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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-07-2002 City Council Study SessionMINUTES , CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE 183 NORTH MAIN STREET LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2002 ~:~~~*~~~~~*~:~~~~~~~:~*~*,~~~~~~~:~~:~:~~*~:~~: ~~~~~~x~~~:~~x:~~:~**~*~~ CALL TO ORDER Mayor Kelley called the Study Session to order at 3:11 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: BRINLEY, BUCKLEY, HICKMAN, SCHIFFNER, KELLEY ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE Also present were: City Manager Watenpaugh, Assistant City Manager Best, City Attorney Leibold, Administrative Services Director Boone, Community Development Director Brady, Community Services Director Sapp, Information/Communications Manager Dennis and City C1erWHuman Resources Director Kasad. DISCUSSION ITEM Contract with Animal Friends of the Vallev. (F:183) City Manager Watenpaugh indicated that the major issues the Council had with Animal Friends of the Valley were: 1) changing the Fiscal Year and 2) having a professional audit of which Animal Friends of the Valley ha~e done. He noted that the Animal Citation Program and canvassing were the remaining major issues for Animal Friends of the Valley. He stated that it was a matter of what issues were on the table today and not what happened in the past. PAGE TWO - STUDY SESSION - MARCH 7, 2002 Mayor Kelley commented for the new Councilmembers benefit, the citations and canvassing were the two major issues that the previous Council took issue with. Anne Washington, General Manager of Animal Friends of the Valley, stated that she would like to reinstate the License Inspection Program. She indicated that although Council had approved the Administrative Citations, they had not been implemented, and they would like to get the License Inspection Program going again. She indicated that they had experienced a deficit in Fiscal Year 2000/2001 of $20,080 and to date in this Fiscal Year there was a deficit of $4,566. She stated that the 1997 Animal Services van needed to be replaced, since the cost of repairs had exceed the value of the vehicle. Ms. Washington stated that her organization was asking that the City reinstate the license inspection program to allow them to make up the deficit from FY 2000/2001; reimburse any deficit from FY 2001/2002; replace the Animal Control Van; and any new funds generated would be credited to Lake Elsinore's share of the new Animal Shelter. She explained that the cost of the program would not be charged to the City, since all of the costs would come out of the revenue generated. She further stated that there would be no canvassing on any holidays or holiday eves; and license inspections would only take place during business hours. She indicated that they were proposing a si~y-day amnesty and free rabies shots with new licenses. She explained that they would install computer chips in all of the dogs and cats brought in for new licenses at no cost to the owner. She stated that they would render assistance for altering newly licensed animals, since the cost was much less than for an unaltered animal. Mayor Pro Tem Schiffner questioned canvassing. Ms. Washington explained the procedure for canvassing and explained that if no one was home the Animal Control Officer would leave a courtesy notice on their frontdoor notifying the owner of the PAGE THItEE - STUDY SESSION - MARCH 7, 2002 need to license their cat or dog and if the owner was home and had a cat or dog with a current rabies vaccination, the Animal Control Officer could issue a license, or if they did not have a current rabies vaccination, they would be issued an administrative citation which would give them 14 days to comply. She noted that they currently canvassing Murrieta and Temecula and there have been no problems. She commented that when they go door to door it gives the Animal Control Officer the opporiunity to address any problem neighbars or pet owner may be having. Mayar Pro Tem Schiffner clarified that basically what it amounted to was going door-to-door looking for unlicensed animals. Ms. Washington indicated that if there was a licensed animal at the house, they walk on by, however if they hear a dog barking and the address was not found on the printout, then they go to the door. Mayor Pro Tem Schiffner stated that without the canvassing program there would not be much opportunity of licensing animals unless the owners voluntarily did so. Ms. Washington agreed. Mayor Kelley asked if when a pet was licensed, and the license was about to expire, if Animal Control would notify the owner that the license was due. Ms. Washington stated that they send notices out to the registered owners. Ms. Washington stated that Riverside County had been declared a rabies area. She fitrther stated that a child had picked up a bat, put it in his backpack and took it to school. She indicated that the bat tested positive for rabies, so ten children and two adults had to go through a post rabies series. She explained that if the greater numbers of animals are kept vaccinated, then the rabies does not enter into the domestic animal population. Ms. Washington presented an overview of the necessity of cat PAGE FOUR - STUDY SESSION - MARCH 7, 2002 licensing to control the population. She noted the increase in cats since they ha~e not canvassed. She explained that since they have not canvassed in the last few years, the increase in feral cats has increased dramatically since cat owners are not encouraged to alter their pets. She presented an exhibit of City of Canyon Lake Agreement and stressed how important canvassing was. Mayor Pro Tem Schiffner stated that he was in fa~or of Administrative Citations and canvassing. He questioned why the Administrative Citations were not in use. Ms. Washington stated that the City had to set the parameters for the Administrative Citations. Mayor Pro Tem Schiffner stated that he would like to see Council direct staff to take the necessary steps to implement the Administrative Citations, which would include canvassing. Councilwoman Brinley stated that she had no problem with canvassing the last time they met, however she expressed concern with the Animal Control Officers performing courtesy calls with door hangers regarding pets and then revisiting to issue a fine. She suggested that the door hanger should state that Animal Control would return within a 30 or 60-day period to follow up with a citation. She indicated that there would be no room far complaint if the door hanger would notify the pet owner that the Animal Control Officer would be back to issue a citation. Mayor Pro Tem Schiffner stated that he does not have much sympathy for people who do not license their animals. He commented that everyone who owns a pet knows that they must license their pet. He further commented that he had lived in large cities and every year the Animal Control Officers came around and knocked on doors to notify pet owners that they must buy a license. Carol Purcell, Animal Friends of the Valley, commented that it would PAGE FIVE - STUDY SESSION - MARCH 7, 2002 not be a good thing to have a child or relative bitten by an unlicensed animal. The City Council agreed. Mayor Pro Tem Schiffner commented that if a persom could afford to feed a dog, then that same person should be able to afford to license the dog. He stated that he would even suggest setting up a program of assistance for the elderly who could not afford to pay for a license as, well as assistance with neutering costs. Councilman Buckley agreed with Mayor Pro Tem Schiffner and stated that he felt that there should be some type of notification or warning prior to issuing a citation. Mayor Pro Tem Schiffner indicated people needed to understand that it was the revenue from citations and licenses that supported the services they received from Animal Control. Councilman Hickman stated that he was in favar of licensing and canvassmg. Councilwoman Brinley asked what Animal Friends of the Valley did when a pet owner could not afford to neuter or license their animal. Ms. Washington stated that they were always willing to work with someone who wished to take good care of their pets. Ms. Purcell stated that Animal Friends had a very aggressive program to match animals with seniors and there was assistance a~ailable to allow the seniors to afford licensing and neutering. Councilman Buckley suggested placing information on the door hangers in regard to the Senior Program. City Manager Watenpaugh clarified that the proposal by Animai Friends of the Valley was to reinstate the inspection program, which PAGE SIX - STUDY SESSION - MARCH 7, 2002 included canvassing with the revenue generated from that action, paying far future services. He asked if the City was expected to pay the $20,000 to Animal Friends of the Valley in addition to the new program. He suggested that Ms. Washington meet with staff prior to taking the item to Council for final consideration. Councilman Buckley clarified the expenditure of funds. Mayor Kelley indicated her approval of door hangers to a11ow people to understand the licensing process. She criticized the past citing habits of animal control and did not want to see Animal Control Officers asking neighbors about animals in the neighborhood and then writing citations. City Attorney Leibold noted the attachments that will be necessary to be included with the Agreement. ADJOITRNMENT THE CTTY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:44 P.M. GE~ KELLEY, MAY(~t CI OF LAKE ELSINORE A'Y"~~5~': I ~ 2~:~.~ VICKI KASAD, CMC, CITY CLERK HEJ?VM AN RESOURCES DIRECTOR CYTY OF LAKE ELSINORE