The Anchorage Assembly on Tuesday evening will take up various ordinances aimed at curbing the behavior of citizens and their pets.
One proposed amended ordinance would tighten the leash law as it pertains to dogs on an electronic collar, controlled by a remote mechanism held by the dog’s owner. The Assembly will also consider the meaning of “control by command,” by which a dog is well-trained to follow voice commands. The move is part of a process started with the Animal Control Advisory Board to address the complaints about aggressive dogs that are not on leashes in city parks and on trails.
“A controlled animal off-leash will return to its custodian at the time it has been called. The animal will not run after wildlife. The animal will not approach people. The animal will not run up to other animals,” the ordinance has been amended to say.
An “(e-collar) means the animal is trained to respond to a mild shock, vibration, or sound upon receiving a signal from a remote transmitter. A controlled animal must be within eyesight and within range of the e-collar. A controlled animal using an e- collar will return to its custodian at the time it has been called. A controlled animal will not run after wildlife. The animal will not approach people. The animal will not run up to other animals.”
“Activities NOT allowed under control by command include but are not limited to hiking, walking, biking, and skiing,” the ordinance says. “Control of an animal by e-collar is allowed if the collar is worn by the animal properly and the collar and remote controller are functional throughout the duration of its use. The animal must be within eyesight and within range of the e-collar. No more than three animals per custodian. A leash per animal must be in possession of the custodian. An animal on an e-collar must conduct itself in a manner that does not impact the general public.”
The proposed ordinance language is at this link.
The Assembly will also continue considering an ordinance that would make certain blocks in downtown Anchorage the only place in the state where drivers may not turn right on a red light, even if there is no competing traffic. Assemblyman Daniel Volland, formerly of Seattle, is the ordinance sponsor and believes it will create more safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The streets would be “all streets and portions of streets within the area described as follows: all that area bounded on the south by Ninth Avenue, on the north by Third Avenue, on the west by L Street and on the east by Gambell Street.”
That ordinance language can be viewed at this link.
The Assembly will vote on new regulations for short-term rentals in Anchorage, aimed at getting control over people who convert part of their homes into vacation rentals. And it will hear a proposed ordinance that amends Anchorage Municipal Code Section 15.20.020 prohibiting homeless camps within 10 blocks of any licensed homeless shelter, and prohibiting homeless camps with more than 50 people and other provisions relating to camping and vehicle homeless camping.
The Anchorage Assembly meets at 5 p.m. on March 19 in the theater of the Loussac Library, which is on the corner of 36th Ave. and Denali Street. The meeting typically goes until 11:30 p.m. The entire agenda is here.
