A cat rests in its cage in the upstairs cat area of the Ketchikan animal shelter. (KRBD file photo by Leila Kheiry)
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly will vote Monday on an ordinance that would amend borough code related to animal protection, including fines.
One proposed change would remove a $300 fine for failure to provide humane care. That means anyone cited for that would have a mandatory court appearance, instead, according to a borough memo. The ordinance also would change the noise-complaint process related to animals.
For that, the assembly was given a couple of options. The first would redefine “excessive noise” to mean noise that is “unreasonably annoying, disturbing, offensive, or which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property of one or more persons occupying property in the community or neighborhood within reasonable proximity to the property where the animal or animals are kept.”
Factors an animal control officer could consider would include the volume and frequency, time of day, distance from the complaining party, the number of people affected, and whether the animal was provoked.
The second option would remove noise complaint response from borough code completely. That would mean borough staff would not respond to animal noise complaints, unless animal safety also is a concern. According to the borough memo, local law enforcement officials have said they lack the capacity to respond to animal noise complaints.
If approved, those proposed code changes would come back for a second vote.
Also Monday, the assembly will decide whether to spend $500,000 to buy a parcel of land in the Mountain Point area.
The parcel is west of the Mountain Point Boat Launch. It is owned Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office. That agency had planned to subdivide the lot in order to sell it for residential use. However, some local residents objected, stating that the property had a historic use as a public space.
The ordinance to purchase was introduced in mid-November, and Monday’s vote would make it official.
The assembly meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Monday in borough assembly chambers at the White Cliff building. Public comment will be heard at the start of the meeting.
