SR 05:163 - Laserfiche WebLink

brought dogs to the fields. To address this issue, the Commission requested that staff draft an ordinance that would prohibit dogs at the Val Vista soccer fields. While drafting the proposed revisions, staff determined that the Code had not been amended to allow dogs off leash at the dog exercise area (dog park) at Muirwood Community Park. In order to update the Code to address this facility and others that might be constructed, staff included a provision to explicitly address dog parks. The draft ordinance also revised the PMC concerning dogs at large (i.e., a dog not on a leash). In February 2005, the Commission reviewed the proposed ordinance changes. After making some additional modifications, the Commission recommended City Council approval. While preparing the proposed ordinance for the City Council, the Police Department (Animal Services) and City Attorney's Office comprehensively reviewed Title 7 (Animal Control) and Chapter 13.08 (Parks and Recreation Facilities).1 Some chapters had not been reviewed in many years and were out of date. The Parks and Recreation Commission and staff's suggested revisions to Title 7 and Chapter 13.08 are included in the attached proposed ordinance, and further discussed below. Chapter 7.04 - General Provisions Staff is proposing revisions to Chapter 7.04 to add the definition of Chief of Police. The current ordinance includes the terms "Health Officer" and "Director", but the Chief of Police fulfills the roles of each. The definitions of each term have been revised to reflect the Chief of Police's role. The terms are being retained in the proposed ordinance because they are still used in Chapter 7.20 (Vicious Dogs). Chapter 7.20 is currently under review by staff and not included with the proposed ordinance. When Chapter 7.20 is revised, the terms will be deleted to simplify the Code. Staff is also proposing revisions to the definition of"at large" and the Code's related provisions in Chapter 7.16. The Code currently provides that dogs must be restrained on a leash limited to six feet in length and be under the control of a person competent to keep the dog under effective control, tn practice, many dog owners walk their dogs on extendable leashes that are longer than 6 feet. Animal Services has not received complaints regarding the use of extendable leashes. Most of the calls to which Animal Services responds are for dogs off leash. Animal Services believes that extendable leashes serve as a good compromise because they allow a dog more freedom of movement while the dog remains under the owner's control. The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended that maximum leash length be 30 feet to accommodate retractable leashes. In the ordinance proposed, staff included this leash length and a leash length limit of 6 feet for non-retractable leashes. ~ Animal Services and the City Attorney's Office are currently reviewing Chapter 7.20 (Vicious Dogs) and at a later date will introduce proposed revisions to the City Council. SR:05:163 Page 2 of 5.