Council approves microchipping, decriminalizes minor animal-control violations and sends leash-law rewrite back to staff

Boulder City Council on [date not specified] approved two changes to the city’s animal-control code and asked staff to rework a separate proposed leash-law amendment.

The council unanimously approved Bill 20‑76, which requires microchipping for animals impounded or adopted and allows a properly registered microchip to satisfy the city’s license/tag requirement. Council also unanimously adopted Bill 20‑77, which moves a set of minor animal-control violations from criminal penalties to a civil citation process modeled on the state’s traffic-citation system.

“The microchip does not contain GPS,” a member of staff clarified during the meeting, adding that other Southern Nevada jurisdictions reported no instances of microchips being used to stalk or harass owners. Staff said microchipping would be required only on impoundment or adoption under the current draft; the council may direct staff to draft broader mandatory-microchip language if it wishes.

The votes followed extensive public comment both for and against broader leash-law changes. Several residents described attacks or near-misses: John Koch (public commenter) said he had been attacked three times in Boulder City parks; Robert Walters said he had been charged by dogs on streets and favored a leash law. Other commenters, including Fred Damano, argued leashes do not prevent every incident and cautioned against restricting long-standing recreational uses of parks.

Council members debated scope and enforcement. Staff presented Bill 20‑78, which would remove an exception for animals “under direct supervision and control,” effectively requiring leashes in all public places except specifically designated off‑leash areas. Council members raised questions about weekend tourists, how the law would apply in desert/open-space areas, and how animal-control resources would enforce a broader leash requirement.

Animal Control Supervisor Bridal Hansen told the council that animal-control officers expected an emphasis on public education first and that enforcement in remote desert areas posed practical challenges. Council members discussed signs, posted hours for off‑leash activity at certain parks, and fenced dog-park options as alternatives to a blanket off‑leash prohibition.

Rather than pass Bill 20‑78 as written, the council voted to send the leash-law draft back to staff with direction to explore targeted exceptions (for specified desert areas or distances from town), potential posted hours at select parks, clearer enforcement language, and signage strategies. The motion passed with council concurrence; specifics will return to a future meeting for consideration.

A city staff representative also said ticket amounts in the proposed civil fine schedule could be adjusted by the council when the schedule returns; under the draft discussed, proposed fines for off‑leash citations were $95 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $500 for a third, but staff noted fines and procedures would be set in the companion civil fine resolution.

What happens next: staff will return with revised leash‑law language and an implementation package that could include proposed signage, suggested off‑leash hours, and cost estimates for enforcement and microchip‑clinic options. The council has already approved the microchipping and decriminalization steps to move the city toward civil enforcement for minor animal-control violations.