City of Healdsburg
Ordinance NO. 1053

CITY OF HEALDSBURG
 
ORDINANCE NO. 1053


AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HEALDSBURG TO REPEAL EXISTING CHAPTER 3, ORDINANCE NO. 944, IN ITS ENTIRETY, REPEAL SECTION 26 OF CHAPTER 14A, ORDINANCE 967, REPEAL SECTION 40 OF CHAPTER 14A, ORDINANCE NO. 1001, AND REPEAL ANY OTHER CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE CITY OF HEALDSBURG MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADD NEW CHAPTER 3, “ANIMAL REGULATION AND CONTROL”

WHEREAS, on February 2, 1998, the City Council of the City of Healdsburg adopted Ordinance No. 944 rescinding in its entirety Chapter 3 of the Healdsburg Municipal Code, “Animals and Fowl,” and adding a new Chapter 3, “Animal Regulation and Control” to the City of Healdsburg Municipal Code; and

WHEREAS, on August 7, 2000, the City Council of the City of Healdsburg adopted Ordinance No. 967 adding Chapter 14A to the City’s Municipal Code including adding Section 14A-26 regulating animals in the City’s park facilities; and

WHEREAS, on March 17, 2003, the City Council of the City of Healdsburg adopted Ordinance No. 1001 amending Chapter 3, Sections 3-45(f) and 3-47, “Restraint Requirements” and “Dogs in Public Parks,” and amending Chapter 14A to add Section 14A-40 “Off-Leash Area Use Regulations”;and

WHEREAS, recent developments in animal laws and regulations make it desirous for the City to update its animal regulation and control so that they may reflect the current state of the law; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City to consolidate and streamline those provisions in the City’s Municipal Code pertaining to the regulation and control of animals; and

WHEREAS, the City’s police power, enumerated in Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution, grants it the authority to regulate animals in accordance with health, safety, and welfare of the general public; and

WHEREAS, Chapter 3 of the City’s Municipal Code is insufficient to permit the City to effectively protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public; and

WHEREAS, California Food and Agriculture Code Section 30501 et seq. and California Government Code Section 38792 authorizes the City to adopt any laws governing the regulation and licensing of dogs; and

WHEREAS, Chapter 3 of the City’s Municipal Code does not adequately address the current needs of the City with respect to the regulation of dogs; and

WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 36901 authorizes the City Council to impose fines, penalties, and forfeitures to enforce Municipal Code Provisions.

NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Healdsburg does ordain as follows:

The City Council of the City of Healdsburg does ordain as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 3 of the City of Healdsburg Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety; Section 26 of Chapter 14A, Ordinance No. 967, and Section 40 of Chapter 14A, Ordinance No. 1001, of the City of Healdsburg Municipal Code are hereby repealed in their entirety; and any other conflicting ordinances and resolutions are repealed in their entirety.

SECTION 2.  Based on information provided at the time of first reading of this Ordinance, including without limitation, the staff report and other written and oral testimony, the City Council of the City of Healdsburg finds that the rules, regulations and procedures set forth in this Ordinance regarding animal regulation and control are necessary and appropriate for the protection of public health, safety and welfare.

SECTION 3.   A new Chapter 3 entitled “Animal Regulation and Control” is hereby added to the City of Healdsburg Municipal Code to read and provide as follows:

 
ARTICLE I—GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section  3.1      Purpose; Construction.

Section  3.2      Relationship to Other Laws.

Section  3.3      Authority to Set Fees.

Section  3.4      Definitions.

ARTICLE II—ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section  3.5      Animal Control Officers: Powers and Duties.

ARTICLE III—PUBLIC NOTICE

Section  3.6      Public Notice - Hearing By Animal Hearing Officer.

Section  3.7      Contents of Notice.

ARTICLE IV—HEARINGS AND APPEALS

Section  3.8      Hearing by Animal Hearing Officer; Decision.

ARTICLE V–PROHIBITED CONDUCT

Section  3.9      Interference with Animal Control Officer - Prohibited.

Section  3.10     Removal of Animal in Custody of Animal Control Officer - Prohibited.

Section  3.11     Aid in Escape of Animal Sought for Custody - Prohibited.

Section  3.12     Refusal to Present Animal for Inspection - Prohibited.

Section  3.13     Abandonment of Dog or Cat - Prohibited.

Section  3.14     Dogs at Large Prohibited - Exceptions.

Section  3.15     Dogs in Park Facilities - Exceptions.

Section  3.16     Dogs in Designated Off-Leash Areas.

Section  3.17     Animals in Park Facilities.

Section  3.18     Livestock at Large Prohibited - Exceptions.

Section  3.19     Exotic Animals at Large - Prohibited.

Section  3.20     Dogs Entering Upon Property Where Sheep and Other Livestock are Kept - Prohibited.

Section  3.21     Interference with Quarantine Prohibited.

Section  3.22     Animals in City Buildings Prohibited - Exceptions.

Section  3.23     Selling Animals Without License Prohibited.

Sectuib  3.24     Maintenance of Exotic Animals Without Proof of Proper Approvals Prohibited.

Section  3.25     Biting Animals - Notification to Animal Control Officer.

Section  3.26     Public Nuisance: Prohibited.

Section  3.27     Injuring or Teasing a Police Dog.

Section  3.28     Cruelty to Animals Prohibited.

ARTICLE VI—LIVESTOCK AND FOWL

Section  3.29     Livestock - Keeping Restrictions.

Section  3.30     Livestock - Standards of Care.

Section  3.31     Livestock in Streets - Restrictions.

Section  3.32     Fowl - Keeping Restrictions.

Section  3.33     Fowl - Conditions for Keeping Within the City.

ARTICLE VII—DOGS

Section  3.34     Dog License Required.

Section  3.35     License Requirements - Exceptions.

Section  3.36     Responsibility for Issuance of License.

Section  3.37     License: Vaccination Required.

Section  3.38     License Fee.

Section  3.39     License Fee - Waiver or Reduction of Fees.

Section  3.40     License Application - Issuance of Certificate and Identification Tag.

Section  3.41     Expiration and Renewal of License.

Section  3.42     Securing License Tag to Collar.

Section  3.43     Replacement of Lost License Tag.

Section  3.44     Transfer of License - Notice of Death or Removal from City.

Section  3.45     Reporting of Shooting or Poisoning Dog Required.

Section  3.46     Impoundment of Unlicensed Dog.

ARTICLE VIII—CATS

Section  3.47     Cat Registration.

Section  3.48     Application for Registration.

Section  3.49     Action on Application - Issuance of Certificate and Identification Tags.

Section  3.50     Registration Period.

Section  3.51     Transfer of Registration Certificate - Notice of Death or Removal from City.

Section  3.52     Replacement of Lost Registration Tag.

Section  3.53     Spaying or Neutering Cats that Roam.

ARTICLE IX—POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND VICIOUS DOGS

Section  3.54     Authority and Purpose.

Section  3.55     Purpose - Exemptions.

Section  3.56     Investigation, Hearing, and Designation of Potentially Dangerous and Vicious Dogs.

Section  3.57     Hearing Procedure.

Section  3.58     Abatement Orders and Conditions.

Section  3.59     Failure to comply with Potentially Dangerous or Vicious Dog Order.

Section  3.60     Transfer and Training of Potentially Dangerous and Vicious Dogs.

Section  3.61     Restrictions on Further Ownership of Dogs.

Section  3.62     Keeping a Potentially Dangerous or Vicious Dog by Minors Prohibited.

Section  3.63     Enforcement and Penalties.

ARTICLE X—IMPOUNDMENT

Section  3.64     Animal Services Director - Appointment and Duties.

Section  3.65     Animal Services Director - Disposition of Money Received-Report.

Section  3.66     Animal Services Director - Record Keeping.

Section  3.67     Animals Subject to Impoundment.

Section  3.68     Suspected Rabid Animals - Examination and Impoundment.

Section  3.69     Enforcement of Penal Code Section 597.1.

Section  3.70     Care of Impounded Animals.

Section  3.71     Procedures for Immediate Impoundment.

Section  3.72     Impoundment of Dogs Running At Large.

Section  3.73     Hearing Prior to Animal Deprivation.

Section  3.74     Notification of Impoundment.

Section  3.75     Duration of Impoundment.

Section  3.76     Redemption of Impounded Animal.

Section  3.77     Disposition of Impounded Animals.

Section  3.78     No Redemption or Disposition of Impounded Animals Without Proof of Proper Care.

Section  3.79     No Redemption or Disposition of Animals for Research Purposes.

Section  3.80     Absence of Liability for Redemption or Disposition.

Section  3.81     Relief from Fees During Natural Calamities.

ARTICLE XI – KENNELS AND PET SHOPS

Section  3.82     Commercial Kennel, Hobby Kennel And Pet Shop License Required.

Section  3.83     Application For License.

Section  3.84     Action On Application.

Section  3.85     Expiration And Renewal Of License.

Section  3.86     Denial Or Revocation Of License.

Section  3.87     Appeal From Denial Or Revocation Of License.

Section  3.88     License Not Transferable.

Section  3.89     Display Of License Required.

Section  3.90     Inspections.

Section  3.91     Regulations And Standards For Care, Confinement, And Treatment Of Animals.

Section  3.92     Required Records For Commercial Kennels.

Section  3.93     List Of Animals Sold Or Given Away Required.

ARTICLE XII—RABIES CONTROL

Section  3.94     Rabies Control to be Responsibility of Health Officer.

Section  3.95     Rabies Control Fee.

ARTICLE XIII—VIOLATIONS

Section  3.96     Penalty.

Section  3.97     Separate Offense.

Section  3.98     Notice and Service Requirements.

Section  3.99     Enforcement.

Section  3.100    Cost Recover of Abatement.

Section  3.101    Animal Control Violators School.

Section  3.102    Disposition of Fines.


SECTION 4.   Severability:  If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction or preempted by state legislation, such decision or legislation shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance.  The City Council of the City of Healdsburg hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to any such decision or preemptive legislation.

SECTION 5.  The City Council finds that this Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations) because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, either directly or indirectly.

SECTION 6.   Effective date:  This Ordinance of the City of Healdsburg shall be effective thirty (30) days after the date of its passage.  Before expiration of fifteen (15) days after its passage, this ordinance or a summary thereof as provided in Government Code Section 36933, shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation published and circulated in the City of Healdsburg, along with the names of the City Council voting for and against its passage.

INTRODUCED by the City Council of the City of Healdsburg on the 18th day of December, 2006 and PASSED and APPROVED on the 8th day of January, 2007 by the following vote:
 
AYES: Councilmembers: (5) McGuire, Schaffner, Wood, Ziedrich and Mayor Plass

NOES: Councilmembers: (0) None

ABSENT: Councilmembers: (0) None

ABSTAINING: Councilmembers: (0) None

SO ORDERED                                           ATTEST        

Gary Plass, Mayor                                   Maria Curiel, City Clerk