Report to Mayor and City Council
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER INTRODUCING ORDINANCE NO. 24-2403 THAT WOULD AMEND SECTION 3301 (ADDITION TO ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE) OF CHAPTER 3 (POUND REGULATIONS) OF ARTICLE III (PUBLIC SAFETY) OF THE CARSON MUNICIPAL CODE TO CLARIFY AND UPDATE THE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST ENTRY OF DOGS IN PUBLIC PARKS AND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LEASHING OF DOGS THAT ARE EXCEPTED FROM THE GENERAL PROHIBITION AGAINST ENTRY (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
The City of Carson has historically prohibited all dogs, except for service animals, at its parks pursuant to City's policy against discrimination and harassment codified in Carson Municipal Code ("CMC") Sections 21100-21101. On November 7, 2018, the City Council approved Ordinance No. 18-1812, which amended CMC Section 3301 to restate and reaffirm an exception from the prohibition of dogs in public parks for service dogs pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California Civil Code Sections 54.1 and 54.2 (Exhibit No. 2).
Since then, there has been some confusion among the public as to the scope of the exceptions from the City's general prohibition and the requirements for leashing of dogs in parks. The ordinance states that the only dogs permitted at the parks are service dogs under the ADA, as well as dogs approved for teaching uses by the Director of Community Services. They must be leashed to the extent consistent with the ADA (which places limits on the City's ability to require leashing of ADA service dogs in some circumstances). However, some individuals have misinterpreted the ordinance as generally permitting dogs in City parks provided they are leashed.
To provide clarity, staff is requesting that the City Council approve Ordinance No. 24-2403 (Exhibit 1). It would modify CMC Section 3301 such that: the general prohibition on dogs in City parks is restated; the exceptions for dogs that are service animals as defined in the ADA, guide dogs...
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