City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Kevin Werner, City Administrator
Date: 11/10/2025
Subject: Designates the City Administrator as the hearing officer
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt the resolution designating the City Administrator, or his or her designee, as the hearing officer to hear appeals of orders of the Animal Control Officer pursuant to Ripon Municipal Code Section 6.52.060(A).
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS
Ripon Municipal Code Section 6.52.060(A) provides that any person contesting an order to euthanize a dangerous animal is entitled to a hearing before the City Council, or its designee.
These types of administrative hearings are often delegated to impartial hearing officers to ensure fairness and to promote efficient enforcement of the City’s animal control ordinances.
Currently, the City Council has not formally delegated authority to any designee to hear these appeals. Delegating this authority to the City Administrator will streamline the appeal process, ensure timely hearings, and maintain administrative efficiency consistent with the Ripon Municipal Code. With the authority granted by this Resolution, the City Administrator can either conduct the hearings himself, or select impartial hearing officers to preside over the hearings.
FISCAL IMPACT
None. Hearing officers will be appointed as unpaid volunteers.
RESOLUTION NO. 25-37
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RIPON DESIGNATING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR AS
THE OFFICER FOR ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS FILED
PURSUANT TO RIPON MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 6.52
WHEREAS, Chapter 6.17 of the Ripon Municipal Code provides for an administrative process by which dangerous animals in the City can be identified and, if circumstances warrant, empower the Animal Control Officer to order them to be humanely euthanized; and WHEREAS, owners of animals ordered to be euthanized pursuant to Chapter 6.17 of the Ripon Municipal Code may appeal such determinations to the City Council or its designee pursuant to Chapter 6.52 of the Ripon Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, to facilitate greater efficiency in the City’s governance and enforcement of animal control ordinances, the Ripon City Council desires to designate the City Administrator, or his or her designee, to act as its designee to hear appeals made pursuant to Chapter 6.52 of the Ripon Municipal Code of such orders by the Animal Control Officer.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
1. The City Council of the City of Ripon hereby designates the City Administrator, or his or her designee, as the hearing officer responsible to hear appeals of orders of the Animal Control Officer to euthanize a potentially dangerous animal made pursuant to Chapter 6.17 of the Ripon Municipal Code.
2. The City Administrator’s designated hearing officer shall be a person who is impartial, has relevant experience or training in administrative hearing procedures, and is not an employee of the City involved in the investigation or enforcement of the underlying animal control matter.
3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ripon this 10th day of November, 2025, by the following vote:
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
SECONDER:Leo Zuber, Council Member
AYES: de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber
THE CITY OF RIPON,
A Municipal Corporation
By ________________________________
DANIEL DE GRAAF, Mayor
ATTEST:
By: ___________________________
LISA ROOS, City Clerk