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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC Ord 1997-01-15 ORDINANCE NO. 426 N.S. AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNClL OF THE TOWN OF TIBURON ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE AMENDED ANIMAL CONTROL REGULATIONS OF TITLE 8 OF THE MARIN COUNTY CODE INCLUDING SECTION 8.04.179 PERTAINING TO ANIMAL NOISE The Town Council of the Town ofTiburon does ordain as follows: SECTION 1. Section 20-1 of the Tiburon Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: Section 20-1 Adoption of County Code Pursuant to Government Code Section 50022.9, the Marin County Animal Control Regulations set forth in Title 8 of the Marin County Code as Chapters 8.04, 8.08 and 8.12, including all current amendments thereto, are adopted by reference and shall be in full force and effect within the Town of Tiburon with the following exception: all references in Marin County Code Section 8.04.179 to the Marin County Sheriff shall be deemed to refer to the Police Chief of the Town of Tiburon. SECTION 2. SEVERABILITY. If any section, subsection, clause, sentence, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of a Court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the Ordinance. The Town Council of the Town of Tiburon hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance, any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that anyone or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases may be declared invalid or unconstitutional. SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty days after the date of passage, and before the expiration of fifteen (15) days after passage by the Town Council, a copy of the ordinance shall be published with the names of the members voting for and against it at least once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the Town ofTiburon. Town Council Ordinance No. 426 NS. - Animal Control-Effective 2/15/97 1 I This ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Tiburon on January 2, 1997, and was adopted at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town ofTiburon on January 15,1997, which was noticed pursuant to Government Code Section 50022.3, by the following vote: AYES: COUNClLMEMBERS: Ginalski, Hennessy, Thayer, Wolf NOES: COUNClLMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNClLMEMBERS: Thompson ~",-'m~ THERESE M. HENNESSY, OR Town of Tiburon L ~ DIANE L. CRANE, TOWN CLERK . , I - drafted 12/5/96 2 .....01 . f ; ~\ J , , , , :::: ::: ~ .-....._'.......-"- , MEMORANDUM , , COUNTY OF -'v/ I f MARIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE '-, October 10, 1996 / [Ri~(c~O~~ID) l') OCT 1 519:-., -. TO: City Managers . ~ Sulci senn~inistrative Analyst TOWN MANAGflFt';> tJr"'''CE FROM: TOWN OF TIBURO;'I RE: Animal Control Ordinance Amendments Attached for your information is a copy of the amendments to sections of Chapter 8.04 (Animal Control) which were adopted by the Marin County Board of Supervisors on ~ October 8, 1996. If you have not yet agendized this matter it is recommended that you ,. do so as soon as possible because implementation of the increased license fees for dogs will be delayed until all the jurisdictions are aboard. (For the newer managers' I information, the MMA supports the increase in dog license fees.) Please let me know ~ when you have adopted the amendments so that I can let Animal Control services know when to implement the increased fees. Mill Valley and Larkspur have already begun the process. ,~Thanks. - =_H''!':U' ~OOtt;K:,Ki;.'i.i.~::: _ """"". - : _.~&1. . '::o'"'i~ .' 1(;;(. t. - ., " :.)l~,_ Ii..' , " .1 . ;v Animal Control l. Chapter 8.04 ORDINANCE 3236 ..... AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF MARIN AMENDING SECTIONS 8.04.050, 8.04..060, 8.04.070, 8.04.150, 8.04.181, OF THE MARIN COUNTY CODE PERTAINING TO CONFINEMENT .. QUARANTINE FEE PAYMENT, INCREASE IN LICENSE FEES FOR DOGS, DELINQUENT LICENSE FEES PENALTY , INCREASED FEES FOR REDEMPTION, PLACEMENT OR SURRENDER, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VICIOUS DOGS SERVICE AND CLASSIFICATION. The Board of supervisors of the County of Marin does hereby ordain as follows: Section I. Sect:ion 8.04.050 of the Marin County Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 8.04.050 Confinement .. Quarantine. (a) Unlicensed dogs under the age of four months shall be confined in the property of the owner, and all dogs shall be so confined for thirty days after receiving the initial rabies vacation. ~: (b) The owner of a quarantined animal shall pay a fee of i thirty dollars toward an animal control officer's costs in \. providing and insuring that the animal is quarantined at the animal owner's property. If any person fails or refuses to obey any lawful order for the quarantine of an animal for observation of rabies. any animal control officer may impound the animal for such quarantine at the additional expense of the owner at the rate of twelve dollars per day for each dog, and nine dollars for each cat. (cl Ouarantine fees are cavable within 30 davs of issuance of an invoice. Pavrnent is delinauent if not received within 60 davs. In the event that oavrnent is not received within 60 davs. a delinauencv charae eaual1 ina the amount of the " invoice shall be assessee.. For ~ach additional month of delinauencv another twenty oercent oenaltv shall be assessed. Section II. Section. 8.04.060 of the Marin County Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 8.04.060 License fee. (a) The dog license fee shall be imposed on all dogs. The license r fee for dogs which have not been neutered or spayed shall be thirtv dollars for a one year license, forty-five dollars for a two year license and sixty dollars for a three year license. (bl The license fee for dogs ,..hich have been neutered or ..... spayed shall be ten dollars for a one year license, fifteen dollars for a two year license and twenty dollars for a three 1 \ - J year license. The fee is due and payable wi th the issuance I of a license as required in Section 8.04.030. Section III. Section 8.04.070 of the Marin County Code is ", hereby amended to read as follows: ",'J 8.04.070 Delinquent license penalty. Any owner failing to procure and pay for such a license within the period allowed in Section 8.04_30 shall nav a de1inauent oenaltv in the amount of twentv dollars. The delinquent penalty may be waived where failure to pay is due to reasonable cause and circumstances beyond the control of the dog owner which shall be determined by the poundkeeper or the county tax collector. Any person dissatisfied with a determination denying waiver of the delinquent penalty' shall be entitled to a hearing which shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.04.122. Every owner of a dog which is over the age of four months and which is kept in the county shall procure a license for each such dog, for each year, commencing within thirty days of vaccination and ending one year following the date of issue of such license, Such license shall be procured not later than thirty days after the day upon which the dog is four mcnths old, or within thirty days after the day upon which the dog, if over the age of four months, is {. first owned by a resident of the county and thereafter shall be ., maintained on a current basis from year to year. '", Section rv. Section 8.04.150 of the Marin County Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 8.04.150 Fees for redemption, placement. surrender. (a) Redemption Fees. No dog or other animal may be released by the poundkeeper to the owner until all charges, cost of redemption and the current y~ar's license charge have been paid. 'The charges and cost of redemption of the impounded animal shall ~."\" be a fee of thirty-five dollars for the first impollildment in any fiscal year, a f.:E; of :Ei=t~.~ dollars for the second impoundment in any fiscal year, a fee of seventy-five dollars for the third impoundment in any fiscal year, a fee of one hundred dollars for the fourth impollildment in any fiscal year, and a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars for each additional impoundment in any fiscal year plus in each impollildment a charge of ten dollars per day for keeping of any dog, and a charge of eiqht dollars per day for the keeping of any c~t or other animal, except as to the keeping of such animals specified in Section 8.04.220, of which the keeping charges shall be specified in Section 8.04.220. ( (b) Placement of Animals. When a dog or other animal is sold by the pOllildkeeper, pursuant to this chapter, the price shall not be less than ten dollars for dogs and two dallars for cacs and -- other small animals. (c) Surrender. The surrender of an animal by owner to the pOllildkeeper subsequent to impollildment for a violation of this 2 \ . I { chapter or any provisions of state law shall not relieve the owner I of the obligation to pay such charges as set forth in this section, prior to such surrender, plus the accumulated boarding charge Or those applicable charges set forth in Section 8.04.220. "- (Ord. 3068 !i 3, 1991; Ord. 2901 !i 2, 1986; Ord. 2640 !i 2, 1981; Ord. 2570 Ii 2, 1980; Ord. 2424 Ii 3, 1979; Ord. 2289 !i 3, 1977; Ord. 1963 Ii 1, 1973; Ord. 1712 Ii 9, 1969; Ord. 1333 Ii 4.4, 1964) Section V. Section 8.04.181 of the Marin Connty Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 8.04.181 Potentially dangerous and vicious dogs. (a) Except as otherwise provided under the provisions of subsections (b) through (m) of this section, the provisions of Chapter 9, Articles 1 through 5, Sections 31601 through 31683 and any amendments thereto exclusive of Sections 31602, 31603, 31606 and 31644 of the Food and Agricultural Code are adopted and incorporated by reference herein. (b) "potentially dangerous dog" means any of the following: (1) Any dog which, when unprovoked on two separate occasions within the prior thirty-six month period, engages in any behavior that requires a defensive action by any person to prevent bodily injury when the person and the dog are off the property of the ( owner or keeper of the dog; (2) Any dog which when unprovoked bites a person causing a \.. less severe injury than as defined in Section 31604 of the Food and Agricultural Code; (3) Any dog which when unprovoked has killed, seriously bitten, inflicted injury or otherwise caused injury attacking a domestic animal off the property of the owner or keeper of the dog. (c) "Vicious dog" means any of the following: (1) Any dog seized under Section 599aa of the Penal Code and upon the sustaining of a conviction of the owner or keeper under subdivision (a) of Section 597.5 of the Penal Code; (2) Any dog which, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, inflicts severe injury on or kills a human being; (3) Any dog previously determined to be and currencly listed as a potentially dangerous dog which, after its owner or keeper has been notified of this determination, continues the behavior described in Section 8.04.181(b) or is maintained in violation of Section 31641, 31642 or 31643 of the California Food and Agricultural Code. (d) t1Animal control department" means that agency appointed as poundkeeper for the County of Marin under the provisions of Section 8.04.110. ( (e) IIDirectorl1 means executive director of Marin County animal services or any person authorized to act on his/her behalf. (f) A hearing on whether a dog shall be declared potentially dangerous or vicious shall be conducted in the following manner: .... (1) If the director has investigated and determined that there exists probable cause to believe that a dog is potentially 3 . . dangerous or vicious as defined by this section, a hearing shall " be conducted. The director shall prepare a petition specifying the basis as to why the dog is potentially dangerous or vicious. (2) Whenever possible, any complaint received from a member of the public which serves as the evidentiary basis for the direc,-or to find probable cause shall be sworn to and verified by the complainant and shall be attached to the petition. (3) Prior to commencement of the hearing and if the allegations of the petition indicate that the dog is potentially dangerous as defined under Section 8.04.181 (b) , the county administrator or his designee may offer in writing mediation services as an alternative to a hearing provided both the complainant and the owner agree in writing to mediation. Mediation must be concluded within thirty days of the offer to mediate. If mediation is refused or is unsuccessful, . then the matter shall be referred to "- hearing under subsection (f) (1) of this section. (4) The county administrator or his designee shall designate a hearing officer from a panel of up to five persons whose membership shall be designated by the board of supervisors. Hearing officer applicants shall have had a minimum of five years' experience as a practicing attorney and prior experience in administrative, arbitration or mediation hearings. Prior experience in care and control of animals shall also be considered ( but is not necessary. The hearing officer shall conduct a hearing on whether a dog shall be declared potentially dangerous or ~ vicious. The hearing officer shall be compensated for the actual hours devoted to the hearing and its determination at the existing hourly rate or fraction thereof allowed a traffic referee of the Marin County municipal court. (5) (i) The county adm:.nistrator or his designee shall provide written notice to the owner of the specific behavior of the animal alleged in the petition and the date upon which a hearing will be held to consider the petition. The hearina shall be held within the time limits set forth bv the Food and Aaricultura1 Code Section 31621 or any amendments thereto. The notice shall advis.e the owner of the consequences of a finding of potentially dangerous or vicious and the owner's right to present evidence as to why the dog should not be declared potentially dangerous or vicious. Service of tl1e nocice shall be made in accordance with Section 1. 04 .190. Where the owner or address of any affected owner is unknown , notice of the hearing shall be given by posting the same in the office of the di:r-ector and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation. Notice shall then be deemed given on publication of the notice. (ii) A hearing may be contirnled if the hearing officer deems it necessary and proper or upon a showing of good cause :.. ( (iii) The time for hearing and the hearing provisions of subsection (d) (5) (i) of this section shall be stayed ." mediation l~ services are offered pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) (3) of this section. The time of hearing and the hearing ~ provisions of this subsection shall at the date the recommence 4 . . . county administrator or his designee has determined in writing " that mediation has not been accepted or has been unsuccessful. (6) In cases where complaint(s) from the public serve as the evidentiary basis for the director to prepare a petition, at least one of the complainants or his or her designee in the matter must appear and testify at the hearing or the complair.t shall be dismissed. (7) If the owner fails to appear at the hearing, the hearing shall nevertheless proceed and an appropriate order shall be issued. (8) The hearing officer shall consider all relevant responsible evidence without regard to the fonna1 rules of evidence, including circumstances of mitigation, and the record of any prior violations by the owner. (9) All witnesses shall testify under oath or affinnation. The oath shall be administered by the hearing officer. The hearing officer may, when appropriate, request the production of oral or documentary evidence which is reasonably necessary and relevant to conduct a hearing. All proceedings shall be tape recorded. (10) The hearing officer shall issue a written determination based upon a preponderance of the evidence, which shall be mailed to the owner within seven days after the hearing is completed. (ll) If an animal is found to be potentially dangerous or ~ vicious by a preponderance of the evidence, the animal shall be so designated on the records of Marin County animal services. Such a "- designation shall be considered in future determinations involving the animal and/or owner. (12) The owner of a dog for which a potentially dangerous petition has been issued may irrevocably waive his or her right to a hearing and any further appeal under Food and Agriculture Code Section 31622 and accept all conditions, sanctions and penalties set forth in Food and Agriculture Code Sections 31641, 31642 and 61643, and Section 8.04.l8l(k) . The County Administrator or his Desianee will mail a waiver form to the dOG owner. The waiver must be sioned bY the dOG owner and receiyed bv the County Desionee within thirty davs from the date of aGreement to waive or a hearino will be scheduled within thirtv (30) davs of the aoreement to waive. (g) In accordance with the provisions of Food and Agricultural Code Section 31641, the owner of a potentially dangerous dog shall in addition to the regular licensing fee, pay to the animal control agency an annual fee of twenty-five dollars to provide for the increased costs of maintaining the records of the dog. (h) The owner of a dog determined to be vicious shall, in addition to the regular licensing fee, pay to the animal control ( agency an annual fee of fifty dollars to provide for the increased costs of maintaining the records of the dog. (i) The owner of a dog determined vicious shall, at his/her own expense, have the vicious animal regist~ation number assigned "- to the dog tattooed upon the dog's left ear or, if the left ear is not available, on .the left inner thigh, by a licensed veterinarian 5 '. . or a person trained, authorized and licensed to do business as a tattooist. As an alternative to tattooing, an owner may have a ( microchip injected beneath the skin, and between the shoulder blades of the animal by a licensed veterinarian. The owner shall provide proof satisfactory to Marin County animal services of such tattooing or microchipping within thirty days of the vicious determination. (j) An owner of a vicious dog shall, within ten days of such determination, present said animal at the Marin County animal services and allow photographs and measurements of the animal to be taken for purposes of identification. (k) An owner of a dog found potentially dangerous under Section 8 .04.181 (b) , who has no additional violations of any of the provisions of Title 8 of the Marin County Code, within a thirty-six month period from the date of designation as potentially dangerous, shall be removed from the list of potentially dangerous dogs by the director. The dog may be, but is not required to be, removed from the list of potentially dangerous dogs prior to the expiration of the thirty-six month period if the owner or keeper of the dog demonstrates to the director that changes in circumstances or measures taken by the owner or keeper, such as training of the dog, have mitigated the risk to public safety. (1) An owner of a dog found vicious under Section ( 8.04.181(c) (3), or danoerous under the nrovisions of former Section 8.04.181(c) (3) (Marin Countv Ordinance 3138) , who has no additional violations of any of the provisions of Title 8 of the l. Marin County Code, after a thirty-six month period from the date of designation as vicious, or danaerousr may apply to the director to remove the animal from the list of vicious animals. The director shall have the discretion to remove the animal from the list of vicious or danqerous animals upon proof of the successful completion of at least eight weeks of training, or other rehabilitative efforts designee. to mitigate the risk to public safety. (m) All sanctions imposed on dogs determined potentially dangerous or dangerous prior to the enactment of the ordinance -,r codified in this section shall remain in effect, except that any violations subsequent to the enactment of this section shall be governed by this section. In determining subsequent violations the following provisions shall apply: Any dog previously determined potentially dangerous prior to the enactment of this section, shall be considered potentially dangerous as defined under the provisions of this section and subject to all of its provisions governing the regulation and disposltion of potentially dangerous dogs; any dog previously determined dangerous prior to the enactment of the ordinance codified in this section shall be considered vicious as defined under the provisions governing the t regulation and disposition of vicious dogs. (Ord. 3138 5 3, 1993; Ord. 3041 5 3, 1990; Ord. 3031 5 3, 1990; Ord. 2969 5 3, 1988) '- 6 . . .' Section VI. Publication. {This ordinance shall be and is in full force and effect as of thirt~ (30) days from and after the date of its passage and shall be published once before the expiration of fifteen (lS) days after its passage, with the names of the supervisors voting for and against the same in the MARIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, a newspaper of general circulation published in Marin County. PASSED AND ADOPTED at the regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Marin, State of California, held on the 8th day of October, 1996, by the following vote: AYES: SUPERVISORS Harry J. Moore, Annette Rose, John B. Kress NOES: NONE ABSENT: SUPERVISORS Gary Giacomini, H~ C. 2~;r. "'J Q'"-?,~ CHAIRMAN PRO M Board of Supervisors ATTEST: ~ ,0,-9 ( , 1;/"~"' ~ .'Y,jl ~J':~P/ . . ~,_ \. . j~.Y;, ~ .r""';;2:) t ..... 7