Agenda - 12-15-2015 - 7a - Unified Animal Control Ordinance

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3 ASAB has also worked on and implemented training and procedures to ensure the integrity of the appeal process and to instill the perception in the public that they are a separate and independent entity from Animal Services. At the direction of the County Manager, County staff worked with the staff of the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro to present the proposed UAO to their elected officials. This approach was intended to ensure that the towns had the opportunity to propose changes to the UAO before it was considered in final form by the BOCC; and also to ensure that there was strong mutual support for a unified ordinance. Both the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro have approved the UAO subject to approval and implementation by the County. The Chapel Hill Town Council approved the proposed UAO at its April 13, 2015 meeting without any changes. The Carrboro Board of Aldermen approved the proposed UAO on November 10, 2015 with one exception — namely, that appeals would continue to be heard by the town's Animal Control Appeal Board. Staff has had ongoing communication with the Hillsborough Town Manager and Chief of Police, and these officials have been very supportive of the proposed UAO. Staff has continued to work closely with the ASAB throughout the process of developing and revising the proposed UAO. The ASAB continues to strongly support the BOCC's adoption of the proposed UAO. Most recently, ASAB officers appeared at meetings of Carrboro Board of Aldermen to answer questions and provide support. The UAO as proposed incorporates changes that staff has made based on comments and concerns communicated by the BOCC, the ASAB, the School of Government, the public and other elected officials. Each jurisdiction has had their attorney review the proposed UAO and any recommendations have been included. Finally, staff has developed the attached Public Information and Education Timeline to ensure that County residents are aware of the unified ordinance and able to easily access the ordinance. It is expected that there will be continued coordination with town staff to raise awareness during the implementation of the ordinance if it is approved by the BOCC. The public awareness effort will include the following key messages: • The Unified Animal Control Ordinance will provide consistency, clarification and eliminate existing confusion arising from unnecessary differences between the County and Town of Chapel Hill and Carrboro's town ordinances. • Each jurisdiction has retained the unique features of its own ordinance and those features will be identified in a way as to cause clarity rather than confusion (including laws involving tethering, livestock, and poultry). • That overall delivery of animal servicers to all county residents will be enhanced by the Unified Animal Control Ordinance. The Resolution of Adoption proposes and effective date of February 1, 2016 for the proposed UAO. This timeframe allows for implementation of the public awareness plan in all of the jurisdictions in which it would apply. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the adoption of the proposed Unified Animal Control Ordinance. The ordinance has not created new regulatory