CC SR 20241015 C - 2nd Reading Code Amend 6.04.040 Dogs and Cats Limit Increase
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 10/15/2024
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to adopt Ordinance No. 688 to amend Section 6.04.040
(Number of Dogs and Cats Allowed) of Chapter 6.04 (General Provisions), of Title 6
(Animals) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to increase the number of dogs
and cats permitted on a residential lot.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Adopt Ordinance No. 688, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES AMENDING SECTION 6.04.040 (NUMBER OF DOGS AND CATS
ALLOWED) OF CHAPTER 6.04 (GENERAL PROVISIONS), OF TITLE 6
(ANIMALS) OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DOGS PERMITTED ON A RESIDENTIAL LOT
FROM THREE TO FOUR AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CATS
PERMITTED ON A RESIDENTIAL LOT FROM THREE TO FIVE FOR
CONSISTENCY WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE PROVISIONS.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact with the proposed code amendment.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Victoria Powers, Code Enforcement Officer
REVIEWED BY: Brandy Forbes, AICP, Director of Community Development
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Proposed Ordinance No. 688 (page A-1)
The previous Staff Report on this topic can be found on the City’s website via the October
1, 2024, City Council Agenda at:
https://rpv.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=5&event_id=2687
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CITYOF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
On October 1, 2024, Ordinance No. 688 (Attachment A) was introduced by the City
Council for a first reading. Ordinance No. 688, amends Section 6.04.040 (Number of Dogs
and Cats Allowed) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to increase the number
of dogs permitted on a residential lot from three to four and increase the number of cats
permitted on a residential lot from three to five - for consistency with Los Angeles County
code provisions. The proposed code amendment section is as follows with deleted text in
strikethrough and the proposed new text noted with bold/underline:
6.04.040 – Number of dogs and cats allowed.
No person shall be permitted to keep in excess of three four dogs and three five
cats on any residential lot within the city.
This evening, Ordinance No. 688, is presented for its second reading and adoption. If
adopted, the ordinance will go into effect after 30 days from the date of adoption.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative action is available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1) Direct Staff to revise Ordinance No. 688 for re-introduction and/or second reading
at a future City Council meeting.
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Ordinance No. 688
Page 1 of 3
ORDINANCE NO. 688
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES AMENDING SECTION 6.04.040 (NUMBER OF
DOGS AND CATS ALLOWED) OF CHAPTER 6.04
(GENERAL PROVISIONS) OF TITLE 6 (ANIMALS) OF THE
RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DOGS PERMITTED ON A
RESIDENTIAL LOT FROM THREE TO FOUR AND
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CATS PERMITTED ON A
RESIDENTIAL LOT FROM THREE TO FIVE FOR
CONSISTENCY WITH LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE
PROVISIONS.
WHEREAS, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control
provides services to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, which include but are not limited
to, pet licensing, low-cost spaying and neutering, low-cost vaccinations, dead/injured
animal pick-up, stray animal pick-up and patrol, investigation of cruelty complaints,
investigation of dangerous/aggressive dogs and complaints of excessive barking or
animal noise; and
WHEREAS, Section 6.04.040 (Number of Dogs and Cats Allowed) of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Municipal Code currently limits up to three dogs and up to three cats at any
residential lot; and
WHEREAS, Section 10.20.038 (Residential Dogs and Cats – Limitations) of the
Los Angeles County Code of Ordinances allows up to four dogs and up to five cats at any
residence without an animal facility license; and
WHEREAS, Consistency between the two codes to allow the same number of
dogs and cats on a residential property in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes would result
in streamline services provided by the Los Angeles County related to dog licensing
enforcement and responding to complaints of animal noise ; and
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The facts set forth in the Recitals are true and correct and are
incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2. Section 6.04.040 (Number of dogs and cats) of Chapter 6.04 (General
Provisions) of Title 6 (Animals) is amended to read as follows:
6.04.040 – Number of dogs and cats allowed.
A-1
Ordinance No. 688
Page 2 of 3
No person shall be permitted to keep in excess of four dogs and five cats on any
residential lot within the city.
Section 3. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is exempt from the
requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because: (1) it does not
constitute a “project” under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2), in that it constitutes
general policy and procedure making; (2) it does not constitute a “project” under CEQA
Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) in that it has no potential for resulting in physical change
to the environment, either directly or indirectly; and (3) in the alternative, it is exempt from
CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2), since the activity will not result
in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and
Section 15061(b)(3), since it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this
Ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment.
Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph,
sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance or its application to any person or
circumstance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of
competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of the remaining sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs,
sentences, clauses or phrases of this Ordinance, or its application to any other person or
circumstance. The City Council declares that it would have adopted each section,
subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase hereof, irrespective of the
fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences,
clauses or phrases hereof be declared invalid or unenforceable.
Section 5. Certification and Posting. The City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to
be posted in three (3) public places in the City within fifteen (15) days after its passage,
in accordance with the provisions of Section 36933 of the Government Code. The City
Clerk shall further certify the adoption and posting of this Ordinance, and shall cause this
Ordinance and its certification, together with proof of posting, to be entered in the Book
of Ordinances of the Council of this City.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall go into effect at 12:01 AM on the
31st day after its passage.
A-2
Ordinance No. 688
Page 3 of 3
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 15th day of October 2024.
______________________________
John Cruikshank, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
I, TERESA TAKAOKA, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby
certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five; and that
the foregoing Ordinance No. 688 was introduced by the City Council of said City at a
regular meeting thereof held on October 1, 2024, and that the same was passed and
adopted on October 15, 2024 by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
_______________________
City Clerk
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