COUNCIL WATCH
A Report on Council

Notes and commentary on the 10/19/09 Petaluma Council Meeting presented by the Council Watch Team of Petaluma Tomorrow

In reporting, Petaluma Tomorrow may agree or disagree with the positions of any Council member, and it is legitimate to be critical of their decisions or question their motivations on any particular issue. Nonetheless, we should all recognize and respect the commitment of time and energy they are making on our behalf.

Regular city council meeting, Monday October 19, 2009

Note: Vice-Mayor Teresa Barrett was absent.

Agenda item 3B. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Adoption (Second Reading) of an Ordinance Amending Specified Provisions in Animal Regulations in Title 9 of the Petaluma Municipal Code Concerning Dangerous Animals, Feral Cats, Bees, Pot Bellied Pigs, Enforcement and Other Topics. (Fish/Cook)

What’s at stake:
After three years of work we are on the verge of enacting new animal regulations. The key component is the contentious feral cat issue.

Staff Report:
In the Petaluma Municipal Code, each household is allowed six cats and four dogs before special permits are required.
The new regulations would allow two pot-bellied pigs where none were allowed before.

Public Comments:
Since pot-bellied pigs are about the same size as dogs, four should be allowed per household.

Numerous people spoke about their belief in the benevolence of feral cats.

Numerous other people spoke of the predatory nature of their pet cats.

Numerous people spoke of their concerns of feral cat colonies located in and around Schollenberger Park and their devastating effect on the wildlife there.

Only one person spoke about how the "trap– neuter-release" method of feral cat colony control is actually working.

Council Comments:
Mayor Torliatt received correspondence from Forgotten Felines urging a yes vote on the item and that these regulations be revisited in one year’s time.

Councilmember Renee was concerned about grey areas in the wetlands boundaries and enforcement of the regulations.

Councilmember Glass was very concerned about feral cats near the new sewer treatment facility.

Councilmember Rabbit believes that the new regulations are enforceable but responsibility needs to be addressed.

Councilmember Harris did not support the item, as he believed that it needed further work.

The balance of the council all expressed the need to move forward on this, to not delay it further and to revisit it in one year.

Council Votes.
The item passed 5-1, with Councilmember Harris opposing and Vice-Mayor Barrett absent.

Analysis:
We might have been better served if the city had divided this item into sections and addressed them separately.

These new regulations address the feral cat problem but it remains to be seen if they are enforceable or even effective at addressing very real problems. There is concern that the requirements of the caretakers who look after the cats not be made too onerous, such as being affiliated with a non-profit and having to have liability insurance, or they will stop trying to manage the colonies through trap – neuter - release. Because un-neutered feral cats will move in where there is a vacuum, trap – neuter - release works to prevent that. The fixed cats hold the territory so unfixed cats don't move in. However, the risk is that even fixed cats that are being fed by humans still kill wildlife because they are predatory animals by nature. Wherever feral cats colonize, they become an invasive predator. They kill any creature smaller than them including rodents, reptiles and birds. This is a significant problem in our environmentally sensitive wetlands and riparian corridors. Therefore the effectiveness of the ordinance is important for the protection of all wildlife, which has been hugely impacted by human development, activities and habitat destruction, but may still fall short of providing enough protection to the un-aided species that live in the more-or-less “natural” environment.