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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL <br />AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY <br />Work Session and Possible Action: An Ordinance Concerning The Prohibition of <br />Dogs Within The Downtown Core Except in Certain Circumstances; Amending <br />Section 4.427 Of The Eugene Code, 1971; and Providing for a Sunset Date of <br />November 1, 2017. <br />Meeting Date: March 8, 2017 <br />Department: Planning & Development <br />www.eugene-orgov <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br />Agenda Item Number: A <br />Staff Contact: Denny Braud <br />Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5536 <br />This work session is an opportunity for the Eugene City Council to take action on a proposed <br />ordinance to restrict dogs in an area of the downtown. The purpose of the ordinance is to promote <br />health and safety of pedestrians and dogs in downtown. <br />BACKGROUND <br />During a November 9, 2016, work session the City Council discussed potentially regulating the <br />large numbers of dogs that are concentrated in the high pedestrian -traffic areas downtown. This <br />dog issue was part of a comprehensive discussion regarding the creation of a safe, clean <br />downtown and parks that are welcoming to everyone, through environmental enhancements, <br />police and security presence and programing activities. The dog attack of a library employee that <br />occurred downtown in the summer of 2016 (that resulted in the death of the library employee's <br />dog and injury to her) was discussed at an earlier work session as an example of the type of <br />tragedy that might be prevented in the future if there was a restriction on dogs within the <br />downtown area. <br />The current concentration of dogs and people downtown is similar to the concentration of dogs <br />and people experienced in the University area in the late 1990s. To address the safety issues in <br />the University area, in 1996 the City adopted an ordinance prohibiting dogs in a specific <br />geographic area near the University and Alder St. One of a handful of exceptions to the ordinance <br />is if the dog's owner lawfully resides within the designated area. As a result of the 1996 <br />ordinance, the safety issues caused by the high concentration of people and dogs in this University <br />area no longer exists. <br />Based on this experience, two ordinances are currently provided for the Council's consideration. <br />Attachment A to this AIS is the ordinance that was the subject of the February 27 public hearing. <br />As a second option for the Council to consider, Attachment B to this AIS is an ordinance that <br />