Title
Consider an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 6, Animals amending Feral Cat, Aggressive Dogs, and Wild Animals.
Summary
DATE: April 4, 2023
TO: Kent Cagle, City Manager
FROM: Danielle Singh, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances regarding Animals.
BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS:
On April 20, 2021, City Council issued a motion of direction for staff to work with the Animal Advisory Committee to review and develop an amendment to Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances for feral cat regulations for consideration.
A subcommittee was formed but little progress was made. Following several resignations of subcommittee members, staff drafted an amendment and presented it to the Animal Advisory Committee on January 12 and February 9, 2023 for review. The Committee made several recommendations for amendments which have been incorporated into the draft ordinance.
1. Change references from feral cats to community cats and add a definition for community cat.
2. Allow a community cat colony caregiver thirty days to address the unwanted presence of cats on private property.
3. Remove the prohibition of community cat colonies within ½ mile of a school, church, or public playground as this item can be address through other sections of the ordinance
4. Allow appeals regarding community cats to be made to the Assistant City Manager.
5. Change how community cats are handled while at the shelter.
a. Allow a cat to be returned to a colony one time after it is impounded on another person’s private property.
b. Have a microchip placed in the community cat while it is in possession of the shelter to allow it to be tracked for future encounters.
c. Allow a cat to be released to an alternate colony if it does not meet the criteria to be returned to the original colony.
While the Committee was able to come to a consensus on the majority of the amendments, the Committee could not come to consensus on limiting the number of cats in a residential colony to six cats at any given time. Staff feels this section would help to limit some of the nuisance concerns that occur frequently when community cat colonies are established in residential areas.
The amendments to the ordinance also include to administrative amendments to the sections addressing Aggressive Dogs, to comply with state law, and Wild Animals, to provide clarity.
THE ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
1. Do not approve the amendment to Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances.
2. Approve the amendment to Chapter 6 of the Code Ordinances, with revisions.
3. Approve the amendment to Chapter 6 of the Code Ordinances as drafted.
Which alternative is recommended? Why?
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the ordinance amendments.
CONFORMITY TO CITY POLICY:
This item complies with all applicable policies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
What is the amount of the expenditure in the current fiscal year? For future years?
This action does not authorize any expenditure of funds.
Is this a one-time or recurring expenditure?
N/A
Is this expenditure budgeted?
N/A
If not, where will the money come from?
N/A
Is there a sufficient amount in the budgeted line-item for this expenditure?
N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council adopt the ordinance amending Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances regarding animals.
DEPARTMENTAL CLEARANCES:
Legal
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
Ordinance