HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-09-28 - AGENDA REPORTS - ANIMAL FACILITIES GRADING (2)Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by: Ruben Barrera
DATE: September 28, 2004
SUBJECT: FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 8 OF
THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE TO CREATE AN
ANIMAL FACILITIES GRADING SYSTEM
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council conduct first reading and pass to second reading an ordinance entitled "AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, AMENDING
TITLE 8 — ANIMALS, OF THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE (SCMC) TO
CREATE A SYSTEM TO GRADE ANIMAL FACILITIES BASED ON REQUIRED ANNUAL
INSPECTIONS, AND TO REVISE AFFECTED PENALTY, LICENSING AND FEE
PROVISIONS."
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clarita currently contracts with the County of Los Angeles Animal Care and
Control to provide animal care related services to the City. The City's contract with the County
also requires that, when any changes or amendments to the County's animal care and control
provisions are enacted by the county, the City adopt those same changes within a period of 120
days to maintain consistency between City and County animal care ordinances.
On June 29, 2004 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted amendments to the
County's code establishing a grading system for private animal -related facilities. This new
grading system will provide pet owners and the general public with reliable information on how
well a particular animal -related facility meets professional standards of service. It is also
designed to assist pet owners and general consumers in selecting animal -related businesses that
meet the highest standards of animal care practices.
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Under the terms of the contract, the County has requested that the City of Santa Clarita adopt into
the SCMC the identical provisions recently adopted by the County Board of Supervisors.
Accordingly, the provisions of the proposed amendments to Title 8 of the SCMC will meet that
requirement. It will ensure consistency is maintained between the City and the County regarding
the implementation and enforcement of an animal facility grading system.
Under the provisions of this new grading system, all animal -related facilities will be graded with
a letter grade similar to the system currently in place for dining and food -related establishments
throughout the county. Facilities will be required to display this grade in public view as part of
the ordinance. Adoption of these amendments will avoid confusion to pet owners between
incorporated and unincorporated areas by ensuring consistent enforcement for all animal -related
facilities.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Council could elect not to approve this ordinance whereby animal related services provided by
the County would be negatively impacted through inconsistent enforcement. Such action could
result in the possible termination of the City's contract with the County for such services.
FISCAL IMPACT
Animal Care and Control services are currently provided and funded under contract with the
County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control. As part of this agreement, the County is
responsible for the collection of all animal related fees including licensing of animal facilities,
pets and similar fees within the City. These fees are collected by the county and subsequently
disbursed back to the City to offset the associated costs for providing such services by the
County.
It is anticipated that the adoption of this ordinance will have no significant impact on the cost of
providing these services. Any additional costs from the county as a result of this ordinance
would be directly and equally offset by new fees collected and forwarded to the City under the
provisions of the ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance