|
1-1 of 1 messages
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
SC, Spartanburg-City considers changing animal law
|
Reply
|
|
by tigers9 on September 7, 2008
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
City considers changing animal laws
Council will hear plan to license cats, encourage neutering
By Lynne P. Shackleford
lynne.shackleford@shj.com
Published: Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 3:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 12:41 a.m.
Spartanburg residents will have an opportunity to give City Council input on a proposed animal control ordinance Monday, before the plan is considered for first reading.
The proposed ordinance has changed substantially from the first time code enforcement officers, City Attorney Cathy McCabe and Department of Public Safety Maj. Doug Horton presented it to council almost a year ago. The first ordinance included a limit on how long an animal could be tethered, or tied, to a stationary object, added cats to the current licensing provision that applies only to dogs and substantially increased licensing fees for cat and dog owners.
Council will consider during its meeting Monday a toned-down version of that ordinance - which still requires cat owners to license their pets. The changes are a result of suggestions from pet owners, animal rights advocates, the Spartanburg Humane Society and council members who voted in favor of a cost structure that encourages owners to spay or neuter their cats and dogs through a lower license fee.
Under the proposed ordinance, owners of altered cats and dogs would pay a $6 annual license fee after submitting proof of the animals' rabies vaccinations. Residents 61 and older would pay a $5 annual license fee. Owners of altered animals could purchase a license valid for a pet's lifetime for $40 - $25 for owners 61 or older.
Owners of fertile animals would pay an annual $25 license fee and wouldn't be eligible for a lifetime license.
The proposed ordinance requires owners of six or more dogs or cats four months or older to obtain a multiple-animal permit. Code enforcement officers could inspect the premises if a complaint is received, with the owner receiving 24 hours' notice.
Owners of animals deemed vicious by the ordinance - defined as an animal with dangerous propensities, one that has bitten or attacked a person or domesticated pet without provocation or one that has been trained to fight - must be registered with the office of animal services and confined in a pen for three days after the incident. An animal deemed vicious is allowed in public if it wears a muzzle and is restrained on a six-foot leash.
The proposed ordinance prohibits city residents from owning any wild animal or exotic pets, including horses, donkeys, mules, swine, sheep, goats, cattle or other livestock; and domesticated fowl, including chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas, pheasants, emus and ostriches. Those who own domesticated fowl or livestock must register their animals before Jan. 1, 2009, to be exempt from the restrictions.
An animal can't be transported in the open back of a vehicle unless it's restrained so that it can't be thrown or jump from the vehicle under the proposed ordinance.
Penalties for violating the ordinance are fines up to $500 and a maximum of 30 days in jail.
Two readings are required before any ordinance is enacted.
In other business, council will consider increasing franchise fees for Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas, which could generate about $530,000 in additional city revenue. A portion of the additional revenue from Duke Energy franchise fees would be used to place overhead power lines underground.
The city's 20-year franchise agreement with Piedmont Natural Gas, which allows the company to access public rights-of-way, expires this fall. The utility has agreed to increase its franchise fee from 3 percent to 4 percent the gross product sales to city customers, according to city documents. That would give the city about $80,000 more in revenue. Piedmont Natural Gas has similar arrangements with other municipalities, the document states.
Last year, the city received $240,000 from Piedmont Natural Gas franchise fees. City staffers are recommending council negotiate a 10-year agreement with the utility.
The city will negotiate a 5 percent franchise fee - an increase from 4 percent - with Duke Energy, which is similar to an agreement the city of Greenville has reached with the company. The proposed agreement would stipulate that one-half of 1 percent of the increased revenue would be used to bury power lines.
The city would likely collect funds for at least two years before deciding which lines to place underground, since installation costs are high, a city document states.
The additional revenue would amount to about $450,000, and the city received about $1.8 million last year from Duke Energy's franchise fee. About $225,000 would be reserved for underground line installation.
Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20080907/NEWS/809070379/1083/NEWS03&title=City_considers_changing_animal_laws
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
