Government roundup: Supervisor seeks dog bite policy review
| Monday, Nov 16 2009 06:02 PM
Last Updated Monday, Nov 16 2009 06:02 PM
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A county supervisor has asked staff to review county policies regarding dog bites, saying in a letter "I have a growing concern that our policies are not strong enough."
The referral follows stories by The Californian detailing vicious dog attacks and asking whether Kern County and city of Bakersfield animal laws are protective enough.
According to city and county ordinances, for example, animal control currently has little recourse but to return aggressive dogs to their owners. The rules generally require an earlier attack or two before stronger action can be taken.
In his letter to Kern County Animal Control Director Guy Shaw, Maggard asked for a review of how the county treats dog bites that take place when a dog is on the owner's property and when it's off.
He also said the county needs to coordinate closely with the city of Bakersfield on these issues.
"I am becoming increasggingly concerned that areas I represent within the city limits are unprotected when it comes to vicious dog attacks," Maggard wrote.
The replacement of the Gosford Road railroad crossing, south of District Boulevard, is scheduled to shut the roadway for the weekend of Dec. 5th-6th. The project will greatly improve driveability there, city officials say.
COUNCIL TAKES UP PLAN
The Bakersfield City Council will meet at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers at City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Ave. The relatively light agenda includes an update on the Metropolitan Bakersfield General Plan and an update on the council's goals.
DELANO AWARDED COURTHOUSE MONEY
State court officials approved funding for a $42 million courthouse in Delano on Monday.
Monday's announcement means the state Administrative Office of the Courts can look for a site and draw up preliminary plans. Completion is scheduled for fall 2014.
The new facility would replace the existing Delano/McFarland building with a nearly 40,000-square-foot structure featuring three courtrooms and updated safety features. The existing Delano courthouse has seen an 80 percent increase in cases over the past decade.
Funding comes from state Senate Bill 1407, approved by the Legislature last year to provide up to $5 billion from court user fees to build or renovate more than 40 facilities.
UC MERCED TOUR STOPS IN BAKERSFIELD
A public meeting to discuss a possible medical school at UC Merced will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday on the third floor multipurpose room of the county administrative center at 1115 Truxtun Ave.
The stop is part of a nine-county "community listening tour" that launched July 7 and meant to build support for a medical school in the Central Valley. Other counties taking part are Fresno, Mariposa, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Madera, Merced, Kings and Tulare.
A $147,000 grant awarded in February by The California Endowment, a private health foundation, is meant to get community input from around the San Joaquin Valley.
The school made local headlines recently after Reps. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, wrangled $500 million into the federal House health reform bill before agreeing to support the legislation.
Efforts to launch the school have been under way much longer. In February 2008, the Valley Coalition for a UC Merced Medical School was launched. About 300 people, including elected officials, cities and counties, health professionals and community groups, are members.
Thursday's listening session will include introductory remarks, a presentation on the planning process and audience input.
