San Bernardino County Municipal Code Ch. 46 Animal Care Community Outreach Commission

There is hereby created and established an Animal Care Community Outreach Commission of the County of San Bernardino.

(Ord. 4182, passed - -2012)

The Animal Care Community Outreach Commission shall consist of seven voting members: one from each Supervisorial District, a licensed veterinarian and a person from the Department of Public Health’s Animal Care and Control Division. All of the members shall be residents of the County and citizens of the United States. Each member representing a Supervisorial District shall be a resident of that District and shall be nominated for appointment by the Supervisor of that District. The County Executive Officer or designee shall nominate for appointment a licensed veterinarian who is not an employee of, but may be a contractor for the County and a person from the Animal Care and Control Division. Each appointment shall be made by majority vote of the Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. 4182, passed - -2012)

(a) Appointments shall not exceed four years in length and the terms of office shall be staggered to ensure that no more than two-thirds of the terms shall expire in any one-year period. Terms shall expire on January 31 of the appropriate year and subsequent new terms shall begin February 1 of that year. Members who have served two consecutive full terms may not be reappointed to the Commission for a period of two years unless authorized by specific Board of Supervisors’ action.

(b) A Commissioner whose term of office has expired shall continue to serve in that capacity until a new appointment is made or the Board of Supervisors declares that position vacant. All final appointments shall be made for either a full term or the completion of an unexpired term. Any appointment to fill an unexpired term of office shall be considered a full term if the appointee serves for three years or more of that unexpired term.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the term of office of a Commissioner representing a Supervisorial District shall be subject to the provisions of County Code § 12.3701.

(Ord. 4182, passed - -2012)

The Animal Care Community Outreach Commission shall be an advisory body and shall serve as a conduit between the public and the Board of Supervisors, and act in a support capacity to the Animal Care and Control Division regarding animal control related matters. The Commission shall facilitate community involvement and awareness, provide opportunities for citizen participation in support of animal care related issues, and work to assure that the public is informed of the Animal Care and Control Division’s programs and services available to residents and pets of the unincorporated areas of the County. The Commission may make such recommendations through the Director of Public Health to the Board of Supervisors as it may deem to be reasonable and necessary or advisable in matters concerned with the care and control of animals in the County that it has been requested to review and comment upon by the Board of Supervisors. The Commission shall receive public comment on matters assigned to it at each Commission meeting. The Commission is not authorized to sign contracts, disburse funds, investigate or adjudicate issues, implement programs, employ or consider any personnel matters, or act in any other capacity that involves the direct management or operation of the Animal Care and Control Division or the Animal Care Joint Powers Authority.

(Ord. 4182, passed - -2012)

Each member of the Commission shall receive no compensation for attendance at any meeting of the Commission. Commission members shall receive actual and necessary travel expenses within the County in the course of their duties as Commission members, and, with prior approval of the Board of Supervisors, outside the County. Such expenses shall be paid on the same basis as expenses of County employees.

(Ord. 4182, passed - -2012)

The Commission shall elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from the members thereof, each of whom shall serve for a period of one year, and thereafter until their successors are elected. The Commission member from the Department of Public Health’s Animal Care and Control Division shall also act as Secretary to the Commission.

(Ord. 4182, passed - -2012)

The Commission shall hold regular meetings quarterly at such times and places as may be determined by a majority vote of the Commission.

(Ord. 4182, passed - -2012)

The Commission may also prepare and adopt rules and regulations for internal business, subject to the approval or the Board of Supervisors.

(Ord. 4182, passed - -2012)

It shall be the duty of the Director of Public Health or his or her designee (the designee may also be the Commission member from the Department of Public Health’s Animal Care and Control Division), subject to policy direction of the Board of Supervisors and within the limits of the applicable laws, ordinances and regulations to:

(a) Attend meetings of the Commission;

(b) Advise and inform the Commission regarding animal care and control related issues that may affect the County and/or operation of the Animal Care and Control Division or the Animal Care Joint Powers Authority;

(c) Forward the advice and recommendations of the Commission through the County Administrative Office to the Board of Supervisors, and keep the Commission advised of the Board’s actions and requests.

(Ord. 4182, passed - -2012)

The Commission shall sunset and cease to exist on June 30, 2014 and each June 30th thereafter, unless the Board of Supervisors earlier extends or terminates its existence annually by a majority vote.

(Ord. 4182, passed - -2012)