The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCC 2025-04-08_10a Supplemental 1 MEMORANDUM TO: City Council FROM: Jessica Matson, Director of Legislative & Information Services/ City Clerk SUBJECT: Supplemental Information Agenda Item 10.a – April 8, 2025 City Council Meeting Amendments to Title 6 (Animals) of the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code DATE: April 8, 2025 Attached is public comment received prior to 2 p.m. for the above referenced item. cc: City Manager Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Chief of Police City Attorney City Clerk City Website and Public Review Binder Enc From:betty winholtz To: Kate Secrest; Aileen Loe; Jamie Maraviglia; Jim Guthrie Cc:Jessica Matson Subject:city council agenda item 10a Date:Monday, April 7, 2025 12:13:59 PM IRONSCALES couldn't recognize this email as this is the first time you received an email from this sender Dear City Council, Like Arroyo Grande, the City of Morro Bay is holding a public hearing Tuesday evening on the County's Animal Regulations for adoption. It is a 25-page document. We, Morro Bay cat and dog owners, find the sections on Holding Periods and Euthanasia too narrow. Besides asking that the Holding Period for domestic animals be 7 days across the board rather than 3 days, Section 9.04.002 and Section 9.04.006, we are asking the Morro Bay city council to expand the Euthanasia section to read as follows (blue text added): 9.04.010 Euthanasia of animals. (a) Before any impounded animal which, upon the conclusion of its holding period, has not been redeemed by its owner should be put up for adoption. To enhance adoptability, medical care and behavior training may be employed. If overcrowding occurs, fostering and utilizing nonprofit animal rescue organizations should be employed. Only as a last resort may the impounded animal be humanely euthanized in the manner recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association, specifically the use of veterinarian- prescribed sedatives and FDA-approved euthanasia solutions. (b) Before any owner surrendered animal which has not been reclaimed by its owner within a period of time equivalent to the holding period for impounded stray animals as set forth in Section 9.04.006 should be put up for adoption. To enhance adoptability, medical care and behavior training may be employed. If overcrowding occurs, fostering and contacting nonprofit animal rescue organizations should be employed. Only as a last resort may the impounded animal be humanely euthanized in the manner recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association, specifically the use of veterinarian-prescribed sedatives and FDA- approved euthanasia solution. While the current shelter administration may practice the above intent, if the language is not codified, a new administration is not directed to practice humane procedures. Please note the language says "may" and not "shall." As you may know, there is a countywide Central Coast Dog Park Alliance. We are working with them to work with the other city councils. Our goal is to get all 7 cities onboard with adopting the above changes. Since Grover Beach and SLO already adopted the regulations, we will go to them and ask for an amendment. Once accomplished, this presents a united front to the Board of Supervisors to augment the language. In soliciting support for these changes, we have received no negative feedback. In fact, some residents remember when the Holding Period was 2 weeks. Thus, we feel 7 days is a good compromise from 3 days. Sincerely, Betty Winholtz Morro Bay From:betty winholtz To:Kate Secrest; Aileen Loe; Jamie Maraviglia; Jim Guthrie; Caren Ray Russom Cc:public comment Subject:Re: city council agenda item 10a Date:Tuesday, April 8, 2025 7:40:26 AM Dear City Council, I have been asked the following questions. I thought you would be interested in my responses in red. AS is Animal Services. Also, if Animal Services states they are already or close to no-kill, then they shouldn't mind the new language because they are already practicing it. Sincerely, Betty Winholtz Who would administer medical care? If AS, would they need to hire newstaff or could existing staff handle this? Could qualified outside help beused and are such individuals available? AS has a budget; it also has afoundation that receives monetary gifts to pay for medical treatment ofimpounded animals. I have donated to this foundation. I do not know forcertain, but I believe they have vets outside AS do the serious operations,and minor concerns taken care of in-house.- Who would conduct behavioral training? If AS, would they need to hirenew staff or need to pay for staff training classes? Are there outsidegroups willing to offer such training at no cost to the County? A long-timevolunteer developed a routine for small animals to socialize them, thusmaking them more adoptable. I don't know, but maybe professionaltrainers already volunteer. Since volunteers do most of the work, if it isnot part of volunteer training already, a non- or low cost training could bedone. I'm not thinking elaborate training here. - How long does such training take to be effective and how much timeneeds to be spent with each dog each day? Does AS have capacity to keepdogs this much longer, and would they then reach capacity that muchquicker due to the longer stays? Overcrowding is the issue, but there isnot overcrowding all year round. The new language doesn't dictate acertain amount of training or a certain level of success. It says "may" beemployed.- How many non-profit rescue groups are in county? Are they willing tofoster and/or qualified to train Animal Service dogs? Do they have theability to take on more dogs to foster/train? Are these rescue groupscertified in some way so the dogs will be in conditions equal to or betterthan the AS facilities? From my experience, some of the rescue groupskeep close tabs on the shelter's population and others do not. Withoutknowing the answer, perhaps this is something that can be reinforced orstrengthened. On Monday, April 7, 2025 at 12:13:37 PM PDT, betty winholtz < wrote: Dear City Council, Like Arroyo Grande, the City of Morro Bay is holding a public hearing Tuesday evening on the County's Animal Regulations for adoption. It is a 25-page document. We, Morro Bay cat and dog owners, find the sections on Holding Periods and Euthanasia too narrow. Besides asking that the Holding Period for domestic animals be 7 days across the board rather than 3 days, Section 9.04.002 and Section 9.04.006, we are asking the Morro Bay city council to expand the Euthanasia section to read as follows (blue text added): 9.04.010 Euthanasia of animals. (a) Before any impounded animal which, upon the conclusion of its holding period, has not been redeemed by its owner should be put up for adoption. To enhance adoptability, medical care and behavior training may be employed. If overcrowding occurs, fostering and utilizing nonprofit animal rescue organizations should be employed. Only as a last resort may the impounded animal be humanely euthanized in the manner recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association, specifically the use of veterinarian- prescribed sedatives and FDA-approved euthanasia solutions. (b) Before any owner surrendered animal which has not been reclaimed by its owner within a period of time equivalent to the holding period for impounded stray animals as set forth in Section 9.04.006 should be put up for adoption. To enhance adoptability, medical care and behavior training may be employed. If overcrowding occurs, fostering and contacting nonprofit animal rescue organizations should be employed. Only as a last resort may the impounded animal be humanely euthanized in the manner recommended by the American Veterinary Medical Association, specifically the use of veterinarian-prescribed sedatives and FDA- approved euthanasia solution. While the current shelter administration may practice the above intent, if the language is not codified, a new administration is not directed to practice humane procedures. Please note the language says "may" and not "shall." As you may know, there is a countywide Central Coast Dog Park Alliance. We are working with them to work with the other city councils. Our goal is to get all 7 cities onboard with adopting the above changes. Since Grover Beach and SLO already adopted the regulations, we will go to them and ask for an amendment. Once accomplished, this presents a united front to the Board of Supervisors to augment the language. In soliciting support for these changes, we have received no negative feedback. In fact, some residents remember when the Holding Period was 2 weeks. Thus, we feel 7 days is a good compromise from 3 days. Sincerely, Betty Winholtz Morro Bay