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ITEM 1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Burkholder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Employee Relations Training Room of the Lakewood Civic Center South Building, 480 S. Allison Pkwy., Lakewood, CO.
ITEM 2. ROLL CALL
Those present were: Mayor Steve Burkholder, Presiding
Vicki Stack
Cheryl Wise
Debbie Koop
Bob Murphy
Sue King
Ed Peterson
Doug Anderson
Ray Elliott
Diana Allen
Mike Stevens
Staff in attendance: Mike Rock, City Manager
Roger Noonan, City Attorney
Full and timely notice of this Study Session Meeting had been given and a quorum was present.
ITEM 3 - DISCUSSION - PROPOSED ORDINANCE REGARDING VICIOUS DOGS
Mayor Burkholder opened the meeting and turned it over to the City Manager Mike Rock.
Mr. Rock stated that City Councilors were reacting to their constituents by
holding this Study Session. He stated there would be an informational presentation
by staff and staff would not be making any recommendations regarding an ordinance
or ordinance change. He asked City Council to look at the issue from a public
safety standpoint.
Mr. Rock stated that any alternative to the present ordinance would probably
require additional staffing of the Animal Control Unit.
Police Chief Ron Burns recused himself from the discussion, stating that he had a dog at his home of the breed possibly being discussed tonight. He stated that he had not reviewed the information being presented tonight.
Deputy City Attorney Janet Young gave a PowerPoint presentation reviewing the current Denver Ordinance and the related court challenges. She reviewed the Metropolitan Area cities that currently have a ban on pit bulls, those that are currently considering such legislation, and those who are not. She reviewed the various ordinances, related definitions, and Lakewood's current ordinance.
Kevin Paletta, Patrol Division Chief, continued the PowerPoint presentation, giving national trends regarding the number of dogs in the United States, persons requiring medical treatment due to dog attacks, and fatalities due to dog attacks, as well as the contributing factors in attacks. He then reviewed the same information and trends for the City of Lakewood. He did not make any recommendation, but gave City Council several alternatives to consider from banning pit bulls to enhancing the current ordinance with public education programs, licensing, chipping, neutering, ownership requirements, and more.
A question and answer period ensued among the Council members, Janet Young, Kevin Paletta, and Holly Gilbertson, Supervisor of the Animal Control Unit.
City Council reached consensus on two items: 1) they did not wish to ban breed-specific dogs, and 2) they wished to do something to change or strengthen the current ordinance.
Staff was asked to research various alternatives and report back to City Council at a future study session. Some of ideas brought forward included: licensing, chipping, neuter/spay requirements, ownership requirements, fencing of yards, safe enclosures, warning signs, liability insurance, off leash parks, muzzling, leash law, expanding definition of vicious animal, creating a nuisance ordinance, and public education.Mr. Rock stated that he would meet with the city managers throughout Jefferson County as there has been some interest in having a model ordinance that would be adopted county wide to deter owners from moving them across city boundaries. He was asked to report back to City Council on this matter.
ITEM 4 - OPEN DISCUSSION
(This was postponed until the February 6, 2006 Study Session.)
ITEM 5 - REPORTS - MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
None.
ITEM 6 - ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Burkholder adjourned the meeting at 9:14 p.m.
Submitted by:
Margy Greer, City Clerk
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