City council amends ordinance concerning dangerous dogs

The City of Dallas council members amended a city ordinance Wednesday to more effectively control and regulate animals, including dangerous dogs within the city limits.

The state code defines a dangerous dog as a dog that makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept.

The City of Dallas Code defines an aggressive dog as a dog that on at least one occasion, while not legally restrained, killed or injured a legally restrained domestic animal or livestock.

After a dog is determined to be dangerous or aggressive, the owner of the dog has 15 days to comply with the following:

– Have an unsterilized dangerous/aggressive dog spayed or neutered;
– Register the aggressive dog with the director and pay to the director a dangerous/aggressive dog registration fee of $50;
– Restrain the dangerous/aggressive dog at all times on a leash in the immediate control of a person or in a secure enclosure;
– When taken outside the enclosure, must be securely muzzled;
– Obtain liability insurance coverage or show financial responsibility in an amount of at least $100,000;
– Place and maintain on the dangerous/aggressive dog collar or harness with a current dangerous/aggressive dog registration tag securely attached to it;
– Have the dangerous/aggressive dog injected with a microchip implant and registered with a national registry for dogs;
– Post a legible sign at each entrance to the enclosure in which the dangerous/aggressive dog is confined stating “BEWARE DANGEROUS/AGGRESSIVE DOG.” The aforementioned sign must be purchased from Dallas Animal Services.

Animals may be exempt from vaccinations or the embedding of a microchip if the owner can provide a letter from a licensed veterinarian on office stationary dated prior to impoundment stating that the animal was not vaccinated or should not be injected with a microchip due to health reasons.

There are no longer boarding and impoundment fees for animals redeemed before the end of their first full day at shelter. Furthermore, hold times for animals with identification has been reduced from ten days to five days.

Dallas Animal Service officers are now authorized to seize and impound any animal in the city that is loose, posing a threat to public health or safety, and displaying signs and symptoms of extreme health concerns.

Any person violating a provision of this ordinance, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine up to $500.

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Public input needed for Homeless Solutions Strategy

The Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) is seeking public feedback on a proposed Homeless Solutions Strategy to address homelessness in the City of Dallas. Citizens are encouraged to attend an in-person meeting or register for a Tele Town Hall to give their feedback.

Pending approval from City Council, the four-track program will concurrently meet the immediate need by providing habitable living environments for the unsheltered while developing the infrastructure for sustainability by increasing the supply of affordable housing.

Overall homelessness and unsheltered homelessness has increased by 9% and 23% respectively since 2017. Please join OHS to discuss the following Homeless Solutions Strategy:

Track I: Increase Shelter Capacity
Expand the capacity of existing providers through contracted pay-to-stay shelter beds.

Track II: Temporary Homeless Centers
Provide shelter and support services for up to 90 days in the 4 quadrants of the city simultaneously.

Track III: Master Lease/Landlord Incentive Programs
Provide security deposits, rent, utilities, and incentives to tenants as well as incentives and risk mitigation services to participating landlords.

Track IV: New Developments
Leverage the $20M Proposition J (Homeless Assistance Facilities) of the 2017 Dallas Bond Program for permanent supportive housing targeting chronic homeless; rapid rehousing addressing the elderly, disabled, families with children and young adults; Day Centers for seamless wrap-around services.

Register for a Tele Town Hall Meeting –

Click here for meeting schedule: Homeless Solutions Strategy Meetings

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Dallas Clean Air Action Day

Dallas’ Office of Environmental Quality teamed up with The Nature Conservancy to showcase a variety of ways Dallasites can improve air quality, from what you drive, to what you ride during this year’s “Dallas Clean Air Action Day” on June 22.

“It’s all about learning to improve the air quality in the Dallas-Fort Worth area so residents can breathe easy,” says James McGuire, Managing Director of the Office of Environmental Quality (OEQ).

DART showcased its electric buses on City Hall Plaza, and Tesla owners came out to talk about the benefits of their high-tech, earth-friendly cars. Different City departments set up booths showing ways they increase efficiency without increasing harmful emissions.

The Nature Conservancy also announced a first-of-its-kind study for North Texas called Breathe Easy Dallas during the event.

“Poor air quality is one of the leading environmental health challenges in cities globally, affecting vulnerable populations and communities disproportionately,” says Kathy Jack, Ph.D., Dallas Urban Conservation Associate for The Nature Conservancy. With Breathe Easy Dallas, we hope to improve the health, happiness, and learning of all Dallas children,” remarks Jack.

The project will study the impact of practical solutions like reduced car idling, campus-based health initiatives and tree planting on air quality and asthma-related absenteeism at local schools.

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Ceremony honoring July 7 fallen officers scheduled for Friday

This year’s ceremony to honor fallen officers from the July 7, 2016 shooting will be held at Jack Evans Police Headquarters on 1400 S. Lamar Street on Friday, July 6, 2018.

The ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. with an interfaith prayer, followed by remarks from Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall, a moment of silence and conclude with a balloon release.

Five officers representing the Dallas Police Department and DART police were killed by a shooter during what was a peaceful march in Downtown Dallas.

The names of the fallen officers are:

Michael J. Smith, Dallas Police Department

Patricio E. Zamarippa, Dallas Police Department

Lorne B. Ahrens, Dallas Police Department

Michael L. Krol, Dallas Police Department

Brent Thompson, DART Police Officer

 

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Dallas’ Fleet Management recognized for excellence

The City of Dallas has been ranked fifth in the nation on the “100 Best Fleets” list sponsored by the 100 Best Fleets Program and published in Governing Magazine.

The Equipment and Building Services staff was honored in part due to it’s impressive effect on the economy and its fresh and innovative ideas.
“You have demonstrated your commitment to society,” said Tom C. Johnson, founder of the 100 Best Fleets Program. “You are helping to create the future of Fleets in the Americas.”

Ranking fleets are selected from over 38,000 public fleets across North America. Criteria for consideration includes accountability, use of technology, collaborative efforts, creativity, trust in culture, efficient turnaround, pricing, staff development, and resource stewardship.

“Managing over 5,000 vehicles is not an easy task, but our team is efficient and committed to continuously improving our services,” said Errick Thompson, Department Director for Equipment and Building Services. “It’s an honor to be recognized nationally for the hard work our team puts in to delivering this service.”

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Family fun for displaced families

The Office of Homeless Solutions and the UniverSoul Circus have come together to give displaced children and their families a spectacular night of fun at the circus.

Over 250 people, including 190 children, are registered to experience UniverSoul Circus’ electrifying entertainment including acrobats, clowns, and acts from around the World on July 8. Included in the circus event will be a free meal for families and souvenirs for children. Free transportation is being provided by Downtown Dallas, Inc. and Union Gospel Mission.

Children experiencing homelessness have been shown to have higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems, experience more school mobility and separation from their family. One night of carefree enjoyment can go a long way to providing a sense of normalcy and balance.

“The holidays can be particularly difficult for homeless families who do not have the resources needed to celebrate as they did prior to experiencing homelessness,” said Gloria Sandoval of the Office of Homeless Solutions. “Spending the day at the circus is the ultimate family adventure regardless of your living situation.”

District 8 Councilman Tennell Atkins spearheaded this initiative and was supported by Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway and Councilman Casey Thomas.

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Free inventor workshops offered at Dallas Public Library

Figuring out how to patent your invention can be a challenge.

To help inventors and small businesses understand the patent process, the Dallas Public Library’s Patent & Trademark Resource Center is providing free one-on-one sessions with local patent attorneys.
Located on the sixth floor of the Central Library at 1515 Young St., the Patent & Trademark Resource Center provides free 20-minute sessions with patent attorneys Robert E. Wise and John G. Baker. They will answer general questions and discuss the patent application process and patent searching.
Sessions will be held July 7, Sept. 1 and Nov. 3 with Robert E. Wise; and on Aug. 4, Oct. 6 and Dec. 1 with John G. Baker.  The Saturday sessions will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Call (214) 670-1468 to sign up.

Note: Workshops are intended to be a general guide to the patent process. They are not a substitute for professional advice regarding a specific transaction or the laws of a particular jurisdiction. No agent-client or attorney-client relationship is established.

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