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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-12-05 PRC MINUTES• • • City of Englewood PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Minutes of December 5, 2001 I. CALL TO ORDER The special meeting /joint meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission and Code Enforcement Advisory Committee was called to order at 6:30pm at the Malley Senior Recreation Center, 3380 S. Lincoln Street. Present: Austin Gomes, Chairperson Steve Neyer, Vice Chairperson Carolyn Armstrong, Commission Member Mitch Waldman, Commission Member Jim Woodward , Commission Member Tara Holmes, Youth Commission Member Doug Garrett, City Council Liaison Absent: Kathy Christie , Commission Member Kendra Grazulis , Youth Commission Member Jerrell Black, ex officio Also present: Dave Lee , Manager of Open Space Don Roth, Chairperson of the Code Enforcement Advis ory Committee Bill McCahill , Vice Chairperson of the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee Edna Blair, Code Enforcement Advisory Committee Member Marti O lson , Code Enforcement Advisory Committee Member Michael Yurchick, Code Enforcement Advisory Committee Member Dave Lynn , Code Enforcement Field Supervisor Sue Osborn, Recording Secretary to the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee Mike Flaherty, Assistant City Manager (left at 7 :00pm) II. LEASH LAW/PARKS PILOT PROGRAM Chairperson Gomes welcomed the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee and stated that the Parks and Recreation Commission welcomes the opportunity to meet with them and to come to an agreement regarding a recommendation pertaining to a Parks Off-Leash Pilot Program. Discussion was turned over to City Council Liaison Garrett . Garrett briefly explained past events leading to City Council's request that the two Boards meet jointly to discuss the Parks Off-Leash Pilot Program . Vice Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Steve Neyer, commented that the Parks and Re creation Commission recently sent a recommendation to City Council regarding the Pilot Program recommending that dogs can be off-leash in a park as long as they were under voice command and kept away from areas involving children . Garrett explained that due to citizens' requests, City Council is looking for a leash law in at least some of the parks in the City of Englewood. Neyer stated that the Parks and Recreation Commission discussed a leash law at length but thought that timing and enforcement would be an issue due to Code Enforcement's hours . Vice Chairperson of the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee , Bill McCahill, asked if there was any discussion regarding the designation of one park as a dog park. Dave Lee , Manager of Open Space, reported that it was discussed but that the Commission felt it would be confusing to the public and that there are a number of factors regarding maintenance and wear and tear that issues . Parks and Recreation Commission Member, Carolyn Armstrong, spoke in regards to her experience at Cherry Creek State Park and dog parks. Armstrong brought up the degenerated appearance of the parks and it not being an easy task. • Dave Lynn, Code Enforcement Field Supervisor, was asked if a leash law was put into effect in Englewood parks , would there be a problem in enforcing it. Lynn explained that there are few dogs-at-large in the parks ; that the majority of calls are for dogs running loose on the streets. In regards to a dog park, Lynn stated that residents from outlying cities bringing their animals into Englewood 's dog park needed to also be taken into consideration. City Council Liaison Garrett noted that at the Public Meeting, City Council heard from many citizens with problems with dogs off-leash. Lee reminded the Board Members that the recommendation is for a Pilot Program , meaning there will be a review after one year to evaluate the program and make any necessary changes. Discussion ensued. After a brief discussion , board members agreed that limiting the time for off-leash hours in the parks would not be beneficial for everyone and determined limiting location would be more realistic. Chairperson Roth of the Code Enforce ment Advisory Committee suggested selecting three or four parks in the City of Englewood with off-leash areas and restrictions. Commission members and committee members agreed . Manager of Open Space, Dave Lee , was asked if the direction they were headed would be an expensive venture if a park's condition was worsened and needed to be brought back to condition. Lee replied that it is a guess but that his thought is no. Lee continued , explaining that as previously discussed, it is a pilot program and the Parks and Recreation Department and Commission would address the issue before it got to that point. City Council Liaison Yurchick asked if Parks staff now see damage to the parks from dogs. Lee reported no , just clean-up. Discussion followed the selection of parks. • A motion was made by Commission Member Armstrong and seconded by Commission Member Waldman that dogs be required to be on leash in all Englewood parks with the exception of Northwest Greenbelt, Centennial, Duncan, Bates/Logan and Jason, excluding designated areas as determined by the Department of Parks and Recreation (ie: playgrounds, ballfields and shelters). At all times, any dog off-leash in the aforementioned parks must be under voice command, the owner be carrying a leash and adhering to the City of Englewood Code pertaining to cleaning-up after their animal. The motion passed unanimously. Chairperson Gomes asked Dave Lee and Dave Lynn if they were comfortable with the motion. Both responded yes. Gomes thanked the Code Enforcement Advisory Committee for meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commission and for com ing up with a conclusion to the leash law issue. City Council Liaison Garrett told the members that the recommendation would be going to Study Session on December 17th and to first reading on January 7th. XII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:40pm. Deborah A . Severa, Recording Secretary