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<br />Item No: 2 <br />Meeting Date: October 3, 2011 <br />Type of Business: Work Session <br />Administrator Review : ____ <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br />To: Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From: Thomas Kinney, Chief of Police <br />Item Title/Subject: Police Canine Discussion <br /> <br />Introduction: <br /> <br />There has been continued discussion over a proposed police canine program within the <br />Mounds View Police Department. During a past presentation, the total expenses to begin <br />this type of program were outlined. A brief summary of the costs to initiate this program <br />total approximately $12,000. This amount has been reduced from a projected $18,000 total <br />cost as it reflects an additional $6,000 in grant funding that the St Paul Police K9 <br />Foundation has generously offered to our agency. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br />One suggested method for raising this $12,000 is for residents in support of this cause to <br />form a private non-profit group/foundation to raise funds and accept donations. A <br />community member, Robin Marion, has recently voiced his willingness to lead such a <br />cause. It is understandable that private fundraising may take considerable time to organize <br />and take action and the success of such a movement has yet to be determined. <br /> <br />The grant offer through the St Paul Police K9 Foundation has extended their deadline to <br />December 1, 2011. If the city is unable to commit in moving forward with the program, the <br />funds would be offered to another agency. The start time for the next St. Paul Police <br />canine handler school is March 2012, which runs 12 weeks, with an additional 3 weeks in <br />narcotic detection training. <br /> <br />In addition to the required $12,000 in start-up costs, an estimated $5,500-$9,500 can be <br />expected on an annual basis due to overtime costs, handler compensation, food and <br />veterinary care. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />Staff seeks direction from the Council on whether to provide the St. Paul Police K9 <br />Foundation our commitment to proceed with the grant acceptance and subsequent <br />enrollment in the canine handler training program. <br /> <br />Respectfully Submitted, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />__________________ <br />Thomas Kinney <br />Chief of Police <br />