HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Dog Park Task Force - 06/14/2018
Dog Park Task Force Mee ng
Thursday, June 14, 2018
DRAFT
MINUTES
Present: Linda Chiasson, Be y Milizia, Barb Sirvis
Staff: Maggie Leugers
Others in A endance: Mark Dickinson
The mee ng was called to order at 4:35 p.m.
Safety Procedures: Maggie reviewed safety procedures.
Minutes of May 31, 2018: Linda moved approval, Be y seconded. Approval unanimous.
Thank you and acknowledgments:
Maggie thanked the members of the Task Force for their hard work and presented each with a token of her apprecia on. Maggie
acknowledged the stress at mes during the process and her apprecia on for the professional behavior, will, and tenacity of the task
force members.
The Task Force presented Maggie with a gi as a token of respect and apprecia on for her professionalism and many hours of
dedicated service to the work of the task force.
Barb acknowledged the work of the three members of the Task Force who chose to resign a er the May 21st City Council Mee ng.
She noted—for the record—the resigna ons were not as a result of the City Council decision but rather as a response to the three
members’ feeling their integrity had been publicly a acked during the City Council Mee ng.
Reflec ons from the May 21st City Council Mee ng:
The Task Force members were unanimous in their assessment that the Veterans Park sites were not given an objec ve review. Dorset
Park neighbors intervened before next steps of the Task Force could be specified. There would have been a forum/community
mee ng before a site was finalized, but neighbors didn’t give it a chance. Councilor Emery’s resolu on tried to address concerns
about the structure and mission of the new Dog Park Commi ee. The new DPC will review all issues including Veterans Park and
bring back to the City Council at a future date.
Tasks and topics for the new Dog Park Commi ee:
The remainder and majority of the mee ng focused on development of two lists that would be the basis for the final report to the
South Burlington City Council and provide guidance for the new Dog Park Commi ee.
TASKS COMPLETED by the Dog Park Task Force
· Full Task Force met beginning in January
o Eleven mee ngs
o Two community forums
o Four BTV mee ngs
o Mul ple on-site reviews
· Reviewed basic literature and dog park websites across the country
· Brainstormed criteria and other elements for scoring matrix
· Created ini al matrix
· Evaluated exis ng and poten al sites in and out of SB with scoring matrix in order to evaluate
· Revised matrix
· Reviewed exis ng ordinances, leash and off-leash areas
· Jaycee Park site review
o Community Forum
o Report/recommenda on to SBCC
· Worked in collabora on with BTV on poten al site
o Site and configura on review
o Community forum
o Final recommenda on for other placement
· Veterans Memorial Park site review
o Walk site op ons with SoBu personnel
§ Matrix applied
o Recommenda ons to SBCC
· Unresolved discussion issues
o Weight of dogs for small vs. large dog park
o Fees vs. accessible to all
o SoBu residents vs. accessible to all
· Three PowerPoint presenta ons for South Burlington City Council
SUGGESTED TASKS for the new Dog Park Commi ee
· Organiza onal tasks
o Mission and vision
o Opera onal guidelines (“ways of work”)
o Review work of Task Force
o Ini al dra of short-term and long-term goals/strategic plan
· Review basic literature/websites about dog parks
o Size/loca on
o Safety management
o Financial support
· Review and revise matrix
· Review exis ng ordinances
· Community input op ons
o Survey Monkey
o Front Porch Forum
o The Other Paper
o Rec. Dept. link
o Email address
· Community Forum re: dog parks
· Community Forum re: Veterans Memorial Park site
· Recommenda on to City Council re: Veterans Memorial Park site
· Prepare
o Cost es mates
§ Facility structure
· Ga ng
· Perimeter fencing
· Visual barriers?
· Sound buffers?
· Surface materials?
· Ameni es
o Shade
o Water
o Training and technical assistance
o Other op ons
§ Private and public funding
· Sponsorships
· Grants
· Fees
· Friends groups
o Opera onal policies/procedures
§ Maintenance
· Sanita on
§ License requirements
§ Rules and regula ons
· Dog/owner e que e
§ Safety
§ Hours of opera on
· Locking
· Security
· Animal Control
· Who to call?
§ Volunteer monitoring/coverage
· Dra proposed city-wide master plan for South Burlington dog parks
o Consult with SoBu personnel
o Walk sites
o Dra plan
o Report to SBCC
o Community forums
o Final recommenda on to SBCC
· Complete wri en document formalizing commi ee work and recommenda ons
The mee ng adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
Clerk: Barbara P. Sirvis