05-04-2009 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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"They [the LMC] stated statistics that show almost one in four people own a dog," Kappelhoff said. Dogs and owners are happy and healthy when they exercise and interact. Two years ago, the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) conducted an extensive city, county and regional survey of dog parks in Minnesota, according to Kappelhoff. The governmental entities were asked to respond to a list of 15 amenities ranging from size to hours of operation. "One response of interest related to a possible Blaine dog park involved fencing," Kappelhoff said. "Fourteen of the 15 dog parks in the survey were fenced or partially fenced." Prior to discussion, Kappelhoff told park board members they could have staff schedule a public hearing in May or June to further discuss the dog park issue and suggested site. "This is an informational item, but staff also wants direction from the park board," Kappelhoff said. Only about a third of the 10 acres in the Lexington parcel would be needed, he said. Kappelhoff reminded the board that money from the open space fund was used purchase the land. The board would have to reimburse that fund and meet with another city committee, the Natural Resource Conservation Board (NRCB), which develops and recommends a policy and planning framework for the maintenance and preservation of city natural resources. Like the park board, the NRCB is an advisory committee to the city council. The NRCB is also charged with developing criteria to guide all future open space acquisitions in Blaine. The NRCB plays a critical role in recommending how the city should spend a $3.5 million open space bond fund that was approved by a citywide referendum in November 2000. "If we pursue this direction, it would have to go to the NRCB at its meeting in May," Kappelhoff told the park board. "We would have to get their opinion on it before moving ahead." Jerry Walthour, Blaine Park Board chairman at large, said the LMC's position regarding dog parks had changed over the years mainly because the parks had become more popular. While Walthour said he would love to have a Blaine dog park, he was concerned about the cost of reimbursing the NRCB, the cost of fencing, dog licensing and a user fee structure. "I think it's something that the city would benefit from, but [these] things do concern me," Walthour said. " I don't think we have the money to do it. The budget is not there right now." Blaine's parks capital improvement plan (CIP) is a flexible document that uses long -range physical planning and financial projections to help determine future improvement projects. • •