04/12/1982 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, that the recommendation of the Planning Commission be overturned, and that the C-2 zoning request be granted, with the notation that the City Council would consider it policy at this time to set the westerly boundary of the commercial zone at the western edge of the Fred Meyer property. Responding to a question from Mr. Obie, Mr. Sercombe said that the action of the council at this time would be preliminary, pending further discussion and action at the joint meeting with the Planning Commission. Ms. Smith requested that staff work to schedule the joint meeting as soon as feasible. Mr. Gleason said that this would be done. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. B. Animal Control Ordinance Changes (memo, background information, and ordinance distributed) Mr. Gleason introduced Assistant City Manager David Whitlow. Mr. Whitlow referred to the information session on this item, held at the council's March 10, 1982 meeting. He said that the proposed changes to the ordinance were intended to institute a fine for owners who refuse to claim impounded or abandoned dogs. He said the proposed changes would also lower the fee for licensing dogs, in an attempt to raise the percentage of dogs in the City that are licensed. Responding to questions raised by councilors at the March 10 meeting, Mr. Whitlow said that owners who fail to claim dogs would be cited and fined $25. He said that the proposed changes in the definition of vicious e animals would not affect the City's ability to declare an animal vicious. Mr. Whitlow noted that prior actions of the City in the area of animal control had paid off. He said that the City's emphasis on citation and return in the field had resulted in a reduction of the City's use of the animal shelter. He said it had been anticipated that 50 percent of the use of the shelter would come from the City of Eugene, but that this figure had actually been 35 percent, resulting in a reduction of $40,000 to $45,000 in the City's contribution for shelter costs. Ms. Wooten asked whether owners who are no longer able to care for their pets will still be allowed to leave their pets at the shelter for adoption. Mr. Whitlow said that owners bringing pets to the facility and wishing to leave those pets for adoption are encouraged to take the animals to the Greenhill Humane Society, but that Lane County would not refuse to accept such animals. Ms. Wooten asked the frequency of occurrence of the problem of owners refusing to claim dogs picked up for running at large. Mr. Whitlow said he did not have a figure for this, but that the number was large enough to present a problem. Mr. Lindberg said the proposed changes to the ordinance seemed to represent an appropriate continuation of the City's policy of education and enforcement. He asked what Greenhill does with animals that are not adopted. Mr. Whitlow said he would get this information and report back. He noted that Greenhill is located outside the City and is therefore not subject to City ordinances. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 12, 1982 Page 8