Submitted By
Mike Charley, Public Health Director
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Motion to Receive the Board of Health’s Report Regarding Limitations For a Person to Keep or Permit More Than One Dog in Any Dwelling Unit of a Multi-family Residential Building Containing Four (4) or More Dwelling Units Within the Village
End
Overview
Overview
On July 9, 2018, the Village Board referred the limitation on dogs in multi-family buildings to the Board of Health for review. The Board of Health voted to abstain from supporting and/or opposing the increase in the limitation on dogs in multi-family buildings, however the Board of Health voted to submit back to the Village Board the data collected in surveys on the matter. The Code currently limits dogs to one in multifamily buildings with four (4) or more dwelling units.
Body
Staff Recommendation
The Board of Health decided not to provide a recommendation on this issue. The Village Board will need to decide next steps.
Fiscal Impact
N/A
Background
The Board of Health has voted to abstain from supporting and/or opposing the increase in the limitation on dogs in multi-family residential buildings, but to submit back to the Village Board the survey results presented at the October Board of Health meeting. Section 5-4-11(B) (“Limitation on Animals Per Household”) of the Village Code provides that no person shall keep more than one (1) dog in any multi-family residential building containg four (4) or more dwelling units. Board of Health Chair Florence Miller has provided a written response on behalf of the Board of Health which is attached.
The following is the history/background on this agenda item:
June 4: Village Board Meeting, XVII. Call to Board and Clerk
Village Trustee Boutet stated that there has been a citizen request to change the number of dogs allowed per unit in a multi-unit building from one to two. She added that landlords and condo associations may also limit that and she would like the Board to look at this. She requested that it be put on a future agenda. She would also like the recommendations for affordable housing to be put on an agenda.
Village Trustee Button supported looking at the dog ordinance and suggested referring this to the Board of Health.
June 26: Board of Health Meeting
The Board of Health viewed the Village Board comments from their June 4 meeting regarding limitations. The Board of Health to have further discussion after the Village Board officially refers to Board of Health via a Motion.
July 9: Village Board Meeting: Motion 18-355
A Motion to Refer to the Board of Health a Request to Review Chapter 5 (“Animals”), Article 4 (“Owners Duties”), Section 5-4-11 (“Limitation on Animals per Household”) of the Oak Park Village Code as it Relates to Limitations for a Person to Keep or Permit More than One Dog in any Dwelling Unit of a Multi-family Residential Building Containing Four (4) or More Dwelling Units within the Village. In summary, this item asked that the Board of Health review the request and provide a recommendation in support or against amending the Village Ordinance to increase dog limitations at multi-family residential buildings containing four (4) or more dwelling units within the Village.
July 23: Board of Health Meeting: Cancelled
August 28: Board of Health Meeting
The BOH has discussed drafting a survey to multi-family owners regarding dog limitations. Chicago-area municipal ordinances regarding limitations will be surveyed also.
September 25: Board of Health Meeting
Mike Charley, Public Health Director presented a Chicago-area municipal ordinance survey that was completed by the Health Department on August 30. The Health Department surveyed 20 municipalities by looking at their local municipal ordinances to determine what their dog limitations were. Survey results are attached. Public Health staff will survey multi-family property owners prior to October Board of Health meeting.
October 23: Board of Health Meeting
The Board of Health reviewed both the municipal ordinance dog limitation survey and the multi-family property owner dog limitation survey. Both surveys attached. The multi-family dog limitation survey link was emailed to 132 multi-family property contacts. Thirty-eight responses were received from multi-family owners. After reviewing the data presented, the Board of Health voted to abstain from supporting and/or opposing the increase in multi-family dog limitation, but however the Board of Health voted to submit back to the Village Board the data collected in both surveys.
Attached you will find a summary document penned by Chair Florence Miller which summarizes the outcome of the Board of Health’s review of this agenda item.
Alternatives
Seek more information and schedule a subsequent meeting.
Previous Board Action
June 4: Village Board Meeting, XVII. Call to Board and Clerk
Village Trustee Boutet stated that there has been a citizen request to change the number of dogs allowed per unit in a multi-unit building from one to two. She added that landlords and condo associations may also limit that and she would like the Board to look at this. She requested that it be put on a future agenda. She would also like the recommendations for affordable housing to be put on an agenda.
July 9: Village Board Meeting: Motion 18-355
A Motion to Refer to the Board of Health a Request to Review Chapter 5 (“Animals”), Article 4 (“Owners Duties”), Section 5-4-11 (“Limitation on Animals per Household”) of the Oak Park Village Code as it Relates to Limitations for a Person to Keep or Permit More than One Dog in any Dwelling Unit of a Multi-family Residential Building Containing Four (4) or More Dwelling Units within the Village. In summary, this item asked that the Board of Health review the request and provide a recommendation in support or against amending the Village Ordinance to increase dog limitations at multi-family residential buildings containing four (4) or more dwelling units within the Village.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
N/A
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
N/A