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4 <br />Board of Commissioners Page Two June 12, 1987 <br />that term is defined under the Animal Welfare Act. <br />This procedure, involving the magistrate, is a <br />streamlined procedure which should be used whenever <br />possible. I do, however, recommend that the Animal <br />Cruelty Investigators work together with the Animal <br />Control Officers. In this regard, I recommend that <br />Section XIII, paragraph A include language which <br />creates this in- tandem relationship. A new sentence <br />can be added to accomplish this purpose as follows: <br />All investigations of reported or observed animal <br />cruelty or animal abuse shall be the joint <br />responsibility of and shall be jointly carried out by <br />the Animal Cruelty Investigators and the Animal Control <br />Officers of Orange County. Likewise, I recommend that <br />Section VIIIE.1 read as follows: <br />1. Have the responsibility along with law <br />enforcement agencies and where applicable with <br />Animal Cruelty Investigators to enforce... <br />3. The provision in Section V, paragraph B <br />providing for policies or procedures which allow the <br />reduction of or waiver of fees "for individuals who are <br />unable by reason of financial hardship to pay the <br />required fees," causes me concern. Although laudable, <br />its administration may prove burdensome and it creates <br />a risk of arbitrariness. I'm also concerned that the <br />standard "financial hardship" is not a workable <br />ordinance standard. I would prefer that the County <br />establish the financial hardship standard in the <br />ordinance if a reduced rate or fee waiver provision is <br />deemed necessary by the Board. <br />4. I recommend that Section VI read as follows: <br />Section VI - Ordinance. All other Orange <br />County ordinances in conflict with this ordinance <br />are hereby repealed to the extent of such <br />conflict. The Ordinance to Provide for Animal <br />Control and Protection in Orange County, adopted <br />May 15, 1979, as amended October 3, 1983, is <br />hereby repealed. <br />5. I recommend that Definition No. 8 in Section <br />VII in the last clause be worded as follows: <br />or any person owning or keeping 15 or more <br />animals, excluding domesticated livestock, each of <br />which is four months of age or older. <br />