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A0 - <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 4, 2013 <br /> Action-Agenda <br /> Item No. 7-b <br /> SUBJECT: Unified Animal Control Ordinance <br /> DEPARTMENT: Animal Services PUBLIC HEARING:- (Y/Ny No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): <br /> INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1) Strikethrough-Underline Version of Bob Marotto, (919) 968-2287 <br /> Draft Unified Animal Control Annette Moore, (919) 245-2317 <br /> Ordinance <br /> 2) Clean Copy of the Draft Unified <br /> Animal Control-Ordinance <br /> PURPOSE: To propose amending the Orange County Animal Control Ordinance -to make it a <br /> Unified Animal Control Ordinance. <br /> BACKGROUND:, Beginning July 1, 2013, Orange County Animal Services will be providing <br /> Animal Control Services to all parts Orange County except for-the portion of Orange County <br /> within Mebane. Despite the increasing integration -of animal services through Orange County <br /> Animal Services, there are three different animal ordinances in force (all available online <br /> at http://orangecountync.gov/AnimaIServices/info.asp . Orange County, Chapel Hill and <br /> Carrboro all have their own ordinances, while Hillsborough has adopted the County's ordinance. <br /> The differences in the local Ordinances have proven to be complicated and confusing, not only <br /> for staff charged with responsibility for regulatory functions and the Court system, but perhaps <br /> most importantly for the residents of Orange County. <br /> Because animal services within the County have become more unified and integrated than they <br /> have been in the past, for the past year County staff has been working on a proposed Unified <br /> Animal Control Ordinance with the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. In this context, County <br /> staff initiated the effort to create a unified animal ordinance by convening a work group of staff <br /> from the involved jurisdictions. Staff from Chapel Hill and Carrboro have been integral to the <br /> process responsible for the proposed ordinance, and upon County adoption of the ordinance, <br /> the towns' staffs will present the ordinance for consideration by their respective governing <br /> boards. <br /> More specifically, the work group has consisted of the staff attorney for the Chapel Hill Police <br /> Department with animal control responsibilities, the Carrboro Police Chief and a Carrboro Police <br /> Captain, the staff attorney for County Animal Services, and the County's Animal Services <br /> Director and Animal Control Manager. Hillsborough staff elected not to participate in the work <br /> group but is fully aware of this project. Most recently, the Town Manager and Police Chief <br /> received a copy of the draft unified ordinance and an invitation to offer comment. Also, efforts <br />