“Once a government program is started,” said City Councilman Mehaul O’Leary, “it is very difficult to get rid of it.”
That is why last Monday night he insisted on turning the plan to hire a Culver City animal control officer into an experiment with mandatory thresholds attached.
In the process, the persuasive Irishman succeeded in overcoming the strong opposition of two colleagues who wanted the program implemented on a forever basis.
“Without the restrictions of a 2-year pilot program,” Mr. O’Leary said, “we would be stuck with it permanently, regardless of whether it was successful.
“I am not going to be on the City Council — well, let’s see. My term is 4 years.”
He doesn’t want to leave a lukewarm or failing scheme for his successor on the dais to deal with.
“With a pilot program,” Mr. O’Leary said, “it will be do or die.
Longevity Is up to the Officer
“When we do hire an animal control officer, his job description will be very clear. We will tell him or her, ‘You have the job for 2 years. Whether we go beyond that is up to you. The more dogs you get licensed, the safer your job will be.’”
It was the freshman Council member who estimated that there are at least 5,000 dogs in Culver City. Fewer than 1800 are licensed.
He said that within 2 years, a proper goal would be 5,000 licensed dogs, which likely would cover the cost of the program, according to present guesses by City Hall officials.. “But let’s say only 3,000 are signed up,” Mr. O’Leary said. “The program still could be deemed a success because it had been a revenue generator for the city.”
But he didn’t say whether 3,000 signups would be sufficient to allow the animal control officer to retain his or her job.
