HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-07-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - REWARD CRUELTY TO ANIMALS (2)RESOLUTION NO. 99-143
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, OFFERING TO PAY A REWARD, NOT TO BE IN
EXCESS OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, FOR INFORMATION LEADING
TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE IDENTITY, APPREHENSION AND
CONVICTION OF ANY PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
DESTRUCTION OF SANTA CLARITA RESIDENT KEITH ORTIZ'S DOG,
"BLUE," ON JULY 4, 1999 THEREON IN VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA
PENAL CODE SECTIONS 597,597A, AND ANY OTHER STATE OR CITY
LAW RELATING TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
WHEREAS, on July 4, 1999, Santa Clarita resident Keith Ortiz
returned to his home following a fourth of July celebration to discover that his two-
year old pet dog, `Blue," had been the victim of a cruel and vicious act resulting in
the death of Mr. Ortiz's beloved pet; and
WHEREAS, previous letters and telephone calls received by Mr. Ortiz
threatening the safety and well being of his animal suggests that this malicious act
was both willful and premeditated by the person or persons responsible; and
WHEREAS, the residents of Santa Clarita are outraged and sickened
by this senseless act, and as a community will not condone or tolerate cruelty to
animals in any manner; and
WHEREAS, California Penal Code Section 597, Cruelty to Animals,
states that every person who maliciously and intentionally manes, mutilates,
tortures or wounds a living animal is guilty of a felony and subject to a fine of not
more than $20,000 or state imprisonment; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 53069.5 authorizes
the City of Santa Clarita to offer and pay a reward, the amount thereof to be
determined by the City Council, for information leading to the identification,
apprehension and conviction of any person or persons responsible for the July 4,
1999 destruction of Mr. Ortiz's animal; and
WHEREAS, the City is desirous of proceeding under the authority of
California Government Code Section 53069.5, and has determined that the amount
of this reward shall not exceed one thousand dollars, and that the offer shall be
subject to the terms and conditions herein contained; and
WHEREAS, a community fundraising effort has been undertaken to
raise additional private funds to be offered in conjunction with the City Council's
offering of a reward, and the City Council is desirous of partnering with the
community to offer these joint reward monies for information leading to the
identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this act.
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JrAdopted:fiYi y,
RESOLUTION NO. 99-143
Page 2
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita
does hereby resolve, determine and order as follows:
SECTION 1. That the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita,
pursuant to the authorization of California Government Section 53069.5, offers to
pay a reward not to exceed one thousand dollars cash in lawful money of the United
States of America for information leading to the identification, apprehension and
conviction of any person or persons responsible for the July 4, 1999 destruction of
Santa Clarita resident Keith Ortiz's animal, thereon in violation of California Penal
Code Sections 597, 597A, and any other State or City law relating to cruelty to
animals.
SECTION 2. The offer of reward is made to members of the public
generally, but is not made to any peace officer, employee of the City of Santa Clarita
or person or persons apprehended.
SECTION 3. Any claim for reward must be made in writing to the
City of Santa Clarita. In no event will the City's amount of this reward, nor sums of
rewards in connection with a single incident, exceed the combined total of one
thousand dollars. In the event of a dispute, including whether a claimant or
claimants for the reward produced information which lead to the identification,
apprehension and conviction of any person or persons responsible for the destruction
of Mr. Ortiz's animal, or sharing of the reward among claimants, the determination
of the City Council shall be final and conclusive.
SECTION 4. This offer of reward shall remain open until exhaustion
of the sum total of one thousand dollars offered as reward, or at earlier revocation of
the offer by the City Council prior to acceptance of the offer.
SECTION 5. The City Manager and his designees are authorized and
directed to give public notice of this offer of reward by posting suitable notices
thereof as authorized by law and found by the City Manager to be effective and in
keeping with good government practices.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 13" day of July, 1999.
JO ANNE DARCY, MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
RESOLUTION NO. 99-143
Page 3
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )ss
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Sharon L. Dawson, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Resolution No. 99-143 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City
of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 13' day of July, 1999, by
the following vote of the Council:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOE: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
CITY CLERK
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