Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding the governance of the Animal Services Program in the Public Health Department, as follows: (EST. TIME: 1 HR.)
a) Receive preliminary information from the Public Health Department on various models of governance for Animal Services programs provided by different counties;
b) Provide direction to the Public Health Department as to next steps regarding governance, as follows:
i) Whether to obtain detailed information on any or all of the models of governance;
ii) Whether to seek input from community stakeholders;
iii) Whether to issue a request for information from interested parties in the community who may have specialized knowledge, expertise or interest in this area; and/or
iv) Such other direction as the Board may provide;
c) Provide direction to the Public Health Department regarding a community body that provides feedback on animal services, as follows:
i) Direct staff to research potential countywide commissions to focus on the broad issues of animal welfare in Santa Barbara County and return to the Board at a later date with recommendations regarding the establishment of such a body;
ii) Direct staff to research a potential advisory committee that focuses on issues related to the provision of animal services through the County Animal Services program and return to the board at a later date with recommendations regarding the establishment of such a body; and/or
iii) Direct the current Animal Services Oversight Team to continue working on implementing the AHA recommendations until no later than June 2017; and
d) Determine that the above actions are organizational and administrative activities of government that are not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines, and direct staff to file the Notice of Exemption.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION: POLICY