Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee
TO: SAFETY, WELLNESS AND YOUTH DATE: JANUARY 19, 2022
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: PROPOSED CHANGES TO TITLE 8, ANIMALS - DIRECT SUBMITTAL ISSUE:
Receive the report and provide direction on the proposed Municipal Code changes to Title 8, Animals RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee:
Receive and file the report; and
Direct staff on how to proceed with the proposed Municipal Code changes to Title 8, Animals BACKGROUND:
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services (DAS) has provided animal control field, shelter, and intermittent licensing services to the City of Riverside since 1995. Both agencies have partnered to promote animal welfare, public health and safety, and quality of life within the City of Riverside through two separate contracts, one for shelter services and a second for field services. The shelter services agreement has a term that runs through 2035. The current field services agreement went into effect on July 1, 2018 and was extended through December 31, 2022.
DISCUSSION:
City and County of Riverside staff are working on a new field services agreement that is anticipated to go into effect on January 1, 2023. While contract negotiations are typically handled administratively, one of the County’s requests requires guidance and direction by the Safety, Wellness, and Youth Committee (Committee). Specifically, the County of Riverside is requesting that the City of Riverside forego Title 8 in its entirety in favor of adopting Ordinances 534, 560, 630, 716, 771, and 878 of the County of Riverside in their entirety.
Key Components of County Ordinances
To better understand what is being requested, the following bullet points provide a summary of each ordinance proposed by the County.
Ordinance 534 prohibits large domestic animals (other than dogs or cats), including fowls, from running at large and provides for the impoundment, forfeiture and/or disposition. The ordinance includes a fee structure payable by the person collecting any impounded animal, as well as hearing procedures.
Ordinance 560 establishes the authority of the County of Riverside’s Department of Animal Services to provide low cost spay and neuter clinics for dogs. Fee schedules are included.
Ordinance 630 regulates the keeping and control of dogs, cats, and other animals and provides for the control of suppression of rabies. Sections covered by this ordinance include licensing and vaccination, spay and neuter, microchipping, kennels and catteries, animal rescuers, entry upon private property, barking dogs, cat trapping, sale of dogs, enforcement, public nuisances, and a full schedule of fees including administrative citations and fines as well as license and kennel fees (this description is not fully inclusive).
Ordinance 716 authorizes the seizure, impoundment, and termination of ownership in rights of abandoned, neglected, or cruelly treated animals.
Ordinance 771 provides the procedures for controlling potentially dangerous and vicious animals.
Ordinance 878 establishes the administrative proceeding for the abatement of noisy animals.
Comparative Analysis of Southern California Cities
As outlined in Table 1 below, City staff reviewed the websites and municipal codes of 56 cities throughout Southern California to see how many have taken similar steps by adopting another agency’s codes or ordinances (full details included in Attachment 1). Of the 56 cities reviewed, 34 agencies contract out their animal related field services. Of those 34 contracted cities, 13 have adopted the ordinances of the agency providing the service. All but one of these 13 cities have included amendments or exceptions to the ordinance adoptions. Additionally, six of the original 56 cities surveyed were found to contract with the County of Riverside – one has adopted their ordinances.
Table 1. Review of Ordinances
# of Cities Reviewed
# of Cities that
Contract out Services
# of Cities that Have
Adopted Outside Ordinances
56 34
13 STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item is neutral towards each of the Cross-Cutting Threads as related to the Envision Riverside 2025 Strategic Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
Prepared by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment:
List of Cities that Have Adopted Other Agency Ordinances Ordinance No. 534, an Ordinance of the County of Riverside Ordinance No. 560, an Ordinance of the County of Riverside Ordinance No. 630, an Ordinance of the County of Riverside Ordinance No. 716, an Ordinance of the County of Riverside Ordinance No. 878, an Ordinance of the County of Riverside Presentation
Proposed Changes to Title 8 • Page PAGE 2