f:\atty\muni\strpts\mjm\dangerousanimals.wpd
CityCouncil Meeting 12-5-0000 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor andCityCouncil
FROM: CityStaff
SUBJECT: AnOrdinance oftheCityCouncil oftheCityofSantaMonica Amending SantaMonica Municipal CodeSections 4.04.280and4.04.290Relating to Dangerous Animals
Introduction
TheCityCouncil directed theCityAttorney toprepare anordinance which would givethe CitysAnimal Control Officers thepowertodealwithvicious animals otherthandogs. The attached proposed ordinance responds totheCouncils direction andispresented forfirst reading.
Background
TheCityhasreceived complaints fromresidents aboutattacks byvicious cats. In response tothese complaints, theCouncil directed stafftopropose amendments tothe Municipal Codewhich wouldgiveanimal control officers thepowertotakeaction in response tosuchcomplaints.
1 Discussion
Theattached proposed ordinance amends Santa Monica Municipal CodeSections
4.04.280and4.04.290towidentheirapplication fromvicious dogsonlytodangerous dogs, catsandotheranimals.
Apartfrombroadening theapplication ofthese sections, theproposed amendment would notchange thebasicapproach. Afterreceiving asworn statement thataparticular dog, catorotheranimal hadbittenahuman orotheranimal, ananimal control officerwould investigate. Iftheinvestigation showed thattheanimal wasdangerous, theownerwould beordered tokeeptheanimal confined within asuitable enclosure. Thefailure todoso wouldbeamisdemeanor.
Financial/Budget Impact
Theproposed ordinance hasnofinancial orbudgetary impact.
Recommendation
Itisrespectfully recommended thattheaccompanying ordinance beintroduced forfirst reading.
PREPARED BY: Marsha Jones Moutrie, CityAttorney
BettyHaviland, ChiefDeputy, Criminal Division
Claudia Thompson, LegalAdmin. StaffAsst.
JamesT. Butts, Jr., ChiefofPolice
Sgt. MikeCortrite
2 atty\ muni\laws\mjm\dangerousanimals-1.wpdCity
CouncilMeeting 12-5-00Santa Monica, California ORDINANCE NUMBER ____ ( CCS) City
CouncilSeries) AN
ORDINANCEOFTHECITY COUNCILOFTHECITY
OF
4. SANTAMONICA AMENDING SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODESECTIONS
04.280AND4.04.290RELATING TODANGEROUS ANIMALS THE
CITY COUNCILOFTHECITYOFSANTAMONICA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION
1. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.04.280isherebyamended toread asfollows: Section
4.04.280. Vicious dogDangerousanimals. Upon
receiving anaffidavit fromanypersonwhohasbeen bittenbyadog, cat orother animalorfromanypersonwhohas witnessed suchoccurrence, after suchinvestigation andupon reasonable indication of viciousnessonthepartofsuch animal, an animal bitingaperson oranotheranimal, the AnimalControl Officer shall investigate. Ifthe investigation reveals factswhich tendtoshowthattheanimal isdangerous, the Humane Animal Control Officer shallmaynotifytheperson having thecare, custody andcontrol ofsuch dog, cat orotheranimal inwriting, that thedoganimal istomust bethereafter keptatalltimeswithinanadequate enclosure onthepropertyorpremises3 where
person resides. SECTION 2.
Santa Monica Municipal CodeSection 4.04.290ishereby amended toreadas follows: Section 4.
04.290. Viciousdog Dangerousanimalquarantine. Uponreceipt bytheWhen aperson having thecare, custodyand controlofsuchadangerous dog, cator other animalreceivesaofthenotice fromtheAnimal ControlOfficer ordering containment oftheanimalfromtheHumane Officertokeepthedogconfined ontheproperty, suchthat personmustshall thereafteratalltimeskeepsuchdogtheanimal securely restrained onthehisorherpremises eitherbyuseofanadequate chain attached tothe animals collarorharness ofsuchdog, orwithin anenclosure sufficiently strong toprevent such dogtheanimalfromescaping therefrom andgoingatlarge, untiland unless suchdog hasbeenreleased inwriting bythe HumaneOfficertheAnimal ControlOfficer issuesa notice releasing theanimal fromcontainment. Notransfer oftheplace ofrestraint canbe done madewithout thewritten consent inwriting ofthe HumaneAnimalControl Officer. Failure to comply withtheAnimal ControlOfficers orderofcontainment shallbeamisdemeanor. SECTION
3. Any provision oftheSantaMonicaMunicipal Codeorappendices thereto inconsistent withtheprovisionsofthis Ordinance, tothe extentofsuchinconsistenciesand nofurther, ishereby repealed ormodified tothat extent necessary toeffectthe provisionsofthis Ordinance. 4
SECTION
4. anysection, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase ofthisOrdinance isfor anyreason heldtobeinvalid orunconstitutionalbyadecision ofanycourt ofcompetent jurisdiction, such decision shall notaffectthevalidityoftheremaining portionsofthis Ordinance. TheCityCouncil hereby declares thatitwould havepassed thisOrdinance and eachandevery section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard towhether any portion oftheordinance wouldbesubsequently declared invalid orunconstitutional. SECTION 5. The
Mayor shall signandtheCityClerkshallattest tothepassage ofthisOrdinance. The CityClerk shallcause thesametobepublished onceintheofficial newspaperwithin15 daysafteritsadoption. This Ordinance shall become effective 30daysfromits adoption. APPROVED ASTO
FORM: MARSHA JONESMOUTRIE
CityAttorney5