01/24/2011 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • SPECIAL COUNCIL MINUTES DRAFT CITY OF LINO LAKES January 4, 2011 2 MINUTES 3 4 5 DATE : January 4, 2011 6 TIME STARTED : 5:33 p.m. 7 TIME ENDED : 6:15 p.m. 8 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Gallup, O'Donnell, Rafferty, 9 Roeser, and Mayor Reinert 10 MEMBERS ABSENT : none 11 12 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Director of Administration Dan Tesch; 13 League of Minnesota Cities Attorney James Monge; Chief of Police Kent Strege; and City Clerk Julie 14 Bartell 15 16 The meeting was called order at 5:33 p.m. in the Community Room at Lino Lakes City Hall. 17 18 PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT REPORT, Kent Strege 19 20 A) Hearing to consider Mitchell Sawh's motion for a stay of disposition regarding his dog, 21 Brody. 22 23 Mayor Reinert read a statement regarding Mr. Sawh's motion. 24 25 Mitchell Sawh addressed the council. He distributed and reviewed two letters from his wife, Andra 26 Sawh, containing information on two of the biting incidents and Mr. Sawh stated that he would like to 27 focus the council's attention to those two incidents. In examining the biting incidents (one in 28 October and one in November), Mr. Sawh pointed out that the first incident involved a woman 29 coming into his yard uninvited and acting frantically, and the second incident involved a delivery man 30 entering the basement without permission. He further explained that Brody the dog has been around 31 many people, including children, without incident. The council should consider the circumstances of 32 the incidents. There is also some question about whether the first incident was really bite or more of a 33 scratch. The council was reminded that they had received extensive information at previous council 34 meetings also. Mr. Sawh asked the council to reconsider the situation based on the information 35 presented. 36 37 Police Chief Strege responded, regarding the first incident, it was reported to the Police Department 38 as a dog bite. 39 40 Attorney Monge asked what relief is being requesting from the council and Mr. Sawh responded that 41 he would like to bring his dog home with the understanding that he would follow whatever 42 restrictions are requested. Mr. Sawh explained that the dog is unhappy at the facility. Attorney 43 Monge asked, if the council were to order a stay of the disposition, would Mr. Sawh be agreeable to 44 making financial arrangements to keep the dog confined at the facility pending court action? Mr.