision to control bees because of their need for pollination. City Administrator Bill Bell said that he has received complaints regarding the public safety due to the locations near the schools. City Health Officer Harry Whidden advised that he was contacted by Bill Bell to find out what he could about keeping bees in the city. Whidden advised he contacted both Tomahawk and Antigo. Tomahawk s main concern it that bees are not located near schools or a lot of traffic congestion. Antigo has a similar ordinance that states they can not keep hives closer than 20 feet from a property line; they must be near the rear of a yard, must have fencing, fresh water or water facilities. They can not be located near schools, shopping facilities, high traffic areas or a lot of noise. Whidden stated beekeeping within the city can be allowed as long as the city has a set of established guidelines with the help of knowledgeable beekeepers and that the properties can be inspected. Assistant Fire Chief Tom Waydick said he is a first year beekeeper. He has two young children and would not raise bees if he thought they were dangerous. He plans to add a second hive next year because of what they do to the environment. Waydick feels bees can exist safely in the city and if people become educated they would not be afraid of them. Chris Hanson stated he is probably the person the committee is referencing to because he lives near the high school. He has kept bees for 11 years and never has had a complaint. He said people stop by to see his bees including school kids; he even has extra equipment for people to wear and a window where you can see into the hive and watch the bees. Hanson receives a lot of positive feedback. Hansen noted the bee association makes random public service calls to promote the knowledge of bees. He keeps them safe, knows the concern of health issues and allergic reactions and is concerned about neighbors and surroundings. Bob Stockman commented he would hate to see an ordinance go in place just for the sake of putting one in place. He feels there are enough ordinances that can t be controlled now; creating an ordinance for control without a purpose does not make sense. Moria King said she is a first year beekeeper, lives near the courthouse and has not received any complaints. She stressed the point that people need to be educated and work together with the bee association about issues. She pointed out there are many large cities in the world that allow beekeeping and see the benefit, why can t a city of this size? She related other factors she found while searching websites and noted she would also be willing to help educate people. City resident, Lisa Kuczmarski, has been a beekeeper for several years and advised she has done a lot to educate herself including courses through the University of Minnesota. She agrees bees provide a huge service but does not agree they should be kept in the city. Kuczmarski advised that her bees are kept outside of town, mainly because she does not want her bees to be the cause of death to a child or an adult if they would become stung. As an experienced beekeeper, she knows when bees swarm they are docile but also they are opportunist in nature and will go to the easiest and the next best place to set up shop. Unfortunately, Lisa pointed out, they retreat into houses within studs approximately the size of their hives. Craig Strid also a city resident offered statistics on his research of beekeeping and explained where to obtain them. He stressed the fact that the main purpose of bees is to pollinate. The evidence is proven even with the trees behind city hall with more fruit this year than before. 2

3 Frieda Waalkens said she lives one mile from the city limits and advised a bee s range of activity is anywhere from one to three miles; she questioned how her bees can be kept out of the city. City Administrator Bill Bell suggested something could be established similar to Antigo s ordinance and asked if the association would be opposed to creating a directory. Bill Bell responded to a question from the audience that the city can do a risk assessment on the locations. He advised the best information they received tonight is they now know the number of properties of beekeepers. Tom Marlega a resident of Lois Street stated before moving, he lived in Dodge County and they had a problem with not enough bees and a waste of time to pursue this subject. Mr. Marlega asked what about people that accumulate junk and attract rodents on their property, isn t that a bigger problem? He has a problem with the neighbor s property looking like an industrial park with trucks, vehicles and trailers parked on the lawn. Marlega said he filed a complaint with this problem and apparently somebody dropped the ball. He questioned the city government getting involved with bees as being a bunch of nonsense and a waste of time with more important problems to pursue like properties attracting rodents and de grading a neighborhood. Mr. Marlega wanted it recorded on what prompted this pursuit and what can he do about his problem and the rights of property owners. Bill Bell stated again several citizens complained about beekeeping so close to schools and that they would address his issue under Matters of Emergency / Informational in Nature on the agenda. Marlega then stated he thinks everyone in the world has a problem with an inadequate amount of bees and what meeting should he attend to discuss his problem? He was told to attend tonight s meeting. Al Jozwiak pointed out they have to stick with the agenda. Marlega said he does have to do with the agenda; then asked what prompted the city to get involved with this beekeeping? Al Jozwiak again stated there have been concerns from citizens. Marlega asked how someone like him can find out how you people operate. Ald. Gleason stated by attending the meetings. Marlega asked if the agenda was in the paper, he asked if it was their responsibility for disseminating. It was explained by Mayor Johns that the media has the information and it is up to them if then they place in their paper. Al Jozwiak asked if everyone had a chance to speak and that all the information will be taken under consideration. Ald. Tom Gleason stated he hoped the association would be willing to educate the community. Ald. Tom Kelly thanked the beekeepers for their attendance and positive response. Dr. Goossen thanked the city of listening to them. APPROVE AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE SECTION FEEDING OF DEER TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE PROHIBITING THE FEEDING OF PIGEONS AND SECTION KEEPING OF ANIMALS AND FOWL TO PROHIBIT THE HARBORING OF PIGEONS Bill Bell reported the Paper Mill contacted the city about a year ago and explained the problems they have been having with the pigeons as a result of the neighbors in the area feeding them. Bill explained the new language he drafted and why he added it to the existing city code under the Feeding of Deer and the amendment to the companion code Keeping of Animals and Fowl. The committee reviewed the new additions to both codes and with some discussion agreed to the additions. 3

4 MOTION BY GLEASON/JOZWIAK TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO TO PROHIBIT THE FEEDING OF DEER, TO INCLUDE WILD ANIMALS, PIGEONS AND WATERFOWL. ALL AYES, APPROVE REQUEST TO NEW SIGNAGE 15 MINUTE PARKING LOADING AND UNLOADING ZONE ON PHILLIPS STREET NEAR ENTRANCE OF HISTORIC WEST ELEMENTARY HOUSING MOTION BY GLEASON/JOZWIAK TO TABLE THIS REQUEST UNTIL THE COMMITTEE RECEIVES MORE INFORMATION AS TO THE NUMBER OF FEET REQUESTED. ALL AYES, APPROVE CONSIDERATION OF LICENSE APPLICATIONS Bartender: Chief Steffes recommended the approval of a bartender license for Linnea Sosnowski. MOTION BY YOUNG/KELLY TO APPROVE BARTENDER LICENSE FOR LINNEA SOSNOWSKI. ALL AYES, APPROVE AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE SECTION DOGS AND CATS REQUIRING OWNER TO PICK UP DOG AND CAT EXCREMENT Bill Bell highlighted the sections they are changing which included language that would not allow the owner to return and pick up. (11) DEPOSIT AND REMOVAL OF ANIMAL WASTE. NO PERSON WHO HAS THE CARE, CUSTODY OR CONTROL OF ANY ANIMAL SHALL ALLOW OR PERMIT THE ANIMAL TO DEFECATE OR URINATE UPON ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE OWNER OF SUCH PROPERTY. ALL PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE, CUSTODY OR CONTROL OF ANY ANIMAL SHALL BE REQUIRED TO IMMEDIATELY CLEANUP, REMOVE AND PROPERLY DISPOSE OF ANY AND ALL ANIMAL WASTE OR EXCRETA DEPOSITED ON SUCH PROPERTY. Bell stated there was tax added to the fees and minor fee changes. MOTION BY KELLY/YOUNG TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO CITY CODE OF THE DOGS AND CAT ORDINANCE. ALL AYES, Matters of Emergency/Information in Nature Fire Chief Terry Williams explained he has gone to Mr. Marlega s neighbor s property several times and met with the property owners. On each occasion there have been no more than five parked in the yard. Williams said they have compiled with his inspections and have been cooperative. Mr. Marlega stated he tried initially to overlook as his neighbors as they were just getting started in business and they would clean up the yard but what created the problem was when they parked a trailer flush with the curb on the lawn; it was obstructing their vision when backing out of the driveway. Mrs. Marlega stated, when they asked the neighbor to move the trailer as it is blocking their vision, they were told to get out of their yard. 4

5 City Administrator Bell asked Mr. Marlega to tell the committee what in the ordinance is unreasonable so they have something to go by. Marlega said somebody should look at the impact and what it is doing to the neighborhoods. He questioned how they can they approve of an ordinance that allows people to park on the front lawn of their homes? The city is looking like a used car lot and, if his neighbor is compiling with the law, there is something wrong with the law. Bill Bell said we will take these points up at the next meeting and see if there is anything that can be changed. Mrs. Marlega pointed out that the house is up for sale and when they have a showing, everything in the yard is gone. So, what does that tell you? Al Jozwiak said this will be put on the next meeting agenda. Bell responded to Mr. Marlega s question that an ordinance is passed after a public hearing then passed through the proper committee before it is presented to the entire city council. Marlega wanted to know if it is advertised. Mayor Johns advised the city s obligation is to notify the media and it is their decision whether or not to publicize. The agenda are posted at city hall also. CONSIDERATION OF BILLS AND CLAIMS MOTION BY GLEASON/YOUNG TO APPROVE BILLS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF $5,656.14, FIRE DEPARTMENT $61, AND ANIMAL SHELTER $3, ALL AYES, FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS AND NEXT MEETING DATE 15 Minute Parking for Loading and Unloading Zone on Phillip Street near Historic West Elementary Housing Discuss City Code Section Property Maintenance The next meeting for the Protection of Persons and Property Committee will be Monday, October 26, 2009 at 5:00 PM in the meeting room at city hall. ADJOURNMENT MOTION BY YOUNG/KELLY TO ADJOURNMENT PROTECTION OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY MEETING AT 7:00 P.M. ALL AYES, Al Jozwiak, Chairman Protection of Persons and Property Received By dk 5