TITLE:
title
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA ADDING CHAPTER IV, TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN, TO TITLE 3 OF THE COSTA MESA MUNICIPAL CODE TO ESTABLISH A TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY CATS
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DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESENTED BY: STEPHANIE A. SELINSKE, LIEUTENANT
CONTACT INFORMATION: STEPHANIE A. SELINSKE, LIEUTENANT 714-754- 5293
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council introduce for first reading Ordinance No. 2026-XX adding Title 3 Animal Regulations of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code 3-171 to establish and regulate a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program for community cats within the City of Costa Mesa.
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Costa Mesa Municipal Code does not allow for any person or organization to Trap-Neuter-Return any community cats within the City of Costa Mesa.
The City of Costa Mesa currently addresses issues involving free-roaming and community cats through existing animal-control regulations and case-by-case responses. Community cats, which are defined as unowned, free-roaming cats that live outdoors and are not readily adoptable, present unique challenges related to animal welfare, shelter intake, and community concerns. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a nationally recognized animal management model in which community cats are humanely trapped, surgically sterilized, vaccinated (including rabies), ear-tipped for identification, and either returned to their original location or diverted for adoption if and when appropriate. Numerous jurisdictions throughout California and Orange County have adopted forms of TNR ordinances as a humane and effective method to control and gradually reduce the community cat populations in their respective communities. Additionally, TNR also assists with decreasing impacts on local animal shelters and euthanasia rates.
The proposed ordinance (Attachment 1) would establish guidelines for a regulated TNR program within...
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