Title
Consider Adopting a Resolution Calling on the State Legislature to Implement a Ban on Medically Unnecessary Animal Surgery, Such as Declawing of Cats. (Councilmember Knox White)
Body
COUNCIL REFERRAL FORM
The Council can take any of the following actions:
1) Take no action.
2) Refer the matter to staff to schedule as a future City Council agenda item. Concurrence that staff time will be devoted to the item does not signify approval.
3) Take dispositive action only on time sensitive legislative matters if sufficiently noticed such that the public and Council have been provided sufficient information by the published agenda, and no formal published notice of a public hearing is required.
Name of Councilmember(s) requesting referral: John Knox White
Date of submission to City Clerk (must be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on the Monday two weeks before the Council meeting requested): 9/6/2021
Council Meeting date: 9/21/21
Brief description of the subject to be printed on the agenda, sufficient to inform the City Council and public of the nature of the referral:
Consideration of adopting a resolution calling on the State Legislature to implement a ban on medically unnecessary animal surgery, such as the declawing of cats.
The City Council, at its July 25, 2020 Priority Setting Workshop, established the following 5 priorities for 2021:
1. Preparing Alameda for the future
2. Encouraging economic development across the Island
3. Supporting enhanced livability and quality of life, including addressing the housing crisis and homelessness
4. Protecting core services
5. Ensuring effective and efficient operations
Briefly describe which Council priority the subject falls under and how it relates:
Preparing Alameda for the future:
At the June 15th City Council Meeting, Alameda resident Ella Halisky attended and spoke to the City Council about her interest in having the City of Alameda join other cities in CA in banning the practice of declawing cats for the convenience of their petowners. After a number of discussions with the City Attorney and staff, we became aware that State Law in CA preempts a city’s ability to pass such a law and leaves the responsibility to State lawmakers, though allowed municipalities with existing laws to maintain them. Therefore, I have worked with Ms. Halisky who drafted the proposed resolution for City Council adoption (see attached).
Alameda’s Communications and Legislative Affairs officer has reviewed the language and if approved, the resolution can be circulated to the offices of the California Governor, Senators and Assemblymembers and added to the City’s legislative agenda in order to support any future legislative bills for adoption.