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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 Resolution No. 0361 RESOLUTION NO. 36 SERIES OF 2021 A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS REGARDING OFF-LEASH DOG PRIVILEGES. WHEREAS, the City of Englewood provides a unique approach to off-leash dog parks within the City, authorizing specific hours of otherwise on-leash parks for use by off-leash dogs and their owners; and WHEREAS, the City of Englewood implemented off-leash dog privileges at certain City parks when City Council adopted Resolution No. 4, Series of 2002; and WHEREAS, on October 19, 2009, after numerous complaints from residents regarding off-leash dogs at Jason Park, City Council approved specific authorized off-leash hours for the following parks: Jason, Centennial, Duncan, and the Northwest Greenbelt; and WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Commission formed the Off-Leash Dog Sub-Committee in October 2018 due to increased complaints from Englewood residents about the off-leash dog park program; and WHEREAS, between November 2018 and April 2019, the Sub-Committee met with Englewood Code Enforcement, Englewood Unleashed and Pirate Youth Sports to discuss off-leash dog parks within the City; and WHEREAS, on March 30, 2020, City Council asked for a recommendation regarding the off-leash dog program after City Staff presented on the current off- leash program, public education efforts, and enforcement of off-leash dog rules; and WHEREAS, on July 20, 2020, City Council requested further study and recommendations regarding off-leash dog parks so the Off-Leash Task Force was established; and WHEREAS, the Off-Leash Task Force convened five times, and on December 14, 2020, recommended to City Council that the City issue a survey to gauge resident support for off-leash dog parks; and WHEREAS, on April 26, 2021, after receipt of survey results, City Council recommended the Off-Leash Task Force discuss the survey results and possible recommendations for the off-leash program; and WHEREAS, on June 9, 2021, the Off-Leash Task Force reconvened to review options for the off-leash program; and WHEREAS, on August 10, 2021 the Parks and Recreation Commission Sub- Committee met to discuss survey findings and Off-Leash Task Force data; and DocuSign Envelope ID: AD739AF9-60ED-4D8A-BED2-CAEBBAAE4ACF 2 WHEREAS, City Council scheduled various study sessions to consider these results and recommendations, along with extensive additional public comment regarding this issue; and WHEREAS, currently the City of Englewood has the following off-leash parks: Duncan, Jason, Centennial, Northwest Greenbelt, and Canine Corral; and WHEREAS, after extensive consideration and deliberation, City Council for the City of Englewood desires to establish the parks within the City designated for off- leash dog privileges, and to establish certain regulations regarding those parks. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, THAT: Section 1. The City Council of the City of Englewood, Colorado, hereby authorizes the following City parks (or designated areas of such parks, if applicable) to have off-leash privileges during the hours designated below, during which the application of Englewood Municipal Code (“EMC”) 7-1A-3, prohibiting dogs at large, shall be stayed: 1. Jason Park, on the north side of the park only, as separated by fencing from the south/playground area; but in the northwest corner of the park only, when north to south temporary fencing is installed to separate the off-leash portion of the park from areas used for youth sports or other events; and only during the hours of 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. (with evening hours expanded to 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. from November 1 through February 28) 2. Duncan Park, on the north side of the park only, separated by fencing from the south/playground area of the park; and only during the hours of 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. (with evening hours expanded to 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. from November 1 through February 28) 3. Northwest Greenbelt, the entire park, but only during the hours of 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. (with evening hours expanded to 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. from November 1 through February 28) 4. Canine Corral, the entire fenced-in area of the park, hours unrestricted All other provisions of Municipal Code regarding animals shall apply to these parks even during off-leash hours, including, but not limited to, EMC 7-1A-2: "At-Risk" and "Dangerous" Behavior Prohibited; and EMC 7-1A-10: Removal of Excrement; Damage to Shrubbery or Plants (requiring owners to immediately remove excrement and prohibiting damage to park landscaping by the dog). Section 2. City Council specifically considered and hereby revokes all off- leash dog privileges at Centennial Park, and does not provide for off-leash privileges at Cushing Park and Emerson Park. To that end, except as specifically authorized in Section 1 above, pursuant to EMC 7-1A-3: Running at Large, all dogs are required to be on a leash, including at all other City parks, at DocuSign Envelope ID: AD739AF9-60ED-4D8A-BED2-CAEBBAAE4ACF 3 non-designated areas of Jason Park and Duncan Park, and outside of the specifically-authorized off-leash hours above. Section 3. Any City Park Rule and Regulation or legislative action by the City Council of the City of Englewood in conflict with this Resolution is hereby repealed. Section 4. Pursuant to EMC 11-4-2 and EMC 11-4-3, the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee shall develop Park Rules and Regulations and install signage consistent with the provisions of this Resolution, and take all other actions necessary to effectuate the directives contained herein. Section 5. In order to allow for sufficient time for public notification, signage creation and placement, and promulgation and implementation of Park Rules and Regulations as they apply to off-leash dog privileges within the City of Englewood, this Resolution shall be effective on and after January 1, 2022. ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 4th day of October, 2021. Linda Olson, Mayor ATTEST: Stephanie Carlile, City Clerk I, Stephanie Carlile, City Clerk, for the City of Englewood, Colorado, hereby certify the above is a true copy of Resolution No. 36, Series of 2021. Stephanie Carlile, City Clerk DocuSign Envelope ID: AD739AF9-60ED-4D8A-BED2-CAEBBAAE4ACF