Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />ECC <br />UGENE ITY OUNCIL <br />AIS <br />GENDA TEM UMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Public Hearing: An Ordinance Concerning Amendment of Animal Regulations <br />Regarding Service Animals and Amending Sections 4.330, 4.335, 4.340, 4.395, 4.410, <br />4.427, 4.435 and 4.440 of the Eugene Code, 1971 <br /> <br /> <br />Meeting Date: June 20, 2011 Agenda Item Number: 5 <br />Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Keli Osborn <br />www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5406 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE STATEMENT <br /> <br />This public hearing invites comments on proposed changes to Eugene City Code to strengthen support <br />and enforcement for service animals, recognizing these animals as extensions of the humans they serve. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />The council on May 9, 2011, held a work session to discuss proposed changes to Eugene City Code to <br />strengthen support and enforcement for companion animals and community members. The public <br />hearing has been set at the council’s request. <br /> <br />In recent years, there have been instances in which a service animal was injured by a dangerous dog in <br />Eugene. These actions caused great expense to the owners and significantly impacted their ability to <br />function normally for the prolonged period without a service animal trained to meet their needs. The <br />City Code does not distinguish service animals from domestic animals, and provisions in place for <br />attacks on domestic animals do not provide sufficient protections or redress for people who rely on <br />service animals. <br /> <br />New protections and sanctions related to service animals would take the approach that these animals are <br />extensions of the person they are serving. People with disabilities have come to rely on professionally <br />trained animals to help them live more independent lives. <br /> <br />Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities <br />such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and <br />protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Service animals are <br />working animals, not pets. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), businesses and <br />organizations that serve the public must allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals into <br />all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. This federal law applies to all <br />businesses open to the public, including restaurants, hotels, taxis and shuttles, grocery and department <br />stores, hospitals and medical offices, theaters, health clubs, parks, and zoos. <br /> <br /> \\Cesrv500\cc support\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M110620\S1106205.doc <br /> <br />