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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PEQUOT LAKES CITY COUNCIL <br />TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 <br />PEQUOT LAKES CITY HALL <br />Members Present <br />Members Absent: <br />Staff Present <br />Mayor Adams, Council Members Akerson, Gardner, and Pederson <br />Council Member Sjoblad <br />Sandra Peine, City Clerk; Eric Klang, Police Chief; Josh Gartner, <br />Police Officer <br />;��/ <br />_.;: � �f�%: <br />Call Meetinq to Order <br />Mayor Adams called the meeting of the Pequot Lakes City Council to order at <br />5:30 p.m. <br />Mayor Adams opened the public hearing. Mayor Adams explained that Mr. <br />Jeffrey Traxler has requested a hearing before the City Council to challenge the <br />City's declaration that his two dogs Kuda and Koko are dangerous dogs. <br />Mayor Adams explained the procedures to be followed in the appeal process. <br />Chief Eric Klang provided introductory and background comments on the case. <br />On February 4, 2014, the Police Department reported to a call from 31432 Paul <br />Circle stating that the owner's dog had been attacked. The attack dogs were <br />identified as being owned by Jeff Traxler. Mr. Traxler has since been issued <br />citations for having unlicensed dogs, for allowing an animal to run at large, both <br />in violation of the City Code, and two Dangerous Dog notices. <br />Mr. Traxler, 31394 Paul Circle, Pequot Lakes, MN and his Attorney Rich Kenly, <br />PO Box 31, Backus, MN, approached the Council. <br />Mr. Kenly questioned whether Officer Gartner present during the attack. Officer <br />Gartner stated that he was not present during the attack. Mr. Kenly stated that <br />Mr. Traxler feels bad about the attack. He noted that the statute requires that the <br />dangerous dog's attack must be without provocation. The act of barking and <br />running at another dog could be an act of provocation. There is no evidence of <br />provocation from either side. He requested the Council not to find Mr. Traxler's <br />dogs to be dangerous due to the lack of evidence that it was an unprovoked <br />attack. <br />Police Officer Josh Gartner, 4638 County Road 11, Pequot Lakes, provided a <br />presentation of evidence of the situation that took place on February 4t". He <br />responded to a call regarding a dog attack. Upon arriving at the Ukkelberg <br />