Submitted By
Lisa Shelley, Deputy Village Manager/Interim Director Public Health
Reviewed By
CLP
Agenda Item Title
Title
Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 5 (“Animals”), Article 1 (“Purposes and Definitions”) Through Article 5 (“Prohibited Activities of Owners and Others”) of the Oak Park Village Code
End
Overview
Overview
The first reading of this proposed ordinance was held on July 20, 2015. Staff recommends updating several provisions of the Village Code as is relates to the definitions and procedures followed by the Village in response to dog/animal bites, animal impoundments, the recovery of animals and the fees associated with enforcement of the ordinance. The updates are recommended as they reflect best practices used today and comply with the Illinois Animal Control Act, 510 ILCS 5/24 and the Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/11-20-9 and the Village’s home rule authority.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Adopt the Ordinance.
Fiscal Impact
Section 5-4-4(G) increases the license fee for a non-neutered from $13 to $25. The Village should see approximately $2,400 in additional revenue per licensing year due to the increase.
Background
The Village Code provisions relate to the impoundment of animals (e.g. dogs and cats) as well as the process followed by the Village when it must evaluate animal bites for the purpose of determining whether an animal is vicious under the definitions created by the State. As a result, staff has reviewed and recommends updates to our Ordinance based upon current state law and best practices from neighboring jurisdictions.
In summary, the following revisions are proposed:
• Increases the daily boarding fee from $6 /day to $25/day when an animal is impounded and requires the owners pay all veterinary fees associated with the care of the animal during impoundment prior to the return of an impounded animal.
• Provides that any dog or cat impounded shall, prior to redemption, have a microchip implanted pursuant to Section 10 of the Illinois Animal Control Act.
• Requires notice to the Village of animal bites within twenty-four hours as well as a ten day rabies hold, and outlines the responsibility of the Village to impound such an animal and establishes associated fines for violations.
• Increases the license fee for a non-neutered dog or cat from $13 to $25.
• Requires appearance in Adjudication for failure to clean up dog excrement.
• Adds language clarifying that it is unlawful for any owner to allow his or her dog to cross outside the owner’s property line or on any unfenced portion of the owner’s property, unless the animal is leashed and under the control of the owner. This would not be applicable to dogs that are unleashed in a Park District dog park.
• Provides that business owners or operators may keep animals at their establishments.
• Consolidates “vicious dog” and “dangerous dog” into a single “dangerous animal” category and streamlines the process for declaration of a dog as dangerous and sets requirements that must be adhered to when an animal is declared dangerous. An appeal process is established as well.
Alternatives
The Board could seek additional information prior to adoption of the Ordinance.
Previous Board Action
First reading was conducted on July 20, 2015.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Conduct second reading of the Ordinance.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A.
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
N/A.