Council discusses animal ordinance enforcement

The Cathlamet Town Council met on Monday to discuss and vote on three updated ordinances reviewed by Code Publishing which has been performing an external review of outdated municipal codes.

Mayor Dale Jacobson was in attendance after missing several consecutive meetings and commended Council Members David Olson and Robert Stowe for filling in as pro tem. The newest council member CeCe Raglin excused herself from the meeting and was not in attendance.

Wahkiakum County Commissioner Lee Tischer spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting and announced The American Rescue Plan which President Biden passed on Tuesday. Under this plan local municipalities would receive stimulus money in two installments. The council hasn’t heard directly from the state about when they would receive funding or the amount.

An ordinance related to business licenses and health/safety was passed which included updates to the schedule for notifying residents of infractions.

An ordinance relating to dangerous animals in town was passed.

Council Member Bill Wainwright had concerns about the enforcement policy related to the ordinance. According to Town Attorney Fred Johnson, the sheriff's office will enforce the dangerous dog ordinance per a contract with the town. In the case of a dog needing to be obtained, local law enforcement would collect the animal and deliver them to the Cowlitz Humane Society.

Furthermore, Wainwright sought clarity about whether the town would be held financially responsible for impounded animals. Johnson will report back to the council with answers.

An updated ordinance relating to vehicles, traffic, sidewalks, and public places was passed.

Included in the updates is a section that clarifies the various public or private locations where unattended vehicles could be impounded if left for specified amounts of time. For instance, an unattended vehicle left in a publicly owned or controlled parking facility would be removed immediately. Whereas, a vehicle left on private, nonresidential property would be removed after 24 hours.

Clerk/Treasurer Sarah Clerk shared the preliminary list of council member liaison assignments:

--Stowe: EPREP, Sheriff’s Department, Public Works;

--Wainwright: County Commissioners, HHS (Includes Community Network), Housing/Homeless, BVFF, LEOFF, School Board, Community Outreach; --Raglin: SWWCA, Budget & Finance, Community Center, Library, Pool, Law & Justice;

--Olson: CWCOG-RTPO, PUD/Broadband, PCA, Chamber of Commerce, Tribal, Legislature, Port #1, RIF, and

--Waller: Timber, Historical Society, Planning Commission .