21-19 Ordinance Amending Chapter 5 Various Articles: Responsible Animal and Pet Ownership Care and Control Regulations

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FS��8•, f 1300 COUNTY-CITY BUILDING U") t�C`, PHONE 574!r 235-9486 227 W JEFFERSON BOUI�VARD I `,a: FAX 574/235-7703 SOUTH BEND,INDIANA 46601-1830 t. ' 1865 CITY OF SOUTH BEND PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR DEPARTMENT OF CODE ENFORCEMENT TRACY SHIBINS DIRECTOR Filed in Clerk's Office Tim Scott, Council President, JUL 0 2 2019 South Bend Common Council - County-City Building KAREEMlAH FOWLER 227 W. Jefferson Blvd CITY CLERK,SOUTH BEND, IN South Bend, IN 46601 RE: Ordinance to Amend Chapter 5,Various Articles: Responsible Animal and Pet Ownership Care and Control Regulations Dear Council President Scott: Since 2016, the Animal Care and Control Division of the Department of Code Enforcement has continued to excel in services that save and enhance the lives of animals in our community. Animal adoption has soared from 261 placements in 2016 to 652 in 2018. Pet licensing has grown to 1,671 licenses issued in 2018,an increase of almost 1,000 more than were sold in 2016. The staff have embraced a culture of community care that has driven up to these indicators of success. We are ready to rename and rebrand to signal our continued positive direction. To best reflect the mission and vision of animal services on behalf of the City of South Bend,the Department has enclosed a proposed ordinance which updates Chapter 5, Responsible Animal and Pet Ownership Care and Control Regulations. Amendments to the Animal Care regulations are appropriate to reflect this change in mission,vision,and name: • The mission of the South Bend Animal Resource Center("SBARC")is to prevent animal cruelty and abandonment by promoting responsible,caring and compassionate attitudes towards animals. • SBARC's vision is to serve the South Bend community with programs and services that improve the welfare of animals. With the motto"Open Door--Open Heart", SBARC offers resources for animal care, supplies,education, leisure,and training. Additional amendments to the ordinance incorporate best practices for customer service,budgeting,and animal welfare personnel management. The proposed changes to Article 4 improve the service delivery of licensing to further grow the number of licensed pets and increase the reunification of lost pets with owners. Updates to Article 8, Sec. 5-110 will allow the Department to better prepare an annual budget that is responsive to City spending, community needs, and innovations in animal welfare. The changes allow for a regular and routine review of fees through the various touchpoints of the budget process including Division,Department, Mayoral, Financial, and Council accountability, as well as review by the public Commission. Finally, revising the job description for the SBARC Manager will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the role and the Manager's accountability in developing operational policy.