HomeMy WebLinkAbout19-018ORDINANCE NO. 19-018
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION CHAPTER 6 (ANIMALS) OF THE ST. LUCIE
COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTION 6-31, "TRAVELING
ANIMAL SHOWS; PERMIT REQUIRED", TO REDUCE THE TRAVELING ANIMAL
SHOW PERMIT APPLICATION PERIOD FROM SIXTY (60) DAYS TO THIRTY (30)
DAYS, ESTABLISH A SINGLE PERMIT APPLICATION FOR TRAVELING ANIMAL
SHOWS AT THE ANNUAL ST. LUCIE COUNTY FAIR; PROVIDE FOR INSPECTIONS,
PROHIBITTHE USE OF ELEPHANTS IN TRAVELING ANIMALSHOWS, AND PROVIDE
FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FEE SCHEDULE; AMENDING SECTION 6-86
(INSPECTION) TO PROVIDE FOR ANIMAL SHELTER INSPECTIONS TO ALSO BE
CONDUCTED BY ST. LUCIE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS; PROVIDING
FOR FILING WITH DEPARTMENT OF STATE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE;
PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION; AND PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 125.01, Florida Statutes, the Board of County
Commissioners of St. Lucie County has the power to adopt ordinances necessary for the exercise
of its powers and prescribe fines and penalties for the violation of ordinances in accordance with
law; and
WHEREAS, on September 12, 1995, the Board of County Commissioners adopted
Ordinance No. 95-28 which created Section 1-4-28, recodified as Section 6-19, of the St. Lucie
County Code of Ordinances, to establish permit requirements for traveling animal shows; and,
WHEREAS, in order to reflect the validity period for veterinary certificates issued for
animals in such shows, it is appropriate to reduce permit application period from sixty (60) days
before the show date to thirty (30) days before the show date; and,
WHEREAS, in order to provide for a means of issuing permits for traveling animal shows
appearing at the annual St. Lucie County Fair, it is appropriate to provide for St. Lucie County Fair
Association, Inc. to apply for a single annual permit for all of the traveling animal shows with
which it contracts to appear at St. Lucie County Fair; and,
WHEREAS, in order to prevent the mental and physical stress and potential abuse which
may result from the use of elephants to perform tricks which do not occur among elephants living
in the wild and the potential harm which may result to the public as the result of an elephant's
response to such stress and abuse, it is appropriate to further amend Section 6-19 to prohibit the
use of elephants in traveling animal shows appearing in the unincorporated areas of the County.
WHEREAS, on October 15, 2013, the Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance
No. 13-040 which established standards for animal shelters operating in the unincorporated
areas of the County and provided for inspection of animal shelters by the Animal Shelter
Standards Committee pursuant to Section 1-4-36, recodified as Section 6-68; and,
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WHEREAS, in order to provide for a more efficient animal shelter inspection process, it is
appropriate to amend Section 6-68 to provide for inspection by the Animal Shelter Standards
Committee and/or St. Lucie County Animal Control Officers.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie
County, Florida:
PART A. SECTION 6-31, (TRAVELING ANIMAL SHOWS; PERMITS REQUIRED), OF THE CODE
OF ORDINANCES OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS:
Section 6-31. -Traveling animal shows; permit required.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein,. the owner or operator of any traveling animal show
desiring to operate in the unincorporated area of the county shall make written application for
permit on forms provided by the animal control division no later than 60 30 days prior to the
first performance of any spectacle, display, act or event within the county. Such application
shall include, but not be limited to, the name of the owner of the traveling animal exhibition,
all proposed locations within the county for the traveling animal show, the date the animal
show is to arrive within the county, the date of departure and all dates on which it is perform
at any location within the county. The applicant shall further provide proof of the following:
(1) Current liability insurance with coverage of $100,000.00 per person,
$300,000.00 per occurrence, with a maximum deductible of $10,000.00.
(2) A minimum of fifteen (15) calendar daysprior to the arrival of the animals in the
county, the applicant shall submit copies of all applicable and current state
inspection certificates, including a current USDA permit if applicable. In the
event a current state inspection certificate(s) is not provided in a timely manner
as provided herein, the subject animals_ shall_ not_be_p_ermitted to perform or
otherwise armear in anv spectacle, displav, act or event.
(3) A veterinarian on duty if the show involves wildlife or captive wild animals.
(b) In lieu of individual permit applications as provided in Section 6-31(a), the St. Lucie
County Fair Association, Inc. may submit a single annual application for the traveling animal
shows with which it contracts for the annual St. Lucie County Fair at the St. Lucie County
Fairgrounds. Such application shall include, but not be limited to, the name of the owner of
the traveling animal exhibition, the date the animal show is to arrive within the county, and the
date of departure. The Fair Association shall further provide proof of the following:
(1) Current liability insurance with coverage of $100,000.00 per person,
$300,000.00 per occurrence, with a maximum deductible of $10,000.00.
(2) All applicable and current state inspection certificates, including a current USDA
permit if applicable, shall be provided to the County no less than fifteen 15
days prior to the arrival of the animals in the County. Only animals for which the
required state inspection certificates and USDA permits, if applicable, are
provided in a timely manner as set forth herein shall be permitted to enter the
St. Lucie County Fairgrounds. All traveling animal shows under this subsection
6-31(b) shall be subject to inspection by the Florida Department of Agriculture
upon arrival at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds.
(3) A veterinarian on duty if the show involves wildlife or captive wild animals.
u The term "traveling animal show" shall be defined as any spectacle, display, act or
event, including circuses and carnivals, where animals are maintained, whether or not the
animals actually perform, whose owners or operators do not have their principal place of
business in the county and which is required to obtain aff a business tax receipt pursuant to
chapter 42, article III, of this Code.
u All traveling animal shows shall be subject to inspection by the County Animal Safety
Division to determine whether the animals are being provided sufficient care as further
provided in Section 6-26.
(e) All traveling animal shows scheduled to appear at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds
under shall be subject to inspection by the Florida Department of Agriculture upon arrival at
the Fairgrounds.
jfl The use of elephants in any spectacle, display, act or event including circuses and
carnivals, where animals are maintained whether or not the elephants actually perform, is
prohibited.
W The Board shall establish a fee schedule for traveling animal show permit applications
by resolution.
PART B. SECTION 6-86, (INSPECTION), OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF ST. LUCIE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS:
Section 6-86 - Inspection.
All animal shelters, as defined in Section 6-19t in the unincorporated area of the county
and any shelter which contracts with the county to provide animal shelter services shall be
inspected on a biannual basis at a minimum by members of the animal shelter standards
committee ;•+" the +,^r^ ^{ and/or county animal control officers as needed. The board
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may adopt by resolution procedures for the inspection of animal shelters. Within ten business
days following each inspection, the county shall provide the owner of the animal shelter with
a written report indicating whether the shelter is found to be in compliance with the standards
adopted pursuant to Section 6-85, and a reasonable time period for coming into compliance
with those standards found to be deficient. Failure to bring such items into compliance with
the stated period shall result in enforcement as set forth in Section 6-29.
PART C. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance
is held invalid, it is the intent of the District that the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or
applications of the Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
application, and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance are declared severable.
PART D. FILING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
The Clerk is hereby directed forthwith to send a certified copy of this ordinance to the
Bureau of Administrative Code and Laws, Department of State, the Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida
32304.
PART E. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Ordinance shall take effect upon filing with the Department of State.
PART F. ADOPTION.
After motion and second, the vote on this ordinance was as follows:
Chair Cathy Townsend
AYE
Vice Chair Chris Dzadovsky
AYE
Commissioner Sean Mitchell
AYE
Commissioner Linda Bartz
AYE
Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson
AYE
PART G. CODIFICATION.
Provisions of this ordinance shall be incorporated in the Code of Ordinances of St. Lucie
County, Florida, and the word "ordinance" may be changed to "section," "article," or other
appropriate word, and the sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered to
accomplish such intention; provided, however, that Parts C through G shall not be codified.
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PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 17th day of December, 2019.
ATTEST:
M I
-�ty Clerk
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY:
Chair
APPROVED A5 7 FOR AND
CORRECTNESS:/ ., /I �I ✓ .
BY:
County Attorney
RON DESANTIS LAUREL M. LEE
Governor Secretary of State
December 23, 2019
Honorable Joseph E. Smith
Clerk of the Circuit Court
St. Lucie County
2300 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, Florida 34982
Attention: Ms. Alice Sennott
Dear Mr. Smith:
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 125.66, Florida Statutes, this will acknowledge receipt of your
electronic copy of St. Lucie County Ordinance No. 19-018, which was filed in this office on December 20,
2019.
Sincerely,
Ernest L. Reddick
Program Administrator
ELR/lb
R. A. Gray Building 500 South Bronough Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Telephone: (850) 245-6270
www.dos.state.fl.us