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2013-08-12 Meeting Report (Animal Control Ordinance) SPIN MEETING REPORT CASE NO. Animal Control Ordinance No. 1069 and Ordinance No. 480-PPPP pertaining to keeping of grazing animals PROJECT NAME: Animal Control Ordinance No. 1069 and Ordinance No. 480-PPPP pertaining to keeping of grazing animals SPIN DISTRICT: City Wide MEETING DATE: August 12, 2013; 6:00 PM MEETING LOCATION: 1400 Main Street, Southlake, TX Training Rooms 3A 3B CITIZEN ATTENDANCE: Approximately fifty (50) SPIN REPRESENTATIVE(S) PRESENT: None APPLICANT(S) PRESENTING: City of Southlake STAFF PRESENT: Chief Steve Mylett, Lt. Mike Wilson City of Keller Police Dept., Kyle Taylor Emergency Mgmt. Coord., Kristen White Municipal Court Supervisor, Sr. Director Ken Baker, Deputy Director Dennis Killough. STAFF CONTACT: Chief Steve Mylett (817) 748-8950 for Animal Control Ord. No. 1069; Sr. Director Ken Baker for Ord. 480-PPPP Grazing Animals. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Animal Control Ordinance No. 1069 Animal Control Services for Southlake, Colleyville and Keller have been consolidated under one service managed by the City of Keller. The purpose of this revision is to develop an ordinance that provides consistency between the regulations of the partner Cities. Pet Registration Fees Fixed dog/cat $5.00, unfixed dog/cat $20.00 with fees going toward operating costs of the Regional Animal Adoption Center; No changes to maximum number of dogs/cats, fowl permitted under the current Ordinance or policies in handling feral hogs. Ord. 480-PPPP, amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Keeping of Grazing Animals This amen-single family residential districts to the list of residential districts permitting grazing animals if the lot is one acre or more. The revision also proposes clarification to the minimum grazing area required per grazing animal. QUESTIONS / CONCERNS What is the current feral hog program? Setting of traps with no release on capture. The meat is donated to food banks Î and shelters. Will people be grandfathered from changes to the grazing animal regulations to the Zoning Ordinance? If you are legal non-conforming, yes. If you have a particular situation or concern Î it is recommended that you document it with the City to secure your non- conforming status. What is the feral cat program? Trap, remove, evaluate for relocation. Animal Adoption Center provides traps Î with an agreement and time period based on the resources available at the time. They can be pick-up at the Animal Adoption Center or if resources permit dropped off by an Animal Control Officer by appointment. ? Yes. Î Will an active enforcement of registration take place? There will be no random registration checks. Registration will be enforced when Î dealing with complaints or problems. Where can licenses be obtained? The Animal Adoption Center and eventually online. There will be a grace period Î for registration. Once registered, renewal notices will be sent by mail and can be renewed by mail. Proof of vaccination will be required. How are free roaming cats handled? Pets cannot run at large. If captured it will be impounded. Î Where is the Animal Adoption Center located? 330 Rufe Snow Drive, Keller, Texas. Î Where are large animals taken? Tarrant County. Sheep and goats typically will go to the Animal Adoption Center. Î Citizen Comments: Has a problem with the fees being cloaked in rabies concern; disagrees, rabies Î has not been a problem; center should be funded through other mechanisms. Not happy with new Keller dispatch, they are not familiar with Southlake Î occurrences. Î Concerns with use of same tag and people not updating information and Î registration. What about other tags and chips? AAC scans for chips and will use any tag information to contact pet owner. Î Having registered your animal and having the tag will get your animal returned Î directly if you can be contacted. What are the fines? Fines have not been set. Î Can someone register 35 cats? No, it would violate both the current and proposed ordinance do to the number of Î animals. Does someone have to register their pest while visiting? No, common sense will prevail. Although you could notify AAC but I will not be Î required. How does this affect foster care of animals? This falls outside the area of the ordinance but could fall under other enforcement Î issues such as care and keeping of the areas of the animals. How will the City handle complaints from new subdivisions next to established grazing areas? As long as there are no legitimate nuisance issues, the established use is Î protected. How do we contact the City with questions on the ordinances? For the Animal Adoption Center and Animal Control Lt. Mike Wilson, City of Î Keller at (817) 743-4508. For City of Southlake Animal Control Ordinance Chief Steve Mylett (817) 748- Î 8950. How can we voice concerns regarding the ordinances? You can attend the scheduled meetings and participate in the public hearing, Î send letters to the City Secretary, Department of Public Safety and/or Planning and Development Services. Where is the Facebook page? https://www.facebook.com/SouthlakePublicSafety Î What about the reduction in impoundment time? Reducing the impoundment hold time from 7 to 3 days gets the animals adopted Î or in a foster program quicker. Was there a complaint that raised the issue regarding clarification on the minimum grazing area? Yes, questions were raised regarding how the minimum area per grazining Î animal was applied. Yes. Î Why four (4) cats and dogs? The animal control ordinance will stay as it is six (6) dogs/cats for one acre or Î larger and four (4) for less. Why only six (6) on one acre or more, larger lots could handle more? That is how the current ordinance is written. Î Why the registration and fee? Easier to show compliance, the $5.00 registration fee barely covers the Î verification costs. Do Keller and Colleyville register? Yes. Î Do the fees go to pay for the construction of the facility? The facility is already paid for revenues will go toward daily operations and Î supplies for the AAC. Will there be any exemptions for service/work animals, hunting dogs, etc.? It is not addressed in the ordinance but can be discussed. Î Citizen comment Ordinance 480-PPPP: without a definition or use a word that has a specific Î definition. Consider removing the Zoning Ordinance amendment for grazing animals Î altogether. Put a date for grandfathering. Î When does Southlake DPS get dispatched versus Keller Animal Control Southlake DPS is called on animal cruelty, Keller Animal Control on stray Î animals and similar animal code violation Citizen Comment A Vet should be called out on animal cruelty calls. That may be part of the investigation depending on the situation. Î Why not increase the number of pets? Most situations where numerous pets are kept have poor sanitation and health Î conditions. Why the consolidation of services and change in the animal control ordinance? Consolidation of services will save money for the City and the codes consist Î throughout the partnering Cities will help things run smoothly. Where can the wording on the livestock ordinance be found? Î Can shelter be considered under the livestock ordinance revision? The animal control ordinance may cover these conditions. Î Explain the Animal Control Ordinance versus Zoning Ordinance and variances. The Zoning Ordinance has provisions for variances to certain regulations. The Î Animal Control Ordinance only has administrative discretion where allowed. Is there something that covers 501c3 rescue centers/homes? These are covered under separate provisions. Î What dates will the items be heard? The Zoning Ordinance No. 480-PPPP regarding grazing animals will be heard at Î Planning and Zoning Commission on August 22, 2013 and is expected to be heard at City Council September 3, 2013 for first reading and September 17, 2013 for Second reading. The Animal Control Ordinance No. 1069 will be heard at City Council September Î 3, 2013 for first reading and September 17, 2013 for second reading. SPIN Meeting Reports are general observations of SPIN Meetings by City staff and SPIN Representatives. The report is neither verbatim nor official meeting minutes; rather it serves to inform elected and appointed officials, City staff, and the public of the issues and questions raised by residents and the general responses made. Responses as summarized in this report should not be taken as guarantees by the applicant. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to follow the case through the Planning and Zoning Commission and final action by City Council.