Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 3BLate7 10/19/2009 From: Patricia Boyd [w.boyd@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday;. October 15, 2009 3:37 PM To: -_Cty Clerk Cc: teresa4petalurna@comcast.net; trenee71@hotmail.com; david@davidrabbitt.com; daveglass@comcast.net; mike4pet@aol.com; mhealy@sbcglobal.net; penngrove@sonic.net; pto~liatt@aol.corm; neuter@sonic.net; elle@svn.net; Diane Reilly Torres; kittykabana@yahoo.com; susansimons@cds1.net; sgreene@wcclaw.com; Spence@speneeburton.com Subject: late document-ifem 3B Attachments: city council.doc Please see attached letter Thank you Sincerely, Patricia Boyd Save our Feral Cats-President and Founder "Speaking on behalf of those who can not speak for themselves- Petaluma feral cats" Patricia Ann Boyd 220 Sutter Street Petaluma, Ca 94954 Ph: 707-765-2602 Fx: 707-765-1423 i October 15, 2009 Dear Council Members I have included in this a-mail two letters from an Animal Rights Attorney with his comments and suggestions regarding the revised ordinance.. I have also been in contact with a local attorney who has agreed to take the feral cat issue Pro Bono in case we can not reach an agreement. The way that it stands right now, our feral cats are in more danger then they were before by not having a TNR group such as Forgotten Felines implementing a program. I hope that we all can agree how to make'this happen. I have a few questions. Question # 1 .How can we expect the citizens of Petaluma to protect our feral cats when in fact the ordinance that you voted in on October 5th clearly states that residents have to register with an authorized feral cat organization, and the fact is right now, we do not have one? Forgotten Felines has offered three times, each time they have been turned down. Save our Ferals has gone through all of the hardship to umbrella under an animal welfare protection organization to help out, but we certainly can not comply with your demands either as well. Questions #2 How much will this be costing the, taxpayers to enforce. this new ordinance? You can understand why this ,is very upsetting to all of us because of how much it:cost the taxpayers when you voted in the 2004 ordinance. I keep hearing.comments from Lt Cook and the Mayor and many others City Officials that Petaluma is'not going to be the "feral cat cops" well if that is case then why have it in the ordinance at all? It appears that you want to it both ways here. I have one last question. Before you. make any decisions. or rulings regarding the WETLANDS, do you have a map of the WETLANDS in your possession? I was told by Cory Yoang, .the reporter from the Argus Courier, that one does not exist. 1 have never seen one and I requested one from the City Manager' office, Mike Cook and the PAS Advisory committee. I just sent Cory Young an e-mail asking him to please publish a map of the WETLANDS so the public can see for themselves what this half a mile buffer is all about. I am hoping that he will do that. If someone has one, could you please send it to.him so he can publish it. Thank you. Patricia, Good to hear you got the proclamation on the agenda. As fareas the ordinance goes, it is somewhat similar to the draft I saw in April, so for those parts that haven't changed, :my comments will be pretty similar. I'll forward a copy of that email in a moment. It's good to see that some of the reporting and education requirements have. been removed, but there is still an annual report requirement and a written implementation plan requirement. Liability insurance is still required--this could be a big expense-and deterrent to volunteers caring for cats. Further, there is still the requirement of written authorization fo perform TNR from property owners--I'm sure some property owners don't mind TNR or cats on their property, but would hesitate to give written permission forany activity relating to the. property. Do you have a sense of how this would-work? All of the above are .burdensome requirements that keep people from joining the system and coming ouYin the open to care .for cats. Remember to emphasize to the mayor that-the cats were there first--and then people took actions to care for them. Discouraging people from caring for feral cats will not make the cats go away. A lot of it comes down to what you, someone who cares for cats in the Petaluma community, can accept. We prefer ordinances that allow individuals caring for feral cats to associate with a nonprofit, and for animal control fo work'with the nonprofit regarding, feral cats. This obviously is a different. arrangement. Ultimately you need to make sure the ordinance can work for you. Good luck. Hi Pat, I'rn writing. about the proposed ordinance to ainerid Petaluma's animal laws. I tried calling, a moment ago, but you weren't in. I'm heading out of the office after writing this, so if you'd like to get in touch. with me this weekend, .give me a call just reply all, I will check the gmail address this weekend). Looks like you've :got a tough proposal here. What I' 11 do is describe the current ordinance you have, and then what. the new ordinance would do. The changes to the ordinance are on pp7-9 of the pdf document you sent me. To perform TNR, current law requires registration of caregivers, written authorization from the property owner, transfer of'tame cats to the :Petaluma animal shelter, providing . food and water, and maintaining a clean area for the~cats. Caregivers must also ensure that cats do not damage property. The new ordinance would place a tremendous amount of paperwork burden on .caregivers First, caregivers could,not operate alone-they would be required to affiliate with a nonprof't. --The: nonprofit would, be required to file three time=consuming and burdensome written documents : (1)' a plan identifying the objectives of TNR :and specifying an implementatign plan:for the TNR.program; (2) a plan for Petaluma Animal Services approva'1 on how thee. nonprofitplans to educate the public on the particular TNR .program; and (3) ongoing quarterly reports with information on the cats in the colony and tfie public education efforts conducted. --Nonprofits would also be required to buy liability insurance (at unknown cost). --Nonprofits would have to provide Petaluma Animal Services with documentation of spay/neuter status, .rabies vaccination status, and FTV status of each eat in the colony --Would. also have to provide written. authorization of the property owner where the cats reside Here are my suggestions re talking points, on the new ordinance: 1) The ordihahce would be a tremendous burden, financial, and otherwise, on would-be caregivers a. Particularly,~the; requirement of liabilify insurance. b. You may want"to ,check on this, but what evidence of damage is there that feral cats have caused'? i. In particular, what evidence of damage have eats in TNF3 eoloiiies.caused? 2) The ordinance would regu'ire~a substantial investment-of time: in paperwork a. This time-would be better spent carhg fo"r cats, gefting more cats spayed or neutered b. This paperwork .is an unnecessary burden. 3) Caregivers shouldn't be discouraged. or dis-incenti'~ized from giving care. By giving care,. caregivers benefit the cats and reduce conflicts with fhe community 4) This ordinance could disincenti~ize people from giving care,. hurting both the cats and the community 5) General point: Caregivers don't. create sfray and feral cats-those cats are already there. Good luck, and feel free to call me if you have further questions.