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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION Meeting Date: September 8, 2020 Dangerous Dog Ordinance – Final Reading and Adoption OVERVIEW: At the August 3, 2020 City Council Work Session, staff presented a memo from the City Attorney on the Review of Dangerous Dog Ordinance which included a summary of their findings, along with a proposed redline of the current ordinance, state statute (MS 347.50-.565), and the ordinances of the other cities that they reviewed (Roseville, New Brighton, Edina, St. Louis Park, and Plymouth). By consensus of the mayor and council, staff was directed to follow the city attorney’s recommendation that the City ordinances be amended to adopt the state statutory scheme by reference and repeal the prohibition on dangerous dogs in § 91.36. If approved, any dangerous dog must be in a proper enclosure while on the owner’s property. If outside the proper enclosure, the dog must be muzzled and restrained by a substantial leash. Owner must display a warning symbol, supplied by the City, that there is a dangerous dog on the premise. Also, all dangerous dogs must be annually registered in the City and have a tag affixed to their collar reflecting their dangerous dog registration. The City will have a map on the City’s website showing the registered sites of both potentially dangerous dogs and dangerous dogs. Failure of this ordinance, per State Statue, a dangerous dog can be seized if it is not maintained in a proper enclosure, or if it is not properly restrained (i.e. muzzled) when off the property. To obtain a registration, the owner must present sufficient evidence that: (1) a proper enclosure exists for the dangerous dog on the premises, as well as a warning sign that there is a dangerous dog on the property; (2) the owner has obtained a surety bond or liability insurance policy of at least $300,000, payable to any person injured by the dangerous dog; (3) the owner has paid an annual fee of $500; and (4) the owner has had a microchip implanted in the dangerous dog and provided the details to the City. Traditionally, when we amend the City Code, the City Council has a reading of the proposed changes at three consecutive City Council meetings and the amendment become official after being published in the designated official newspaper. The first reading was at the August 11, 2020 City Council meeting, second was at the August 25 2020 City Council meeting and the September 8, 2020 City Council meeting serving as the final reading and adoption. At the first reading a question was raised who deems what is a “proper enclosure”. A “proper enclosure” per State Statue is defined as securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure suitable to prevent the animal from escaping and providing protection from the 89