Ripon City Council
Special Meeting Minutes
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2024
SPECIAL MEETING
11:30 AM
The Special Meeting was called to order by Mayor Zuber at 11:30 AM.
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Leo Zuber Mayor Present
Daniel de Graaf Vice Mayor Present
Gary Barton Council Member Present
Dean Uecker Council Member Present
Michael Restuccia Council Member Present
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Administrator Kevin Werner, Lieutenant Jared Huevel, City Clerk Lisa Roos, Deputy City Clerk Jane Kilgore, Planning Secretary Michael Winters, Information Systems Technician Alex Arias, Adam Corkins.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
Adam Corkins said he wished to speak about the proposed fire assessment that was discussed at a recent Ripon Consolidated Fire District meeting. He said he is opposed to new taxes and especially dislikes this proposed form of assessment. Corkins said he is concerned because the County Assessor’s list is not current, he owns three properties in the City and none of the ballots he received were addressed correctly. He said he would like specific information about the forecasted impact on services delivered by the Fire District. He said there needs to be improved communication to reach voters with the information. He said he is aware that there have been efforts made with community meetings, and a new website, that is separate from the Fire District’s website. Corkins voiced his concern regarding the 2023 call log and the Assessor’s Parcel map information not being available despite being advertised as available for public inspection. He said he submitted a public records request to the Fire District on May 15, but had not received a response yet.
Corkins said he believes we need to secure funds to improve emergency response within the City. He said he provided the Council a report that includes response times from each of the stations to parcels throughout the City. He said he hopes they can build a better campaign in the limited time that is left before the citizens make a decision.
City Council Page 2 May 24, 2024
1. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
A. RETIREMENT AND REQUEST FOR ADOPTION
Police K-9, Vitus Accept the recommendation to retire Vitus, Police Drug Detection/ Apprehension/
Tracking K-9, on May 28, 2024 and allow
for the adoption of Vitus by his handler,
Officer Matthew Belaski and approve and
authorize the Mayor to sign the adoption
agreement with Officer Matthew Belaski.
Lieutenant Huevel said the recommended action is to accept the recommendation to retire Vitus, Police Drug Detection/Apprehension/Tracking K-9 on May 28, 2024, and allow for the adoption of Vitus by his handler, Officer Matthew Belaski. He said Vitus has shown signs of slowing down and has an estimated remaining time of service of 9-16 months. Huevel said Belaski is ending his employment with the City of Ripon and with the estimated time and cost involved, it does not make financial sense to train another K9 officer.
Council Member Restuccia asked how long Vitus has been in service. Heuvel said 4 years.
Council Member Barton asked what the typical service life is for the K-9 dogs. Huevel said about 6 years. He said the dogs go through numerous routine checks to ensure they are up to the standards required, but Vitus has been shown signs of slowing down.
Motion to accept the recommendation to retire Vitus, Police Drug Detection/ Apprehension/ Tracking K-9, on May 28, 2024 and allow for the adoption of Vitus by his handler, Officer Matthew Belaski and approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the adoption agreement with Officer Matthew Belaski.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
SECONDER: Dean Uecker, Council Member
AYES: Zuber, de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia
2. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:40 AM. (Signed) Leo Zuber
Mayor
ATTEST:
(Signed) Lisa Roos
City Clerk
City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Daniel Sauer, Chief of Police
Date: 05/24/2024
Subject: K-9 Vitus Retirement & Adoption
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept the recommendation to retire Vitus, Police Drug Detection/Apprehension/Tracking K-9, on May 28, 2024 and allow for the adoption of Vitus by his handler, Officer Matthew Belaski and approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Adoption Agreement with Officer Matthew Belaski.
BACKGROUND:
There is currently two Police K-9 dogs in service with the Ripon Police Department - Police K-9 (Argos) that is active and assigned to Officer Kyle Prather and Police K-9 (Vitus) that is active and assigned to Officer Matthew Belaski.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Vitus has been a member of the Ripon Police Department since December of 2019. After receiving a donation to purchase Vitus, he was assigned to his handler, Officer Matthew Belaski.
The two have spent approximately 40,000 hours together at home and as patrol partners. Vitus has had a long and distinguished career as a police protection and narcotics dog. Vitus has reached an age where his health is beginning to decline and he is slowing down. His ability to continue to do police work at an acceptable level is coming to an end and it is my recommendation he be retired from service upon the resignation of his handler. Officer Belaski submitted his letter of resignation effective May 28, 2024.
Vitus is estimated to have 9-16 months of service life left. With such a short service life and the resignation of Officer Belaski, it does not make sense to dedicate the resources necessary to train the dog with a new handler. The training and acclimation of a K-9 with a new handler is 6 months. Therefore, the police department is planning to purchase another Police K-9 to replace Vitus.
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Staff has prepared an Adoption Agreement that is attached to this staff report. The Agreement was prepared with the assistance of the City Attorney, POST standards, and the City’s risk management association. With this Agreement, Officer Matthew Belaski would assume responsibility for any and all other associated care and fees required by Vitus.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City would no longer pay for the annual care and maintenance associated with Vitus (approximately $5,765) until such time another K-9 is purchased.
Attachments:
1. 05 24 24 K9 Adoption Agreement
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1 RIPON POLICE DEPARTMENT CANINE TRANSFER CONTRACT
This AGREEMENT made and entered into in the City of Ripon, State of California, on May 24, 2024, by and between the City of Ripon, a municipal corporation, hereinafter referred to as “CITY”, and Officer MATTHEW BELASKI canine handler for the Ripon Police Department, hereinafter referred to as “HANDLER”.
Recitals:
A. Canine ‘‘Vitus’’ has been with the Ripon Police Department since December of 2019. ‘‘Vitus’’ has served the city for over four (4+ ) years. ‘‘Vitus’’ was born on July 27 of 2016 and is over seven (7) years old as of May 2024. ‘‘Vitus’’ has had a long and distinguished career as a police protection and narcotics dog. ‘‘Vitus’’ has reached an age where his health is beginning to decline and he is slowing down. His ability to continue to do police work at an acceptable level is coming to an end and it is HANDLER’s recommendation he be retired from service. If HANDLER was not resigning, the dog was estimated to have 9-16 months of service life left.
Unfortunately, the remaining service life of the dog would not make financial sense to the City to train with a new handler.
B. MATTHEW BELASKI wishes to assume ownership and take possession of that certain retired City of Ripon police canine named “Vitus”. MATTHEW BELASKI was previously the assigned canine handler for “Vitus”.
C. MATTHEW BELASKI wishes to maintain ownership of the above-referenced dog, and the CITY wishes to divest itself of both ownership and vicarious or direct liability for the subject dog.
D. CITY does hereby agree to relinquish all of its right, title and ownership interest in said dog whatsoever, effective upon MATTHEW BELASKI’s execution and return of this document and payment of the sum of one and no/100ths dollars ($1.00) to the City of Ripon.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of this AGREEMENT, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. MATTHEW BELASKI does agree to assume ownership of the former Ripon police canine named “Vitus”, along with any and all risks, including, but not limited to, risk of injury or death to third persons, and to hold the City of Ripon, its police department, and its employees and/or agents or volunteers harmless from any and all liability, claims, administrative proceedings or other responsibility whatsoever arising from any injuries or damages that may occur on or after the date ownership of the dog is transferred pursuant to this AGREEMENT. These hold harmless provisions shall extend to any direct or vicarious liability arising from any and all losses, liabilities, charges (including reasonable attorney fees and court costs), and any other expenses whatsoever which may
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Attachment: 05 24 24 K9 Adoption Agreement (4263 : K-9 Vitus Retirement & Adoption) 2 arise in any manner after the new owner’s assumption of ownership on the date identified herein.
2. MATTHEW BELASKI must retain ownership of “Vitus” for at least eighteen (18) months prior to any sale of the aforementioned retired police canine.
3. The retired police canine “Vitus” shall revert to the City of Ripon should the purchaser, MATTHEW BELASKI, determine he can no longer care for the aforementioned dog within the period of time commencing on the date of this AGREEMENT and ending eighteen (18) months from the date fixed by this AGREEMENT.
4. MATTHEW BELASKI acknowledges that he is required to keep the aforementioned dog within a secure kennel of appropriate size with a cover at all times when he is not at home to care for the dog. Furthermore, MATTHEW BELASKI acknowledges he has received training in caring for a retired canine.
5. MATTHEW BELASKI acknowledges that he has read the foregoing AGREEMENT and understands that it is contractual in nature and understands each of its provisions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the CITY OF RIPON, a municipal corporation, has caused this Agreement to be executed in duplicate by its City Council and attested by its Clerk.
OWNER CITY OF RIPON
________________________ __________________________
Matthew Belaski Leo Zuber, Mayor
ATTEST
__________________________
Lisa Roos, City Clerk
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Attachment: 05 24 24 K9 Adoption Agreement (4263 : K-9 Vitus Retirement & Adoption)