Council To Consider Allowing Leashed Dogs in Specified City Parks

Article Source: City of San Bruno CA

DATE: January 9, 2018

TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

FROM: Marc Zafferano, City Attorney

Kerry Burns, Community Services Director

SUBJECT: Waive First Reading and Introduce Ordinance Amending Chapter 9.16 of the San Bruno Municipal Code to Allow Leashed Dogs in Specified City Parks

BACKGROUND:

The City's Municipal Code Section 9.16.10-Domestic Animals currently prohibits all animals, except service animals, whether on- or off-leash from entering all City parks except the dog run at Commodore Park. The section was incorporated into the City's Municipal Code by Ordinance 1493 in 1988. The section states:

No owner or possessor of any dog, cat, fowl or any animal, whether domestic, livestock, wild or exotic shall permit such animal to enter or run at large in any park, school or recreation area or in the city and county of San Francisco watershed recreational easement, either with or without a keeper, except as permitted by Section 9.16.020 [Authorized Dog Runs] of the chapter. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a Seeing-Eye dog under the control of a blind person from entering a park, school or recreation area or the city and county of San Francisco watershed recreational easement.

At both a City Council Study Session in September 2016 and during the Parks and Recreation Commission Annual Report to the City Council in November 2016, the City Council expressed interest in receiving the Parks and Recreation Commission's input on how to address the matter of dogs frequently being present both on and off leash in City parks. At their meeting on January 18, 2017, the Parks and Recreation Commission considered ideas to address the presence of both dogs off and on-leash in City parks. Following discussion, the Commission voted 6-1 to recommend to the City Council that an amendment be made to the Municipal Code allowing leashed dogs in all City parks.

At its meeting on February 28, 2017, the City Council received the Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation to allow leashed dogs in City parks and directed staff to develop a pilot program allowing leashed dogs in City parks. At its March 28, 2017 meeting, the City Council authorized a six month pilot program allowing leashed dogs in City Park and Grundy Park. On October 14, 2017, the City Council received a report from staff on the results of this six month pilot programming. During its discussion, the City Council requested the pilot program results be provided to the Parks and Recreation Commission. The City Council further requested the Commission's input on which parks, if any, dogs should be allowed and rules regulating their use.

At its Special Meeting on December 6, 2017, the Parks and Recreation Commission received a report on the results of the pilot program and was requested to provide input regarding regulations for leashed dogs in City parks. Commissioners expressed concern about allowing leashed dogs in the City's smaller parks and tot lots. By unanimous vote of the Commissioners present, the Commission recommended the following regulations related to leashed dogs in City parks:

• Dogs should be allowed in the following parks: Bayshore Circle Park, Belle Air Park/Lions Field, Buckeye Park, City Park, Commodore Park, Earl-Glenview Park, Fleetwood Park, Florida Avenue Park, Forest Lane Park, Grundy Park, Monte Verde Park, Pacific Heights Park, 711 Avenue Park, and 71hMalnut Park;
• Dogs should be prohibited from the following parks: Catalpa Tot Lot, Herman Park, Lomita Park, Ponderosa Park, and Posy Park;
• Owner/handlers should have no more than three (3) leashed dogs under their control;
• Owner/handlers should be required keep the dog(s) on a non-retractable leash at all times with a maximum leash length of six (6) feet;
• Owner/handlers should be responsible for promptly cleaning-up after the dog(s);
• Dogs should be restricted from entering the surface surrounding children's play equipment and synthetic turf areas; and,
• Dogs should be permitted throughout the listed parks and not be required to remain on park pathways.

On January 9, 2018, the City Council considered these recommendations and directed staff to prepare an ordinance for introduction that incorporates them. During this discussion, one City Council member expressed ongoing concern about dogs in parks.

DISCUSSION:

The attached ordinance incorporates the direction of the City Council by making the provisions regulating the conduct of dog owner/handlers mandatory.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Each park would need to be equipped with waste bag kiosks and new signage. The supply cost for new signs, waste bag kiosks, and poles would vary dependent upon its size and number of entrances. Costs for a park the size of Commodore Park would be approximately $2,500, and a park the size of Monte Verde Park would cost approximately $250. Funding is available in the Parks Maintenance Division budget. It is estimated the total cost would by $8,250 to equip and re-sign the 14 parks recommended by the Commission.

ALTERNATIVES:

• Make no modifications to the Municipal Code and continue to prohibit dogs in all City parks.
• Modify the list of parks and/or regulations recommended; substantive changes to the ordinance may require re-introduction of the ordinance at a subsequent meeting.
• Refer the item back to the Parks and Recreation Commission and/or staff for further review.

RECOMMENDATION:

Waive First Reading and Introduce Ordinance Amending Chapter 9.16 of the San Bruno Municipal Code to Allow Leashed Dogs in Specified City Parks

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FULL Council Agenda Packet WITH Staff Reports can be viewed and downloaded from:

https://sanbruno.ca.gov/gov/elected_officials/city_council_minutes_n_agendas.htm

This document should be available late Friday before the Tuesday Council Meeting

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Robert Riechel

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My Posts: http://patch.com/users/robert-riechel

Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives

Source Credit: San Bruno CA City Council

Web Site: https://sanbruno.ca.gov

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