First Dog, Sutter Brown, approves bill to facilitate more dog parks

First Dog, Sutter Brown, stopped by my office last week to affix his paw to AB 265, my bill to facilitate more dog parks.

CV WEEKLY: Gatto Speaks to Local Democrats

A great piece in the CV Weekly on a mini Town Hall I had recently in La Canada.

Gatto Speaks to Local Democrats

Photo by CHARLY SHELTON - CV WEEKLY

By Mary O’KEEFE - CRESCENTA VALLEY WEEKLY

On Aug. 18, Assemblymember Mike Gatto spoke to the Cañada-Crescenta Democratic Club at a meeting hosted by Anthony and Ellen Portantino at their home.

At the meeting, Gatto answered questions from the audience on a variety of issues and spoke about what was happening in the state assembly.

He spoke on AB440, a bill that had cleared the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality and is now on its way to Appropriations. The bill would give local governments the tools needed to clean up contaminated properties, known as brownfields, and to recover costs of the contamination from the responsible party/parties.

He also spoke of a bill to ease traffic. AB405 would allow HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes to be used by all vehicles during non-peak hours.

“It doesn’t do anyone any good when there is an accident [on the freeway] and you can’t go around it [because of the HOV restrictions],” he said.

Gatto added that other areas, including northern California, have time sensitive HOV lanes in which carpool restrictions are in place during rush hour and then open for all vehicles during non rush hour.

“This is the last month the legislature is in session,” Gatto said. “There are hundreds of bills in the mix.”

One of those bills was signed into law on Aug. 12 and will allow cities more freedom to build dog parks.

“The idea came from Laura Friedman,” he said. Friedman is a Glendale city councilmember. “She came to me at the opening of the Crescenta Valley dog park.”

The CV dog park was the first park of its kind opened in Los Angeles County. Friedman had pointed out to Gatto that L.A. County had the ability to self insure, but for a city it would be cost prohibitive to have a dog park. AB265 limits the liability that cities and counties face when operating dog parks and protects them from litigants who claim, for example, that they were unaware of potential dangers, according to Gatto’s website.

“We were able to get that bill through this year,” he said.

He commented on the 710 extension, saying, “I don’t see anything that is good” about that.

“And I think the community has spoken,” he added. “We don’t want this.”

A question came from the audience regarding the Rainy Day Fund, which is purported to increase the potential savings in the state fund from 5% to 10 % of the General Fund. Gatto is a supporter of the measure.

“To me, [the concept of] a rainy day fund is simple,” he said. “[It’s like] you see this guy and he is very wealthy and [appears to be] responsible but he has nothing in his retirement or savings. [After finding this out], you would say he is not responsible. … Well, that is what California is like.”

Gatto added the state tends to spend all its money in the good times and then has nothing when bad times come around.

The Cañada-Crescenta Democratic Club was chartered in 2005 to serve the Democrats in the area. They were then called the La Cañada Flintridge Democratic Club. In 2008, the name was changed to Cañada-Crescenta Democratic Club because its reach had grown throughout Crescenta Valley.

They meet on the third Sunday of each month except for June and December. 

You can read this article and more at http://www.crescentavalleyweekly.com/news/08/29/2013/gatto-speaks-to-local-democrats/ # # # 

Mike Gatto chairs the Appropriations Committee in the California Assembly. He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, and Silver Lake.

Making it easier to have a public dog park in California

Jennifer Zelinski does an elbow plank as her dog Wash looks around the Barrington Dog Park, where owners were working out with their pets in tow. (Los Angeles Times / July 10, 2013)

By Carla Hall
August 13, 2013, 6:03 p.m.

There are few urban spaces more fun to visit than a dog park, even if you don’t have a dog.

Dog parks are also essential for the cooped-up city dog without his or her own private field to romp through. And they’re usually a safe alternative to walking the dog. But, as with all publicly run spaces, there is the question of the municipality’s liability. And those kinds of concerns were stopping small and medium-size cities from opening dog parks.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles), whose district covers Burbank, Glendale, the Hollywood Hills and Silver Lake among other communities, introduced AB 265, which limits the liability that cities and counties face when operating dog parks. He credits Glendale City Council member Laura Friedman with getting him launched on the bill after Friedman told him that one of Glendale's biggest concerns about opening a dog park was the liability. Gov. Jerry Brown (whose own dog, Sutter, has traveled the state) signed the bill into law Monday. The state has similarly imposed limited liability under some conditions for public skate parks.

Letting your canine run at the dog park generally isn’t as risky as skateboarding -- neither you nor your dog is likely to break any bones. But obviously, dogs sometimes do bite or attack people and other dogs. State law already holds dog owners liable for any injury or death caused by their dogs in a dog park. That will continue to be the case. But victims who can’t recover costs from dog owners theoretically could turn to the city or county for damages. The new law makes dog park operators not liable for an injury that results solely from an attack by a dog and is not in any way connected to the operation of the park.

This is a good and smart legal change that should help smaller communities throughout the state set up needed dog parks. And it’s another reminder that owners of dogs need to be careful with their pets no matter where they are. Everyone, human and canine, needs to be responsible in a dog park.

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Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee in the California State Assembly.  He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, and Silver Lake.  www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

PRESS RELEASE: Mike Gatto’s Bill to Enable More Dog Parks Signed Into Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  Contact: Justin Hager (818) 558-3043

August 12, 2013                                                                                                   Mobile (415) 889-9762

Mike Gatto’s Bill to Enable More Dog Parks Signed Into Law

Sacramento, CA – Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) bill to help local governments create dog parks was signed into law today by Governor Jerry Brown.  The idea for the bill came from Glendale City Councilmember Laura Friedman, who told Gatto that liability concerns were preventing small- and medium-sized cities from siting dog parks. 

“When Glendale was considering opening a dog park, one of the biggest concerns was protecting the City from liability,” said Friedman.  “I approached Assemblyman Gatto and am glad to see real action to address this problem for Glendale and other cities.”

Gatto’s AB 265 limits the liability that cities and counties face when operating dog parks and protects them from litigants who claim, for example, that they were unaware of potential dangers.  The current legal situation is muddled, causing many local governments to feel uncertain about potential liability.

Burbank City Councilman Jess Talamantes echoed the importance of AB 265.  “As a Councilman, I must be responsible with the city’s public finances and ensure that Burbank is protected from liability.  Assemblyman Gatto’s bill provides greater certainty that Burbank’s potential future investment in a dog park will not come back to bite us.”

AB 265’s Republican supporter, Assemblyman Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego), who served eight years on the San Diego City Council, expressed similar sentiments, saying “this bill would have made my life significantly easier when I was on the San Diego City Council and trying to site a dog park.” 

“Dog parks help build safer and stronger communities by providing a public space for neighbors to interact while training and socializing their dogs,” said Assemblyman Gatto.  “We should not allow liability concerns to be a barrier to creating these open spaces, especially in small- and medium-sized cities that cannot afford to self-insure.” 

Jennifer Fearing of the Humane Society of the United States emphasized the social importance of dog parks, especially for animal lovers with physical ailments.  “Dog parks enable senior citizens and people with disabilities, who cannot always walk their dogs, a safe alternative,” said Fearing.  “The Humane Society is glad for an opportunity to support a bill with the noble goal of nurturing the human-animal bond.”

Precedent exists for the state limiting liability to encourage specialized open spaces.  In 1997, the state imposed limited liability under certain circumstances for cities that open skate parks.  State lawmakers reasoned that more recreation opportunities were needed, but that skateboarding is inherently dangerous, and should be done at the users’ risk, and without massive liability for cities and their taxpayers.

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee in the California State Assembly.  He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, and Silver Lake.  www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

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Daily Breeze: Dog park legislation boosts Whittier plans

Excerpt from a great story by Peter Fullam of the Daily Breeze / San Gabriel Valley News on how my AB 265 is already having a positive effect in small/medium cities.

Members of the Whittier Dog Park Task Force gather with their dogs on the sidewalk around Central Park in Whittier on Friday April 22, 2011. (SGVN/Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger/SWCITY)

Cities would have immunity from bite lawsuits

By Peter Fullam, SGVN
twitter.com/peterfullam

Posted:   07/09/2013 07:01:55 PM PDT

WHITTIER - Plans for the city's dog park got a boost earlier this month when legislation giving cities immunity from lawsuits by people who get bitten at dog parks was sent to the Governor's Office.

"We were happy it was approved," said Fran Shields, director of the city's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. "It gives us an immunity shield for the dog park we're planning."

According to the Legislative Counsel's Digest, the bill provides that any public entity that owns or operates a dog park "shall not be held liable for an injury or death of a person or pet resulting solely from the actions of a dog in the dog park."

Shields said she hopes to bring plans for the dog park before the City Council by the end of August. If plans progress smoothly, construction on the dog park could begin by the end of the year, she said...

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) authored AB 61 to help
small- and medium-sized cities open dog parks.

...Shields said the legislation, called Helping Communities Afford Dog Parks, is similar to earlier legislation that gave cities immunity from liability for injuries that happen at skate parks.

The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Los Angeles. It passed the state Senate June 24 and the Assembly June 27. It was sent to the Governor's Office on July 1, and a spokeswoman for Gatto said Tuesday the bill is waiting for the governor to sign it.

"It's a good thing for the city," Shields said of the legislation. "With this we're able to keep moving forward."

You can read more at http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_23629814/dog-park-legislation-boosts-whittier-plans

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee in the California State Assembly.  He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, and Silver Lake.  www.asm.ca.gov/gatto 

Mike Gatto’s Bill to Protect Local Governments from Dog Park Liability Passes Assembly

By Craig Sherwood - MyBurbank.com - May 20, 2013

Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) bill to help local governments create dog parks for their residents passed the Assembly Floor today with a bipartisan vote of 75-0. The idea for the bill came from Glendale City Councilmember Laura Friedman, who told Gatto that liability concerns were preventing cities from opening more dog parks.

“When Glendale was considering opening a dog park, one of the biggest concerns was protecting the City from liability,” said Friedman. “I approached Assemblyman Gatto in the fall and am glad to see real action to address this problem for Glendale and other cities.”

Gatto’s AB 265 limits the liability that cities and counties face when operating dog parks and protects them from litigants who claim, for example, that they were unaware of the potential dangers of such parks. While some laws and legal rulings already limit the liability of cities and counties with regards to parks and public spaces, such limitations have never been codified with specific regard to dog parks, causing many local governments to feel uncertain about their potential financial liability.

Burbank City Councilman Jess Talamantes explained the importance of AB 265 for decision makers. “As a Councilman, I must be responsible with the city’s public finances and ensure that Burbank is protected from liability. Assemblyman Gatto’s bill provides greater certainty that Burbank’s potential future investment in a dog park will not come back to bite us.”

AB 265’s Republican Co-author, Assemblyman Brian Maienschein (R-San Diego), who served for eight years on the San Diego City Council, expressed similar sentiments, saying “this bill would have made my life significantly easier when I was on the San Diego City Council and trying to site a dog park.”

“Dog parks help build safer and stronger communities by providing a public space for neighbors to interact while training and socializing their dogs,” said Assemblyman Gatto. “We should not allow liability concerns to be a major barrier to creating these valuable spaces, especially in small- and medium-sized cities that cannot afford to self-insure.”

Jennifer Fearing of The Humane Society of the United States echoed the social importance of dog parks, especially for animal lovers with physical ailments. “Dog parks enable senior citizens and people with disabilities, who cannot always walk their dogs, a safe alternative,” said Fearing. “The Humane Society is glad for an opportunity to support a bill with the noble goal of nurturing the human-animal bond.”

There is precedent for the state stepping in to limit liability for the public good, especially for the use of public resources that come with some inherent danger. In 1997, the state imposed limited liability under certain circumstances for cities that open skate parks. State lawmakers reasoned that more recreation opportunities were needed, but that skateboarding is inherently dangerous, and should be done at the users’ risk and without massive liability for cities and their taxpayers.

“By offering our communities more certainty on this issue, I believe we can help make more dogs parks available in our neighborhoods, improving the lives of dog lovers and our canine companions,” said Gatto.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

You can read this article and more at MyBurbank.com by clicking the link below http://myburbank.com/05/sections/politics-news/mike-gattos-bill-to-protect-local-governments-from-dog-park-liability-passes-assembly/

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.  www.asm.ca.gov/gatto 

Gatto introduces bill to protect cities from dog park-related claims

Five years ago, Grassroots organizers from throughout the region began working together to create a dog park in Crescenta Valley.  I was happy to help those organizors pursue their goal and last October, I was honored to be part of the ribbon cutting ceremony that officially opened the park to the public.  Now I'm authoring AB 265, a bill that would make it easier for small  and medium-sized communities across California to open dog parks.  Daniel Siegal of the Glendale News-Press wrote the following article about the challenges to small and medium-sized communities who want to build dog parks, how AB 265 would address them.  He also provided a recent photo of local residents (and their furry friends) taking advantage of the Crescenta Valley Dog Park

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) has introduced a bill that would limit the liability of local governments that operate dog parks.

AB 265 would also require cities and counties to post signs warning users that they enter a dog park at their own risk, Gatto said in a statement.

 (Times Community News / February 11, 2013)

Under current law, cities can be subject to massive liability claims filed by people who they were unaware of the potential dangers, such as dog bites, that can occur at dog parks, according to Gatto’s office.

“By offering our communities a more sensible set of laws on this issue, we can help make more dogs parks available in more neighborhoods,” he said.

-- Daniel Siegal, Times Community News

You can read this article and more at the Glendale News-Press HERE

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

- Become a fan of Assemblyman Mike Gatto on Facebook by clicking  HERE!

San Diego Pets Magazine: Gatto Bill Would Help Cities Get Dog Parks

Dogs play at a beach in Coronado, CA - A new bill by Assemblyman Mike Gatto
would eliminate barriers for cities like Coronado to build dog parks.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) introduced a bill today to help local governments create dog parks for their residents.  Under current law, cities often hesitate to open dog parks because dog parks can subject cities to massive liability from litigants who claim, for example, that they were unaware of the potential dangers (i.e., dog bites) that can occur at such parks.  Gatto’s AB 265 limits liability for cities and counties that operate dog parks.  Cities must post signs to warn users that they enter a dog park at their own risk, and, because most cities do not patrol dog parks, that the city is not responsible for injuries suffered by park goers or their pets.

The idea for the bill came from a local city councilmember, who expressed to Gatto that cities would open more dog parks, but for the liability concerns.  “Apparently, large cities and counties can ‘self-insure’ and absorb any potential liability,” said Gatto, “but for smaller and mid-size cities, the liability concerns are a major barrier to improving the lives of dog lovers.”

There is precedent for the state stepping in to limit liability for the public good, especially for the use of public resources that come with some inherent danger.  In 1997, the state imposed limited liability under certain circumstances for cities that open skate parks.  Policymakers reasoned then that more recreation opportunities were needed, but that since skateboarding is inherently dangerous, it should be done at the users’ risk and without massive liability for cities and their taxpayers.

“By offering our communities a more sensible set of laws on this issue, we can help make more dogs parks available in more neighborhoods,” said Gatto.

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

Read more: San Diego Pets Magazine - Assemblyman Mike Gatto Bill Would Help More Communities Get Dog Parks

PRESS RELEASE: Bill Would Help More Communities Get Dog Parks

My District Director's canine-companion, Dolly, is a big supporter of my bill to make it cities for cities to create dog-parks.  She has been adamant that this bill is a "Dog-gone good idea!"  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            Contact: Justin Hager (818)558-3043

February 7, 2013                                                                                Cell: (415) 889-9762

Assemblyman Mike Gatto Bill Would Help More Communities Get Dog Parks

Sacramento, CA – Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) introduced a bill today to help local governments create dog parks for their residents.  Under current law, cities often hesitate to open dog parks because dog parks can subject cities to massive liability from litigants who claim, for example, that they were unaware of the potential dangers (i.e., dog bites) that can occur at such parks.  Gatto’s AB 265 limits liability for cities and counties that operate dog parks.  Cities must post signs to warn users that they enter a dog park at their own risk, and, because most cities do not patrol dog parks, that the city is not responsible for injuries suffered by park goers or their pets.

The idea for the bill came from a local city councilmember, who expressed to Gatto that cities would open more dog parks, but for the liability concerns.  “Apparently, large cities and counties can ‘self-insure’ and absorb any potential liability,” said Gatto, “but for smaller and mid-size cities, the liability concerns are a major barrier to improving the lives of dog lovers.”

There is precedent for the state stepping in to limit liability for the public good, especially for the use of public resources that come with some inherent danger.  In 1997, the state imposed limited liability under certain circumstances for cities that open skate parks.  Policymakers reasoned then that more recreation opportunities were needed, but that since skateboarding is inherently dangerous, it should be done at the users’ risk and without massive liability for cities and their taxpayers.

“By offering our communities a more sensible set of laws on this issue, we can help make more dogs parks available in more neighborhoods,” said Gatto.

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto 

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