Title
RESOLUTION TO RESCIND SEDGWICK COUNTY RESOLUTION NO. 51-2014 AND REESTABLISH THE ANIMAL CARE ADVISORY BOARD.
Presented by: William P. Buchanan, County Manager.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Take action as deemed appropriate by the Commission.
Body
Effective January 1, 2014, Animal Control transitioned from the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department to the Sedgwick County Health Department. On April 16, 2014 the Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 51-2014 which dissolved the Animal Care Advisory Board and established the Animal Control Advisory Board in its place. The Animal Control Advisory Board has different duties and membership requirements than the previous Animal Care Advisory Board.
The resolution contains changes to Chapter 5 of the Sedgwick County Code pertaining to animals. As a result, a number of the changes contained within Resolution No. 51-2014, which are proposed to be rescinded involve the advisory board, which include the following:
·The new board was reduced from 10 to 7 members, with approval for board appointments by the Board of County Commissioners as a whole, rather than the pre-Resolution No. 51-2014 model under which each Commissioner had 2 appointments to the board.
5 of the 7 members must meet at least one of following qualifications:
o At least one veterinarian licensed in the State of Kansas;
o employee that works for an animal advocacy organization operating within Sedgwick County;
o animal control officer(s) from the City of Wichita and/or 2nd and 3rd class cities within Sedgwick County;
o large pet store owner(s);
o horse boarder(s);
o kennel owner(s)/breeder(s); and
o The 6th and 7th members consist of 2 positions for at-large citizens that would not fit into the criteria listed above.
·The board will hear dangerous animal proceedings (which had previously been left to the director to both bring and preside over the hearing) and provide feedback to the BOCC.
Analysis:
The following were the bases for the staff recommendation to approve Resolution No. 51-2014 on April 16, 2014:
The primary purpose of the board is to act in an advisory capacity to Sedgwick County Animal Control and the Board of County Commissioners on matters involving the animal population within the unincorporated areas of Sedgwick County. Additionally, the changes align the board with national standards set by the National Animal Control Association and the Kansas Animal Control Association. The reduction in membership eases the threshold for a quorum and coincides with similar advisory boards at the county. The resolution contains additional changes that are meant to update portions of the County Code. Examples of this include the expansion of the prohibition on dog fighting to all animals and an enhancement as to the class of violation for such offenses.
Alternatives: N/A
Financial Considerations: N/A
Legal Considerations: The County has the ability to approve this resolution pursuant to its home rule powers contained within K.S.A. 19101 et seq. Approval is by simple majority vote.
Policy Considerations: N/A
Outside Attendees: N/A
Multimedia Presentation: N/A