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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal Off Leash Dogs in Medina ParkTop 10 Accomplishments and Milestones of 2019 Off-Leash Dogs in Medina Park Medina city council June 14, 2021 Park Board and City Staff Goals. Issues addressed by the Park Board and City Staff. What problem were we trying to solve? Outreach and Public Discussion. Tonight’s Presentation Create an environment in Medina Park that is welcoming and safe for all by balancing park users needs and priorities. Establish a set of clear, concise, and easily enforced rules for off-leash dogs in Medina Park. Park Board and City Staff Goals Create an environment in Medina Park that is welcoming and safe for all by balancing park users needs and priorities. Medina Park is not a “dog park.” Medina Park is a multi-use city park. Playground, tennis courts, open space, with an off-leash area where dogs must be under owner’s voice command. Fairweather Park and Fairweather Nature Preserve also have off-leash areas. Goals Continued… Establish a set of clear, concise, and easily enforced rules for off-leash dogs in Medina Park. When we reached out to Park users with off-leash dogs… Found rules confusing. Requested consistent year-round rules. Preferred location-based rules. Some people did not want to encounter off-leash dogs. (People with older or small dogs…or young children). 63% of the parcels in Medina have changed ownership since 2014. What about making the whole Park off-leash until 9:00 AM? The more complicated the rules, the more difficult they are to enforce. Goals Continued… Issues Addressed by the Park Board and City Staff. What problem were we trying to solve? Complaints from Park Users about off-leash dogs. Dogs running through the playground. Dogs doing their business in the playground and on surfaces where children play. Inattentive dog handlers. Not cleaning up after their dogs. Collisions with people. Especially small children. Chasing/attacking wildlife. Interfering with peace/quiet/visit to park. Park Maintenance Issues caused by off-leash dogs. Digging holes in park. Chewing wood benches and tables. Damage to shrubs and trees Interfering with Public Works mowers, trimmers, vehicles. Park Board Discussion Discussed through 2019 and 2020. Adopted updated rules October 2020. Meeting Notices are posted City Hall, Post Office, and Medina Park (adding notice board at 82nd Ave parking lot). Website and Social Media. Outreach and Public Discussion “It was brought to our attention that the city manager was going to address the petition about the on-leash changes at the medina park. As stated before the Park Board had several meeting regarding the park rule amendment and how to resolve the multiple dog issues occurring at Medina park. We unanimously approved the changes in the rules. The medina park is for the entire community to enjoy and this new rule ensures that it is a welcoming park for everyone.” Park Board Chair, Sarah Gray Park Board Chair, Sarah Gray Questions???