Agenda Notes:
Agenda Plan for Monday Night, December 6
Staff Resource: Julie Burch, 704-336-3187

Enclosed in your packet today is the agenda for Monday night's Policy Retreat. The two topics for the retreat are the City's Economic Development strategy and the State Transportation Funding strategy. The retreat will be held in room 267, 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Immediately following the conclusion of the discussion of the retreat topics, Boyd Cauble will brief the Council on the proposed 2005 North Carolina Legislative Package. This briefing was postponed from the November 22 dinner session due to time constraints. After the briefing, Council will be asked to adopt the proposed package. Citizens who wish to speak to the legislative package may sign up to do so at this time. This portion of the meeting will also be held in room 267, as the County Commissioner swearing-in ceremony will be taking place at the same time in the Meeting Chambers.

Information Items:

City Manager Referrals to Community Safety Committee/ "Dangerous Dog" Enforcement Tools
Staff Resource: Julie Burch, 704-336-3187

Earlier this fall, at the request of Council member Turner, the City Council directed staff to follow-up on two matters related to "dangerous dogs" and referred them to the Community Safety Committee for review. Those items were 1) preparing a report on ways the City could more effectively address the use and abuse of dangerous dogs by convicted felons, and 2) a map showing the distribution of dog bites and other statistical information to better determine any patterns or trends. The Committee will meet to discuss these matters next Monday, December 6, at noon, in room 267.

There are three other related matters that the City Manager is referring to the Committee. Those are: 1) a proposed change in the number of dogs allowed to be kept outside without a permit; 2) a proposed new "late" penalty for failure to pay animal control citations; and 3) proposed addition of mandatory spay/neuter to the preventive measures for dangerous dogs that Animal Control is authorized to require. Animal Control staff recommends these actions as additional tools the City can use to prevent dangerous dog attacks. Staff will present the proposals on Monday and will ask the Committee to make a recommendation to the Council as part of the comprehensive effort to address dangerous dogs in the community.