RMWD likely to adopt policy on service animals attending public meetings

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The Rainbow Municipal Water District will likely be adopting a policy on service animals attending Rainbow board and other public meetings.

The Rainbow board discussion April 25 was a non-voting item, but a subsequent meeting is expected to include a policy on service animals and that will be implemented should it be favored by a board majority.

“One of our board members asked what our policy was on service animals. We don’t have one,” said Rainbow General Manager Tom Kennedy.

The Association of California Water Agencies has a joint powers insurance authority which provides insurance to ACWA member agencies. (ACWA and ACWA JPIA are legally separate entities although they work with each other.)

Kennedy checked with ACWA JPIA about service animals at Rainbow meetings and the risk of Rainbow being sued if an animal bites another member of the public. ACWA JPIA recommended that Rainbow allow only properly trained actual service animals.

“That’s probably where it’s going to go,” Kennedy said. “Those service animals will not bite people.”