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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Mayor's Office Staff
DATE: November 18, 2020
SUBJECT:
A resolution authorizing and directing the Rules, Administration, and Procedures (RAP) Committee to investigate and make recommendations as to the need for the regulation of the sale of pets at retail locations within the City.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this resolution is to charge the RAP committee with the research and eventual creation of recommendations regarding the retail sale of animals.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Aurora is currently home to a number of stores that sell pet products and supplies and one that sells dogs. Staff recently became aware of another, larger retail location whose business plan includes the retail sale of pets.
A number of our neighboring communities have recently adopted legislation regulating the retail sale of animals, Aurora would like to explore the idea of implementing regulations in our community.
DISCUSSION:
Currently, Chapter 9 in the City of Aurora Code of Ordinances entitled "Animals", includes a number of regulations pertaining to animals, but does not contemplate the commercial sale of animals. The Director of Animal Care and Control and city staff have been monitoring legislation being implemented locally and were recently notified the DuPage Mayors and Mangers Committee (DMMC) included this in their legislative priorities for 2021.
Members of the City Council have expressed interest in this topic, specifically the treatment of the animals in the stores as well as associated lending practices. This resolution will allow the RAP committee to work through the issue and propose any regulations it sees fit.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Passage of this resolution will have a positive impact on the community, providing the Council ample time to review information and propose regulations to address any areas of concern.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended the City Council approve the attached resolution.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing and directing the Rules, Administration, and Procedures Committee to investigate and make recommendations as to the need for the regulation of the sale of pets at retail locations within the City.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, Section 2-123(c) of the Code of Ordinances, City of Aurora, Illinois, confers upon the Rules, Administration, and Procedures Committee ("Committee") jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to revisions to the Code; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, various members of the City Council, and the Director of the Division of Animal Control("the Director") have been monitoring legislation affecting pet stores and the sale of animals obtained from commercial breeders; and
WHEREAS, several units of local government within the State have recently adopted ordinances regulating or prohibiting the sale of animals at retail when said animals were obtained from commercial breeders; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to fully investigate the need for similar regulations within the City and the manner in which they may be enacted as well as for other regulation, including, but not limited to regulation of the terms of financing associated with the purchase of animals; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the Committee is the proper City body to conduct such an investigation on its behalf and to make recommendations thereon; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Committee shall be and hereby is and authorized directed to investigate and make recommendations as to the need for the regulation of the sale of pets and retail within the City; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that in the furtherance of the purposes of this Resolution, the Committee shall conduct such public hearings as it deems necessary and solicit the testimony in both oral and written form from experts on the subject matter and other interested parties. The Committee may adopt reasonable rules governing the time, place, manner and duration of testimony offered any public hearing and may further restrict testimony to the subject matter of a particular hearingDrv; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Committee shall report its finding and recommendations to the Committee of the Whole on or before its meeting of March 2, 2021, as to the need for the for regulation of the sale of pets at retail within the City; such recommendations may, but need not, be accompanied by a distinct legislative proposition upon which the Committee of the Whole may refer to the City Council for adoption; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Director shall provide such assistance as the Committee may require in the furtherance of the purposes of this Resolution.