As many have heard, this monday the Tualatin city council plans on passing new legislation that affects animal keepers throughout the city. This mostly affect people that keep "exotic" animals including harmless snakes (cornsnakes, boas, the works), arachnids (tarantulas and scorpions), fish (like piranhas) and much much more.
I urge you all to attend the Tualatin City Council meeting this Monday, June 12th, at 7:30 PM. Below is more information about council meetings as well as the extremely restrictive, proposed legislation.
Here is some information about Tualatin council meetings:
Council Meetings
Council meetings are normally the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, beginning at 7:30pm. Special meetings may be held as required. Council meetings are preceded by a work session at 5:00pm. Work sessions are used to review the agenda and give Council an opportunity to ask questions of staff, to update calendar items, or meet with community leaders. The agenda and Council packet material are available for review in the Library and City offices, and on the City's website at
www.ci.tualatin.or.us seven calendar days prior to the Council meeting.
Council meetings are televised live on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 7:30 p.m. on Tualatin Valley Television Cable Channel 28. The Council meetings are rebroadcast on Wednesdays at 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., Fridays at 4:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7:00 a.m.
Here is a PDF file for the agenda for Monday's meeting:
http://www.ci.tualatin.or.us/city/Departments/Administration/ePacket/epacket20060612.pdf
Tualatin Municipal Code that will be repealed or amended:
6-4-010 Definitions. (would be amended)
As used in this Chapter the following definitions
apply:
(1) "Person" means a natural person, firm,
partnership, association or corporation.
(2) "Person in charge of property" means
an agent, occupant, lessee, contract purchaser
or other person having possession or control of
property or the supervision of any construction
project.
(3) "Person responsible" means the person
responsible for abating a nuisance shall include:
(a) The owner.
(b) The person in charge of property, as
defined in Subsection (2).
(c) The person who caused to come
into or continue in existence a nuisance as defined
in this ordinance or another ordinance of
this City.
(4) "Public place" means a building, way,
place or accommodation, whether publicly or
privately owned, open and available to the general
public. [Ord. 501-80 §1, March 10, 1980.]
6-4-020 Dangerous Animals. (would be replealed)
No owner or person in charge of an animal
shall permit an animal which is dangerous to
the public health or safety to be exposed in
public. If the animal is exposed in public, it
may be taken into custody by the City and disposed
of in accordance with the procedures
provided by ordinance for the impoundment of
dogs; except that before the animal is released
by the City, the municipal judge must find that
proper precautions will be taken to insure the
public health and safety. [Ord. 501-80 §2, March 10, 1980.]
6-4-230 Penalties. (would be amended to no less than $250 and upwards of $500 fines)
Any person or persons who shall be convicted
of being the author or keeper of a nuisance,
or otherwise guilty of a violation of any
of the provisions of this ordinance, commits a
civil infraction and shall be fined not less
$10.00, nor more than $50.00 for the first offense,
and for the second and all subsequent offenses,
not less than $25.00, nor more than
$500.00. [Ord. 501-80 §52, March 10, 1980; Ord. 699-86, June 23, 1986.]
the whole animal code can be found in this PDF file:
http://www.ci.tualatin.or.us/city/Departments/Legal/images/TMC/Chapter6-4.pdf
the proposed legislation will ammend TMC 6-4-010 to read:
TMC6-4-10 DEFINITIONS
As used in the Chapter the following definitions apply:
(1) "Exotic, wild, or dangerous animal(s)" means any animal which, because of its size, vicious nature, poisonous bite or sting, or other characteristics, would constitute a danger to human life or property if not kept or maintained under the immediate control of the owner. Exotic, wild or dangerous animals include but are not limited to:
(a) Cats other than the Felis catus (domestic cat).
(b) Nonhuman primates.
(c) Wolves, coyotes, or other canines not of the species Canis familaris (domestic dog).
(d) Sharks, dogfish, piranha, or similar carnivorous fish.
(e) Poisonous reptiles and snapping turtles.
(f) Crocodiles, alligators or lizards of species whose average adult length is greater than two (2) feet.
(g) Snakes of a species whose average adult length is greater than two (2) feet.
(g) Bats.
(h) Skunks, weasels, badgers, foxes, mammals of the raccoon family, or wolverines.
(i) Boars or wild pigs.
(j) Bears.
(k) Eagles, hawks, buzzards or similar predatory birds.
(l) Poisonous or stinging insects or arachnids (including bees kept in a hive).
(2) "Person" means a natural person, firm,
partnership, association or corporation.
(3) "Person in charge of property" means
an agent, occupant, lessee, contract purchaser
or other person having possession or control of
property or the supervision of any construction
project.
(4) "Person responsible" means the person
responsible for abating a nuisance shall include:
(a) The owner.
(b) The person in charge of property, as
defined in Subsection (2).
(c) The person who caused to come
into or continue in existence a nuisance as defined
in this ordinance or another ordinance of
this City.
(5) "Public place" means a building, way,
place or accommodation, whether publicly or
privately owned, open and available to the general
public.
the addition of TMC 6-4-021 reads:
6-4-021 Exotic, Wild or Dangerous Animals.
No person shall keep an exotic, wild or dangerous animal within the City. To do so constitutes a nuisance and may be abated as provided in this chapter or cited as a civil infraction pursuant to this chapter and Chapter 7-1 or both.
