PL PACKET 12191989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular Council Meeting November 14, 1989 page 6 • 1 The City Manager observed that a resident is grateful if his/her dog 2 is returned when it has been running loose. This can be done only if 3 the animal- is licensed. 4 5 6 Bernard Preussner, 3209 Skycroft Drive, distributed copies to the Council 7 of the form currently used by the City to record the purchase of a dog 8 license. He noted signatures of the owner is required, many of which are 9 unreadable. Mr. Preussner felt there are many, many dogs in the City which 10 are not licensed. He also felt the present system for licensing is less 11 than adequate. 12 13 Mr. Preussner relayed a recent experience he had with a neighbor and the 14 neighbor 's barking dog. He signed a complaint against the owner but the 15 barking resumed shortly thereafter and has continued. He feels that his 16 case is not an isolated one and suggested the system for handling com- 17 plaints of this nature are time consuming, require the inconvenienced 18 party to find solutions and the Police Department is not responsive. 19 When he followed up on his complaint he was informed that the neighbor 20 had also filed a complaint against him. 21 •22 Mayor Pro Tem Ranallo stated he recognized Mr. Preussner's frustrations �3 and inquired of the Police Chief what actions are taken when a complaint 24 is filed. Chief Hickerson said the complaint is officially recorded but 25 no action is taken unless an officer from the Department witnesses. the 26 basis of the complaint . It is recommended to the complaintant that he 27 discuss the matter with the owner of the dog. If the Police Department 28 is aware of the dog owner's identity, that section of the ordinance �9 addressing the keeping of dogs is sent to the owner. An official comp- 30 laint must be filed with the City Attorney by the complaintant. A police 31 officer cannot file a complaint unless he/she actually observes the dog 32 violating the ordinance. 33 34 The City Manager observed that reporting minor inconveniences is necessary 35 before they become major problems. Keeping a history of complaints is the 36 key to solving the dog problems was the opinion of the City Manager. 37 38 Kathlyn Sevich, 3505 31st Avenue, feels the ordinance should be better 39 publicized so residents of the community are sensitized to the nuisances. 40 that exist. She thinks the cooperation of the residents is needed to 41 report these nuisances so changes will occur. 42 43 Mrs. Sevich thinks a particularly bad problem is with dogs who are left 44 outside, unsupervised, in fenced yards or leashed. 45 46 Joseph Sevich, 3505 31st Avenue, feels the Police Department should be 47 more aggressive in enforcing this ordinance. He observed that when a • 48 resident sees a dog running at large, the resident is requested by the 49 Police Department to hold the animal until the Animal Control Services 50