Finding F7
Petaluma Municipal Code § 9.24.020 (D) defines “hearing officer” as the manager of animal services or his/her designee. This not only appears to usurp the City Manager’s responsibility stated in Petaluma Municipal Code § 1.16.060 to appoint administrative hearing officers, it may also deprive all parties of their due process rights to be heard before an independent hearing officer.
Jury report: Animal Services Revisited: A City Asleep at the Wheel · PDF page 17
Permanent linkOfficial response
Petaluma City Council
Wholly disagrees, citing code definitions, appointment powers and use of neutral hearing officers; distinguishes animal-owner rights from victim participation.
Read official response · PDF page 11Identifies the source’s D/E citation discrepancy and explains its harmonized reading of sections 9.04.020, 9.24.020 and 1.16.060 across pages 11–13. Specific code provisions support traceability, not an independent legal judgment.
This review evaluates the response document. Implementation claims have not been independently verified.