Exh 8GAGENDA #8G
DECEMBER 11, 2000
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Amendment to City Code Chapter 12, ANIMALS, Section 30
CITATIONS
SUBMITTED BY: Alexander J. Sherrer/Code Enforcement Officer
DATE: December 6, 2000
BACKGROUND: On December 5, 2000, the Code Enforcement Board unanimously
voted to petition the Atlantic Beach City Commission to amend City Ordinance 12-30.
Under the current ordinance, cases involving non-payment of animal citations are being
heard by the Code Enforcement Board. On average, 80% of respondents are ignoring
citations, refusing to pay fines and ignoring the orders of tl~e Code Enforcement Board.
At last report, unpaid fines were in excess of $2,000. Sister cities, Neptune Beach,
Jacksonville Beach and the City of Jacksonville currently have their animal citation
cases heard by the county court, with 90% of respondents paying fines without going to
a hearing. Failure to comply under such a system of enfoi°cement can result in bench.
warrants and time in jail. Under our current ordinance, our enforcement is limited and
unsuccessful
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the county a~urt will hear our cases if
asked, with little to no changes to our current procedures. Monies from fines paid in
advance to a hearing will stilt be collected and retained by tfie City of Atlantic Beach
BUDGET: Only costs incurred are administrative in nature, involve only those.cases
heard by the county court, and are taken out of the fine imposed by the Judge:
RECOMMENDATION: Have City Commission direct the City Attorney to draft an
amended version of City Code 12-30, to transfer the hearing of animal citation cases
from the Code Enforcement Board to that of the county court.
ATTACHMENTS: None
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAG