HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 3BLate2 10/19/2009
Froms Diane Reilly Torres [dceillytorres@sbcglo6al.nef]
Sent: Thursday, October 1b, 2009 9:54 AM
To: - Gity Clerk
Subject: Fw: Late Document Item 3B-Ordinance on feral cats in Petaluma
--- On 1VIon, 10/12/09'; Jenriifer Kirchner <neuter@sonic.net> wrote:
From: Jennifer Kirchner <neuter@soriic.net>
Subject: Ordinance on feral cats in Petaluma
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ „~
To: Susan Simons <susansimons@cdsl;net>, TiffanyRenee <tiff@designmotif.com>, Mike Healy
<mthealy@scbglobal.net>, "'Da~id Glass"' <daveglass@comcast:net>, "'David Rabbitt"'
. . ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
<david@davidrabbitt.com>, Teresa Barrett <teresa4petaluma@comeast.net>, Pamela Torliatt
<ptorliatt@aol.com>
Cc: kittykabana@yahoo.com, "'Elle"' <elle@svn.net>, "'Diane Reilly Torres"' <dreillytorres@sbcglobal.net>,
"'Patricia Boyd"' <w.boyd@sbcglobal.net>
Date: Monday, October 1:2, 2009, 1:09 PM .
Dear Council Members:
I knaw there has been a lot cif correspondence flying back and forth; so figured i would weigh in as well. First
of all to clear up some misinformation that is being circulated and also to state our current position with
regard to the ordinance as it stands today.
I believe I can speak for everyone when I say we were extremely disappointed in last Monday night's City
Council Meeting. My impression is that everyone involved just wanted to be done with this issue and gaod or
bad had already decided it was goi'ng to be passed. Even if our requested changes didn't come through to
everyone until fihat morning, i;f council members didn't have sufficient time ta read them, consider them or
even get more inforrnation, the issue should have been moved~to a later date. Having elected officials vote on
an issue that is so impactful on the lives of so many without'having ALL of the facts, to me is irresponsible.
Had WE been able to receive a copy of the ordinance two months ago When it was completed, (rather than
the Wednesday before the 5thj quite possibly we could have worked out all the "kinks" befare last Monday's
meefing and you would not NOW be bombarded with e-mails and letters. If you recall, that was our intention
and agr.eement.....;to corn:e to the council meeting with a stamp of approval from everyone. 1Ne weren't
allowed to complefe that process.
As I stated to Jeff Gharter Iast;week,:;Forgotten Felines will rrot be tiie intended "Authorized Feral Cat Care
Organization" for a number of reasons =tfie main three being: '
1.,}The ordinance states that an,yone feeding or maintaining feral cats withouf being affiliated with a Feral Cat
Care Organization is in vi'olation of th~e faw. There are many good people taking care of YOUR feral cats on
their own, at th`eir own expense that have no desire to join a group.
2.}Name the City of PetaJuma, everyone that works for them.and their vofun#eers as additional insureds on
our insurance policy. 1Ne D0 have our own liabiiity insurance, and it doesn't cost us a thing to name someone
as an additional insured. However, why should we? You don't require it of ather non-profits working in your
city. This is simply a matter of principle.
3.)Immediately pcovide;all~colony records for inspection in response to a complaint or alleged violation of law.
The intent behind drafting an ordinance which partners with another agency to basically "do the work" is
because members of your community have had trust issUes rivith Anirnal Control. At the city council meeting,
Mayor Torliatt asked to give the Feral Organization ten days to provide records. This isn't even an issue (to
us), but the fact that we wou'Id have to turn over records in response to a complaint or alleged violation of law
could, in my interpretation, leads to a lack of trust. We don't want anythingto impede our mission which is to
STOF the reproduction of feral cats. V1/e have to understand 'that in order to achie~e this goal, you have to
have fhe cooperation of the people ~who know where #he cats are and' how to get to them! If they don't trust
you, nobody wins! Alf we asked is thaf there was a CLEAR viofation of law, not merely a complaint.
The rest of the recommendationsmade the ordinance cleaner, open fio changes in th'e industry and offered
more realistic expectations for a non-profit to take this responsibility on.
As l stated at the meeting, Forgotten Felines has every intention of working with Jeff and Kathy in reducing
feral cat populations, reducing euthanasia and educating the pubiic. (A service, by the way, we have been
providing your residents since 1990.) VC/e believe they have a sincere i~nterest in achieving the same goals and
have an appreciation for the service we pro~ide. I also believe they understand that if every person in
Petaluma who is currently caring for YOUR feral cats STOPPED tomorrow, their shelter and field work would
definitely be irnpacted by the increase in, feral cats roarming the city,. It was stated by Lt. Cook that there would
be no significant fioancial imp,act to implement fhe proposed changes to the ordinance. What it did NOT
address was the finarieial~ impact to Animal Services if there wasn't anyone caring for the ferals.
A special thank you to Mayor Torliatt~ and Lt. Cook for spending a great deal of time with us and making every
effort to truly un`derstand~the probiem, the challenges in managing same and most importantly, the feral cat.
One last thing to consider befare rnoving forward which has always puzzled me. Why wauld you dismiss the
free services of an organization that wants to help you solve a problem and embrace those who only stand in
front of you and dema:nd action, but don't offer anythin~ in the way of resources to solve it?
z
Jennifer Kirchner, Executive Director
Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County
(707) 576-7999: Ext. 200.
www.forgottenfelines.com