Dog ordinance moves ahead

By Larry Blaskey
Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Thursday, October 22, 2009 5:02 PM MDT


The city moved closer to final resolution concerning the amendment to the City Code concerning ownership and care of dogs and cats during its meeting on Wednesday October 14.


During the meeting, City Attorney Juan Pablo Flores presented the proposed changes to the existing ordinance. Those changes include:

•  Doing away with the two-dog limit per owner.

•  Doing away with references to kennels.

• Put more responsibility on the  owner of the animals to make sure it has proper care including food, water and shelter.

•  Increase potential fines to $150 to a maximum of $500.

• Give the owner of an impounded dog up to seven days  of notice to claim the animal.

Final reading of the amendment will take place during the November meeting.

The city council also discussed making changes in the way it handles business license fees as it relates to special events.

For the first time this year, the city charged Cochise County Fair vendors $15 per day of operation plus a $20 processing fee.

Fair Director Karen Strongin said the fees could have a negative effect on next year’s fair and some vendors might not return.

The council agreed to come up with a solution that resolves the issue, which might include just charging a flat fee to the Fair and Racing Association that would cover all vendors.

In other action, the council:

• Despite a concern in the discrepancy in the bids, the city council approved the bid from Spire Engineering for the Bonita Avenue Sewer Interceptor project in the amount of $385,109. The city receive 16 bids for the project, some in excess of $500,000.

• Approved Resolution 09-643 authorizing the city to execute an Assistance to Firefighters’s Grant from the Arizona Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $15,810 for the purchase of radiation detecting equipment to be used by the city of Douglas Fire4 Department, Border Region and Cochise County.

The city also approved a preferred provider agreement between the city and MedTrans Corporation dba Arizona Lifeline helicopter medical transportation services for the Douglas Fire Department.

• Approved the first and second readings of Ordinance 09-973 establishing a new rate schedule for Wastewater Services and fees and repealing all user fee schedules in Ordinances 602, 755, 794 and 06-904, effective January 1, 2010.

• Approved first reading of Ordinance 09-975 to suspend the $20 processing fee for sidewalk sales downtown through the holiday season.

• Approved construction for wager distribution systems improvements along 20th and 21st Streets from A Avenue to Washington Avenue.

• Approved a request for a disabled parking spot near his home at 650 13th Street.

• Reviewed and approved vehicle auction lists. Eighty vehicles will be auctioned in two separate auctions on November 14 and December 12 by the Douglas Police Department. Revenue will go to the city’s General Fund.

Copyright © 2012 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Wasted town wrote on Oct 29, 2009 12:17 PM:

    " Douglas people are waste of oxygen, they are sub-human!!!! "

    Concerned citizen wrote on Oct 26, 2009 10:56 PM:

    " The owner should have to reimbuse the city for holding a pet. City might have to go for another increase to the water bill to make up for the difference! "

    Jay Dee wrote on Oct 23, 2009 5:01 PM:

    " Now towards the bottom of the story, the Douglas Police Department is have vehicle auctions and the money will go to Genera Funds??? I hope that the Police Department will get a raise or better equipments. Last time the money provided Officers with very much needed equipment, such as Bullet Proof Vests, Radars and new guns... Keep the money for Public Safety and not the general fund. "

    Dawg II wrote on Oct 22, 2009 10:55 PM:

    " I guess the city is too concerned in fixing it's city hall, to acknowledge their lack of interest in the new ARS change. Since when does a city ordinance have precedence over a state ruling? Oh yeah, I live in Douglas. Poor dog catcher's. Alway's being left in the dark and in the rear. One advantage to this, now I can let my dog run loose, captured and taken care of at no cost to me. Vacation here I come. Good job council. One step forward and 3 steps backward for your dog catcher. As usual, instead of allowing it's dog catcher's to enforce it's own ordinance, the city finds a lesser and useless excuse. It's great to be a dog in this city. "

    Nice Larry wrote on Oct 22, 2009 10:08 AM:

    " City Code concerning ownership and care of dogs and cats during t*%# meeting on Wednesday October 14....


    Now we know what is really on your mind as you write this story...

    I think you should of said "it's"...


    I have not violated your policy on coments, Larry may have, but I did not... "

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