HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03232010 - C.134RECOMMENDATION(S):
Accept close-out report from the Internal Operations Committee regarding Feral Cats and close the referral to the
Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
BACKGROUND:
During Public Comment at the July 22, 2008 Board of Supervisors meeting the Board
received testimony from the public regarding concerns about a growing and reproducing cat
colony surrounding the Martinez Animal Shelter. The Board referred the matter to the
Internal Operations Committee (IOC) for follow-up.
On September 15, 2008 the IOC received a report from the County Administrator and
Animal Services Director providing background on the issue and responding specifically to
a proposal to establish a feral cat colony at the Martinez Animal Shelter and implement a
trap-neuter-release (TNR) program around the Shelter. The Committee accepted the staff
report and concurred with staff’s response to the community proposal, which were:
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 03/23/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
ABSENT:Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Contact: Dorothy Sansoe,
925-335-1009
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: March 23, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
C.134
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Internal Operations
Date:March 23, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Close-Out Report on Feral Cats
report and concurred with staff’s response to the community proposal, which were:
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
In response to a proposal to trap cats for adoption or TNR with no option for euthanization,
staff disagreed with the recommendation, primarily because it would tacitly necessitate the
establishment of a feral cat colony at the Shelter, which would be inappropriate for a public
agency dedicated to the responsible and humane care of animals.
In response to a proposal that the Animal Services Department never euthanize a feral cat,
staff responded that the County cannot agree that feral cats will never be euthanized.In
response to an offer by a member of the public to trap animals and relocate the feeding
station for a proposed cat colony, staff responded that the recommended action is
unnecessary. The Animal Services Department has qualified staff trained to establish and
monitor feeding stations and to set animal traps.
In response to a recommendation that signage be placed around the Shelter warning
individuals about the illegality of animal abandonment, staff agreed with the
recommendation and has implemented it.
With regard to a recommendation to close the night depository, staff disagreed with the
recommendation because the positive benefits of having the night depository far outweigh
the impacts of stray cats living in the vicinity of the Shelter.
After this meeting, the Animal Services Director set up a workgroup with community
members to review the County’s animal and/or zoning ordinances and explore possible
amendments to ease restrictions on the fostering of cats within the County unincorporated
area. Two status reports were provided to the IOC, the first in July and the second in
October 2009. The IOC concluded that changes to the County’s ordinance were not
warranted.
The IOC agreed to review this matter again in February 2010 to allow additional
opportunity for public comment. The IOC received this follow up report on February 1,
2010. At this time the IOC confirmed that changes to the County’s ordinance were not
warranted.