Agenda Packets - 2011/12/12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council November 14, 2011 Regular Meeting Page 5 Police Chief Kinney indicated the City was being asked to create a K9 program within the 1 Mounds View Police Department and to accept a grant from the St. Paul Canine Foundation. 2 The K9 unit would greatly advance the department while making it more productive. It would 3 assist with apprehending assailants as well. He felt the K9 unit would also be a great way to 4 reach out to the community. 5 6 Police Chief Kinney estimated the expense to fund the K9 unit to be $18,100 to acquire and train 7 the dog. This amount has been significantly reduced due to the grant received from the St. Paul 8 Canine Foundation. The grant would cover $6,000 of the estimated expenses. 9 10 Police Chief Kinney stated there would be ongoing expenses for the K9 program which was 11 estimated to be $2,400-7,100 to cover food, vet expenses and projected overtime expenses for the 12 handler. He recommended the Council proceed with the K9 program as presented. 13 14 Council Member Mueller indicated a resident was interested in assisting with fundraising efforts 15 for the K9 unit. She questioned where donations could be made. Police Chief Kinney stated he 16 has been in contact with the gentleman willing to volunteer of his time. The gentleman was 17 currently gathering information and would continue to assist the Police Department through the 18 fund raising process. He requested all those interested in making a donation speak with the 19 Police Department directly. 20 21 Mayor Flaherty questioned if the Police Department’s budget was adjusted in 2012 for this 22 potential expense. Finance Director Beer stated the expense was written into the budget along 23 with the anticipated $6,000 grant. 24 25 Mayor Flaherty encouraged the community to come together to support this initiative as it would 26 greatly benefit the residents. 27 28 Council Member Gunn was in favor of using the additional billboard revenues to support the K9 29 program to fill in the gaps. She felt the K9 unit was a positive benefit for the entire community. 30 31 Mayor Flaherty noted the billboard revenues would be placed in the general fund. Finance 32 Director Beer stated this was the case and that the Council could designate these funds in 33 whatever manner necessary. 34 35 Council Member Mueller stated there was a strong desire to have a K9 unit within the City. She 36 the program should proceed. 37 38 Mayor Flaherty suggested that the fundraising efforts be allowed and if additional resources are 39 needed, the Council review the issue at a future date. 40 41 MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Mueller. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 7849, 42 Supporting the Creation of a K9 Program within the Mounds View Police Department and 43 Acceptance of a Grant from the St. Paul Canine Foundation. 44 45