Local Laws 2000

Local government in 2000 dealt with the usual: police, taxes, wages--and sex businesses. But much attention was given to animals as well. Los Angeles adopted the toughest law in the nation on license fees for dogs and cats. Redondo Beach took action on barking dogs and San Gabriel required owners to be ready to pick up what dogs leave behind. Equestrian-loving Rolling Hills, meanwhile, voted to make its gated community even more friendly to horses. Here is a roundup of some of the ordinances passed and other local governmental actions taken in the last year:

LOS ANGELES

Dogs and cats--The City Council approved dramatic license fee increases and restrictions on animals that are not spayed or neutered. City officials said the drastic action was needed to reduce the number of stray animals roaming the streets and to reduce the number of dogs and cats put to death in shelters. The law increased fees for dogs not spayed or neutered from $30 to $100 and imposed a breeder’s license fee of $100 a year for each animal. The fee for an altered dog remained at $10. The measure also required unaltered cats to be kept indoors. It set a $500 fine for violators of the ordinance after two warnings. The law, which went into effect in November, also affects transfers and sales of pets.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Landscaping--New residential developments in unincorporated county territory are now required to include a tree in each front yard. The precise type of tree is to be determined with the developer and local planners.

Ethics--In response to a county worker’s accepting help from a contractor in buying a new Mercedes, the county broadened its conflict-of-interest laws to cover hundreds of additional employees. Existing law requires all those covered to disclose all gifts and not to accept more than $300 worth of gifts from any one source per year.

ARCADIA

Fliers--Officials think that fliers that pile up on porches of unoccupied homes and businesses tend to attract criminals. Therefore, the city amended a law that enables residents to stop the door-to-door delivery of such circulars. Under a previous ordinance, distributors of unsolicited printed material could not deliver to residents and businesses that had placed their names on a “do not distribute” list. Now the law prohibits delivery to addresses where there is already a pile of circulars.

BURBANK

Sex businesses--Three ordinances were passed in 2000 dealing with sexually oriented businesses. “Sexual encounter establishments,” where people engage in anonymous or group sex, are now prohibited in the city. Another ordinance increased the minimum buffer between adult businesses and such sensitive areas as homes and schools from 500 to 1,000 feet. A third law established a process for obtaining background information about owners, managers and performers in adult businesses and prohibits issuing permits to people with certain criminal histories.

COMPTON

Policing--The City Council voted in July to dismantle the Police Department and signed a $12.3-million contract to have services provided by the county sheriff. By mid-August, sheriff’s deputies were on the streets. City officials said the change has given Compton a more professional force and an annual saving of $7 million on its policing budget. But the decision touched off angry protests by ministers and neighborhood leaders who believe that the change should have been made by referendum rather than ordinance.

GLENDALE

Skating gear--Elbow pads, knee pads and helmets are required for skateboarders, roller-skaters and in-line skaters using Glendale’s first city-owned skating facility. Since the skate park opened in February, more than 3,350 skaters have registered to use the park and signed waivers releasing the city from liability in case they are injured. Officials say injuries have been minimal.

INGLEWOOD

Impounding cars--Cars of people who are convicted or even suspected of using the vehicles while soliciting drugs or prostitution could be impounded. In response to complaints about increased prostitution and drug solicitation, the city decided that any vehicle possibly used for such purposes would be considered a nuisance and subject to seizure and forfeiture. Owners could find their cars seized if a person driving the car is arrested on solicitation charges, or if police find probable cause to believe the vehicle was used in buying sex or drugs.

LONG BEACH

Saving a hospital--After its nonprofit owner closed Long Beach Community Medical Center, the city assumed ownership of the 278-bed facility on Termino Avenue in October. The council also granted the right to reopen the hospital to a nonprofit coalition of Community’s doctors, nurses and patients. That coalition is preparing to relaunch the hospital as a much smaller facility by February.

PASADENA

Self-storage--The city passed a one-year moratorium on self-storage facilities, saying there are already numerous such businesses and they do not provide the city with enough revenue or jobs.

REDONDO BEACH

Barking dogs--The city toughened its existing ordinance and will enforce an automatic $78 fine if police are called to a home in response to a dog barking more than once in a 24-hour period. Previously, owners were merely encouraged to participate in a mediation process. The law went into effect in April but ran into problems because the same ordinance covers noise from parties. Two people successfully appealed party-related fines. Council members expect to amend the ordinance in January to separate the dogs from the party animals.

ROLLING HILLS

Game courts--To preserve the rural character of the city, the equestrian-loving community established new zoning laws for recreation courts. New courts--tennis, squash or racquetball--must provide space for adding a stable and corral area in case property owners decide to build them in the future. In addition, for environmental and aesthetic reasons, no court may be built on the side or bottom of a canyon or on any natural drainage area.

SAN FERNANDO

Living wage--All city employees must be paid a minimum of $7.25 per hour if they are provided benefits, or $8.50 without benefits. The new ordinance also states that contractors employed by the city of San Fernando must pay their employees those wages if their contract is for six months or longer.

SAN GABRIEL

Cleanup--Pet owners are now required to carry cleanup materials when they walk their animals. The new measure also has a human provision that makes it illegal to openly urinate or defecate in public places, including alleys, parks, public buildings and vacant lots, or on private property without the legal occupant’s consent.

SANTA MONICA

Conservation--The so-called green building ordinance requires developers to use at least four types of recycled building materials to insulate hot water pipes and use solar water heating systems when possible to reduce pollution and increase energy efficiency. It also requires that new construction exceed state standards.

VERNON

Warehouse tax--A new city law increased the property taxes for warehouses by 2,000%. Warehouse owners contend that the city adopted the increase to encourage warehouse businesses to leave the city because they don’t buy as much electricity from the city-owned power plant as other firms.