Title
Receive a preliminary response to Board Referral No. 2024.11 seeking staff to modify the County's Rooster Ordinance in order to make it more effective at eradicating cockfighting operations in unincorporated Monterey County.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a preliminary response to Board Referral No. 2024.11 seeking staff to modify the County's Rooster Ordinance in order to make it more effective at eradicating cockfighting operations in unincorporated Monterey County.
1) Proceed with completion of referral based on modifications by the Board; or
2) Return to Board with a more comprehensive analysis of referral and anticipated effort for completion; or
b. Provide further direction to staff, as appropriate.
PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS:
Referral Summary & Background:
On September 5th, 2024, Board Referral No. 2024.11 was assigned to the Health Department to have staff look at modifying the County's Rooster Ordinance in order to make it more effective at eradicating cockfighting operations in unincorporated Monterey County.
The County of Monterey adopted its Rooster Ordinance in 2015. One of the main purposes of the ordinance was to prevent illegal cockfighting. There are several aspects of the ordinance, however, that make it difficult to enforce. While other counties across the state who have rooster ordinances limit the number of roosters a person can have with a permit, the County of Monterey's ordinance allows for up to 499 roosters in certain zoning areas. Additionally, the County of Monterey's ordinance places the burden of proof on Animal Control to prove that cockfighting is taking place.
Proposed Project Description:
This referral asks staff to investigate making the following changes to the County's Rooster Ordinance (and other changes as they see fit):
1. Placing limits on the maximum number of roosters allowed, similar to other counties in CA, possibly a sliding scale based on lot size.
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