ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel with a Request to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending ARTICLE IV of the CODE of the City of Peoria Relating to ANIMALS.
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BACKGROUND: Per the City's existing Ordinance, the Animal Review Board currently is empowered to hear, review, and decide complaints of barking dogs as well as appeals of administrative animal control decisions surrounding animal impoundment, dangerous dog determinations, and reckless dog owner determinations.
It is the recommendation that the duties of the Animal Review Board be reassigned to the County Hearing Officer. Currently the Hearing Officer conducts administrative hearings regarding violations of chapters 11, 12, 15, and 20 of the Peoria County Ordinances. It is recommended that this Hearing Officer also hear violations of City Article IV to include the duties currently assigned to the Animal Review Board (this would also include Chapter 5 of the County Ordinances). The Hearing Officer currently conducts regularly scheduled formal hearings and is well-versed in interpretation of Peoria County and City Animal Control Ordinances.
The existing Animal Review Board is a five-member Board that meets sporadically. In order to streamline the process for effective service delivery to constituents, it is recommended that these cases are presented to the Hearing Officer. Over the past few years, the Animal Review Board has heard no more than 6 cases per year:
2019 - Animal Review Board has heard 2 cases
2018 - Animal Review Board heard 6 cases.
2017 - Animal Review Board heard 4 cases.
2016 - Animal Review Board heard 5 cases.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: No change.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: None.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Streamline the ability to implement animal control services.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Status quo.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL'S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATI...
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