Story by Rodger Nichols for Gorge Country Media
The Dalles City Council last night had three action items and a long discussion on changes to the city’s dog ordinance. The action items included changes to the city ordinance that allows people to get a permit to park overnight in city-owned lots. City Attorney Jonathan Kara explained:
“Basically, we have three different changes. The first is adding in prohibitions for giving out those kinds of permits for what’s known as heavy equipment, oversized vehicles – those are ones exceeding 22 feet in length and there is also a prohibition now on trailers.”
The other two changes, he said, were to give the city manager the power to revoke the permit for any violation and to set up an appeals process with the city municipal judge.
A second action item involved putting guidelines the city has used for years when dealing with fireworks into a formal ordinance. Under the new ordinance, the city will not ban the sale of fireworks, since that is a big fundraiser for several nonprofit groups, but they will ban the personal use of fireworks if triggered by either the state declaring a drought or Wasco County banning the personal use.
A third action item was approving cost of living increases for city employees.
But the main subject of the evening was a discussion item on revising the city’s dog ordinance.
Councilors agreed on a number of points that will come back to them in June as an ordinance. Among other things, the council is proposing a leash ordinance, expanding the discretion of the city’s animal control officer, and enforcing a dog license requirement and a limit of the number of dogs allowed in a home.
With only a few people in the audience, Councilor Rod Runyon asked for a lot more public input:
“This is only a discussion, and what we’re really looking for – there’s not a lot of public here today. We’re not in a big hurry to pass anything as I understand it, and we’re wanting public input. Pro, con, in the middle, different ideas. The more the media can help us get the word out, like the talk show I’m going to be on tomorrow, to get the cards and letters coming in is a good thing.”
Media help requested, and media help delivered.
Also looking to spread her message about the Cherry Festival was Chamber of Commerce Manager Lisa Farquharson:
“We have a ton of stuff happening again this year, but we still have room in the parade. We also have room at the community fair, which is on Saturday, and nonprofits can come for free without a sponsor, so they don’t have to pay anything. And you can always vote for your little royals right now until the 21st. It’s all at the Northwest Cherry Festival.”
That festival is coming up April 25th through the 27th, and the theme is “Cherryland,” a takeoff on the game “Candyland.”