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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-09-20 CEAC AGENDA• • 1. 2 . CODE ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 20, 2000 Call to Order. The regular meeting of the Englewood Code Enforcement Advisory Committee was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Stankorb in the City Manager's Conference Room. Roll Call. Present: Ex-Officio: Excused: Absent: Stankorb, Roth, Fischbach, McCahill, Hansen, Roberts Lynn, Yurchick Flaherty, Nabholz Hambleton Approval of Minutes. Member McCahill moved and member Roth seconded that the minutes of the August 1 6, 2000, Code Enforcement Advisory Committee meeting be approved. The motion was passed unanimously. Ayes: Nays: Stankorb, Roth, Fischbach, McCahill, Hansen, Roberts None The motion carried. 3. Public open forum. 4. Old business. a. Leash law. Last month the CEAC members took home a draft of the leash law that the City Attorney's office had drawn up. Lynn pointed out the draft addressed two separate issues: ( 1) Dogs running at large (leash law), and (2) Dogs on private property. He went on to say that the main issue is dogs running at large. Member McCahill inquired if there currently exists a code ordinance for dogs at large, to which Lynn answered that there is one in place for dogs under reasonable control. Lynn said the code reads that a dog in a park is required to be on a leash, and another portion of the code reads that when a dog is off it's own property, it must be under the control of an individual. Member PAGE 1 • • McCahill asked if this ordinance will be combined with other ordinances, or if it is totally separate. Member Roth advised that they are separate issues. Lynn read the Englewood City Ordinance Code, 7-1 A-2, running at large prohibited. Member Fischbach said it would be more simple to get a leash law verses a dog under control ordinance. Lynn stated that the dog under co!"1trol section could be taken out of the draft proposal. Lynn also stated, that adding a leash law that says a dog must be on a leash is not going to be effective without reports that the officers can respond to. He went on to say that there is not enough staff to have a code officer in the parks 24 hours a day, and this is why we have to rely on complaints. Council person Yurchick asked how this leash law would solve anything, since the issue is in the parks and we already have a leash law. Member McCahill asked and discussion was made of the procedure involved and the steps taken in proposing a leash law. Member Stankorb asked if Lynn would rewrite the leash law and send copies to the members for their approval at the next meeting. Lynn agreed to rewrite the leash law. b. Humane treatment of animals. Lynn introduced Englewood residents Mr. and Mrs. Steel, who discussed the humane treatment of animals. Lynn stated that Ruth has been working with Code Enforcement staff and the Colorado Humane Society staff over the last month in proposing revisions to the Englewood Municipal Code, Section 7-1 A-7: Cruelty to dogs and cats. Mrs. Steel stated she feels the recommended wording of the E.M.C. should be more objective, specific, and inclusive with regard to the prevention of cruelty to dogs and cats and the protection of animals on private property, and should include a prohibition of "tethering". She handed out her proposed changes to the code, which have been worked up with reference to a great many codes around the country, and developed by a national model code enforcement agency. Sh~ added that many jurisdictions are developing the same kind of codes to not only protect the animals, but also to protect public safety. Mrs. Steel went on to say that she would like to see some guidelines developed that would help in protecting the animals and also in helping with their confinement. There was discussion made as to whether or not' Code Enforcement has the authority to impound an animal to protect it from being treated cruelly. Lynn stated that we have that authority to impound, but it is under the state statutes. He went on to say that when we prosecute a case of this sort, it has to be proseuted in Arapahoe County court. Lynn proposed that along with this, that Section 7-1 A-3, lmpoundment of animals at large, says that we can impound dogs or cats running at large creating a public nuisance, and that section could be amended to include any dog or cat that is being treated cruelly could be impounded. Member Stankorb suggested the committee members take home Mrs. Steel's handouts to read and PAGE 2 • • • 5. 6. review, and put this on the agenda for next month's meeting. Stankorb also asked Lynn to prepare Mrs. Steel's recommendations in the proper format and send copies to members before the next meeting. Lynn agreed to draft the necessary documents. New Business. a. Discussion of expiration of terms of office. Four members terms will be expiring October 1, 2000: Gerry Stankorb, Katherine Fischbach, Brian Hambleton, and John Roberts. Lynn read the By-Laws to state: "that whenever a vacancy comes due , the committee shall make a recommendation to council to fill the vacancy". Terms for members expire two years from the time of appointment. Stankorb suggested that a meeting be held with himself, Lynn and Sue Bradshaw to discuss the expirations of terms. Lynn agreed to set the meeting up for Friday, September 22nd . b. August Code Enforcement Monthly Activity Report. Lynn presented the Code Enforcement Monthly Activ ity Report for August. He stated he was impressed by the 2 , 756 issues that were addressed by his officers in one month . Topics for October 18, 2000 meeting. a. Further discussion of leash law. b. Humane treatment of animals. c. September Code Enforcement Monthly Activity Report. 7. Adjournment. Member Roth moved and member Hansen seconded to adjourn the meeti ng. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m. Ayes: Stankorb , Roth, Fischbach , McCahill, Hansen, Roberts ~~-8~ Recording Secretary PAGE 3