13A - COUNCIL COMMITTEE RPTS - PUBLIC SAFETY MINUTES

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SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE PUBLIC SAFETY Minutes of Meeting January 24, 2012 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was convened at 6:15 P.M. at Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic Center Plaza, Police Community Room, Santa Ana, California. ATTENDANCE Council members present: Claudia Alvarez and Sal Tinajero. Staff present: Police Chief Paul Walters, Fire Chief Dave Thomas, Assistant City Attorney Teresa Judd, Sgt. Mark Kozakowski, ACO II Sondra Berg, and Loretta Tafoya, Recording Secretary. Public sign-ins: Sharon Portman, Irma Macias, Rene D. Guzman SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes approved of the September 27, 2011 meeting. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS • Sharon Portman appealed to the committee to be fair when they review the 100 foot limit on the ordinance. There is a tremendous amount of benefits to having chickens. Nationwide right now everyone is into organic food and being healthy. 3. CHICKEN ORDINANCE Assistant City Attorney Teresa Judd introduced herself, Sgt. Kozakowski and ACO II Sondra Berg. She explained the City Council has the jurisdiction to make in-act and advise any changes since this ordinance is to deal with public safety. Sgt. Kozakowski stated our current SAMC 5-18 (Proximity to Humans) requires the keeping of chickens in a coop or pen on one's property to be at least 100 ft. from any other inhabitable building. It is the most restrictive policy within the County. The City of Santa Ana has the densest population in the county, which has potential health risk. In 2003, the City had an outbreak of the West Nile Virus which resulted in the recovery of over 2100 dead or dying birds. This resulted in an increased shelter cost to the City. Diseases travel rapidly with the bird population. Last year, we had 226 fowl related calls. In 2003 - 2011 there were a total of 3132 calls for service. If we increase the amount of chickens residents can have, it could become a burden to our Animal Control Unit. Committee Member Alvarez asked what is the comparison with other cities. Sgt. Kozakowski stated Santa Ana has 100 feet restriction, 27.5 sq miles with the population of 337,977, Anaheim allows 3 hens on 5000 sq ft. lot, 50.8 sq. miles, population 336,255. Committee Member Alvarez wanted to know if we can amend or update the ordinance with more study. She asked what kind of restrictions the County has. ACO II Berg stated the County also has a 100 ft. rule. Committee Member Alvarez stated that there has to be a middle ground. 13A-1