Title
Introduce, waive reading, and set December 16, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. as the date and time to consider adoption of an ordinance of the County of Monterey, State of California, amending Chapter 8.04 of Title 8 and adding Chapter 8.50 to Title 8 of the Monterey County Code, relating to the keeping of roosters.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Introduce, waive reading, and set December 16, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. as the date and time to consider adoption of an ordinance of the County of Monterey, State of California, amending Chapter 8.04 of Title 8 and adding Chapter 8.50 to Title 8 of the Monterey County Code, relating to the keeping of roosters.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The subject ordinance would amend Chapter 8.04 of Title 8 and add Chapter 8.50 to Title 8 of the Monterey County Code to regulate rooster keeping operations. The purpose of the proposed ordinance is to discourage the keeping of roosters for the purpose of illegal cockfighting, to ensure humane treatment of roosters, to address adverse effects that unregulated rooster keeping operations have on environmental health and safety, and to preserve opportunities for minors to participate in bona fide, educational agricultural projects. Key elements of the proposed ordinance are that it:
· Requires a permit to keep five (5) or more roosters per single property within unincorporated Monterey County. Permits will be issued by the Monterey County Animal Control Officer.
· Prohibits the issuance of permits to any persons convicted of illegal cockfighting or animal cruelty crimes.
· Imposes standards designed to ensure that roosters are kept in humane conditions.
· Enforces compliance through inspection by the Monterey County Animal Control Officer.
· Exempts commercial poultry operations, as defined by this ordinance, poultry hobbyist activities, and specified educational activities and projects sponsored by public or private schools registered with the California Department of Education, the National Future Farmers of America, or the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program.
Unincorporated Monterey County has experienced an influx of rooster keeping enterprises operated for the purpose of supplying roosters for illegal, inhumane cockfighting. There has been public interest in regulating these operations, which create environmental hazards, endanger legitimate agricultural enterprises, and facilitate criminal activity. The proposed ordinance will provide a means to deter this growing problem by requiring permits and inspections to deter cockfighting activities, ensure humane conditions, and verify compliance with health and safety standards. The ordinance preserves opportunities for minors to participate in educational, agricultural projects through affiliations such as the National Future Farmers of America and the 4-H Youth Development Program.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff will recommend that the Board find that the ordinance is categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15308 because the ordinance establishes regulations for the keeping of five or more roosters that are protective of the environment. Staff will present proposed CEQA findings when the Board is scheduled to consider adoption on December 16, 2014.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The following agencies have participated in the development of this ordinance: County Counsel has approved the ordinance as to form.
FINANCING:
Adoption of the ordinance itself will not have direct financial impacts. Nominal costs for implementation, enforcement, public outreach and education will be covered through existing department budgets. Specified administrative costs will be offset by regulatory fees as set and approved by the Board of Supervisors.
Prepared by: Robin Kimball, Management Analyst I, 1297
Approved by: Ray Bullick, Director of Health, 4526
Attachment 1: Ordinance amending Chapter 8.04 of Title 8 and adding Chapter 8.50 to Title 8 of the Monterey County Code is attached and on file with the Clerk of the Board