MINUTES 04-02-18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Director Butler clarified that the legislation will take effect 40 days from passage but the insurance requirement will take effect 180 days from passage, around Oct. 1't which was designed to give the public ample time to secure insurance. Ms. George thanked everybody who was active in reaching out to Council. She remarked that this is a good ordinance and will monitor concerns and be prepared to make changes as needed. Mr. Anderson remarked on the motivations behind the creation of this ordinance, stating that he saw this as an opportunity to create the best dog ordinance possible for Lakewood. He reviewed some of the highlights of the ordinance including that it defines what a serious injury is as well as what a vicious dog is and provides an appeal process for administrative hearings. He highlighted the extra steps that owners of vicious dogs must take such as muzzling the dog, marking the leash, and carrying extra insurance. He expressed pride in strengthening the animal cruelty laws but remarked that more can be done in this area. He acknowledged that implementing the ordinance will be a challenge for the administration and that the focus going forward will be on answering the public's questions on implementation. Mr. O'Leary made concluding remarks on the discussion. He sincerely thanked everyone in the room for their role in helping the City evolve its position on this topic. He concluded that the result of all the hard work is a huge step forward for the City. Regarding the insurance requirement, he explained his position, stating that it was important to balance the scales of fairness for victims of dog bites who could be impacted in a devastating way. He highlighted that the ordinance focuses on dog behavior and not breed and that it strengthens animal cruelty laws. On the motion to adopt Ordinance 1 -18 as substituted: Yeas: Anderson, Bullock, George, Litten, O'Leary, O'Malley, Rader Nays: None Motion adopted. Ordinance 1 -18 adopted. ORDINANCE 21 -18 — AN ORDINANCE to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force at the earliest period allowed by law, to approve the editing and inclusion of certain ordinances as parts of the various component codes of the Codified Ordinances and to provide for the publication of such new Matter. (DEFERRED 3/5/18, DEFERRED 3/19/18) (Pg. 29) Motion by Mr. O'Leary, seconded by Mr. Anderson to adopt Ordinance 21 -18. Motion adopted. All members voted yea. 4. ORDINANCE NO. 22 -18 -AN ORDINANCE repealing Section 510.01(a), Declaration of Nuisance Activity, of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Lakewood and enacting a new section in its place to remove the offenses of Domestic Violence, Menacing and Aggravated