HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RESO 8834RESOLUTION NO. 8834
RESOLUTION REQUESTING FEDERAL ACTION AND FUNDS PROVI-
DING FOR THE ERECTION OF AN ANIMAL -PROOF FENCE IN SAN
DIECO COUNTY \TONG THE INTERN?ATIONAL BORDER BETWEEN
MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES TO QUELL THE RABIES EPIDEMIC
WHEREAS, as hereinafter described. a rabies epidemic
necessitates the erection of an animal -proof fence in the wes-
terly portion of San Diego County along the international bor-
der between Mexico and the United States, and
WHEREAS, since September, 1962, when rabies first
appeared in the southern portion of San Diego County and Ti-
Juana there have been 173 laboratory identified. rabies cases
in dogs in San Diego County and. Tijuana and countless human as
well as animal exposure to these 173 clinically confirmed. cases
of rabies, and.
WHEREAS, rabies is a virus infection of the brain and
spinal cord. capable of infecting the human and animal popula-
tion in San Diego County, and.
WHEREAS, effective rabies control requires immuni-
zation of dogs and. the elimination of stray and street dogs
and although there has been an effective program of immuni-
zation of dogs in San Diego County there is a continuing im-
migration of stray dogs from the Tijuana area of Mexico, and.
WHEREAS, an uncontrolled. rabies epidemic exists in
the northern border area of Baja California in Mexico and that
from January, 1964 to September 30, 1964 there were 68 cases
of clinically diagnosed. cases of rabies in dogs in the Tijuana
area and 142 persons receiving treatment in Tijuana, and
WHEREAS, the majority of cases of laboratory con-
firmed. rabies in San Diego County have been found within one
mile of the Mexican border at Ean Ysidro, indicating that the
rabies problem in S,n Diego County directly relates and re-
flects the spillover from the Tijuana focus of the disease, and.
WHEREAS, only a portion of the San Diego County in-
ternational boundary is adequately fended with animal -proof
fencing and there is literally no barrier to the passage of
dogs from Mexico into San Diego County, and
WHEREAS, an animal -proof fence from the Pacific
Ocean to a point 12 miles to the east along the international
boundary would effectively bar the pasage of rabid animals
into the most populous portions of San Diego County from Mexico,
and
WHEREAS, the control of the United States -Mexican
border is within the jurisdiction of many federal agencies, in-
cluding but not limitedto the In ternational Boundary and Water
Commission, the United States Immunization and Naturalization
Service, and Department of Agriculture, the Public Health Ser-
vice and. the Department of Health and Welfare, and,
WHEREAS, there is existing legislation that authori-
zes these said agencies to erect a fence along the United States -
Mexican border (see 22 U.S.C., Sec. 2778, International Boundary
Commission; 21 U.S.C., Sec. 141, Department of Agriculture; P.
L. 88 245, appropriation for Immunization and. Naturalization
Service, 42 U.S.C., Sec. 264, Public Health Service);
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY the City Council of
the City of National City, California that the Federal govern-
ment is hereby requested to appropriate the necessary funds for
and cause the erection of an animal -proof fence in San Diego
County, California, along the international border between the
United States and Mexico for the purposes of eliminating the
incidents of rabid animals crossing the international border
and thereby alleviating the rabies epidemic in San Diego County,
California,
PASSED AND ADOPTED this of January, 1965.
ATTEST: j ( s / / MAyOR
CITY CLERK