PK PACKET 12052022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Parks and Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes September 12, 2022 Page 7 1 Mr. Gumke posed to the Commission whether they have any additional thoughts or 2 observations or any other considerations for staff. The next step is Staff’s input will be 3 provided to the City Council for consideration. 4 5 Chair Niemi stated this has been discussed for a long time and as much as residents want a 6 Dog Park there just is not enough space. He asked if 2 ½ miles is the closest park. Mr. Gumke 7 stated that is an off-leash park. He does not believe this is feasible at this time. 8 9 Commissioner Guest suggested Staff be created and he could think of two spaces that could 10 be explored. One by Apache Animal Hospital and the second would between Highway 88 and 11 Rankin Road. He suggested these options be explored. He has read that dog parks increase 12 safety in the community. He does not know why a dog park needs a water source. People 13 bring their own water. A trash can would be needed for waste. Wood chips created by St. 14 Anthony could be used in a dog park. Mr. Gumke believes the 2nd option Commissioner Guest 15 mentioned is Hennepin County right-of-way. 16 17 Commissioner Doolan stated in 2019, Barbara Johnson came and spoke to the Park 18 Commission. She talked about her injuries sustained in a dog attack. When Councilmembers 19 Webster and Jenson were going door to door, they mentioned about 50% of the households 20 had dogs. The City is trying to accommodate pickle ball and there are most likely more people 21 that would like a dog park. She believes more people would be walking to a dog park rather 22 than driving. She researched small dog parks in the area and stated Lauderdale, Loring Park 23 and Elliott Park all have small dog parks. An option would be to have two different locations 24 one for small dogs and one for large dogs. 25 26 Commissioner Bordeau stated if there is or isn’t a dog park are they ways the City can support 27 that. There could be a communication plan citing ordinances to show support to dog owners. 28 29 Mr. Paul White, 32nd Avenue, appeared before the Commission. He has a dog and he was 30 excited to see this on the agenda. He has seen the explosion of the number of animals. He 31 has informally polled other dog owners about having a dog park. He asked how big the 32 number is for how many residents want a dog park. The Ann Arbor report was a very good 33 document. He would like the City to continue looking to have a dog park. Mr. White 34 distributed maps of the site by Apache Animal Clinic. The site off Highway 88 is about an 35 acre. Mr. White asked if people could park on Rankin Road. He likes this location because it 36 is 100-200 yards from houses. The dog walkers he has spoken with want to help. 37 38 Commissioner Doolan asked if individuals could approach the County or should any contact 39 be through the City. Mr. Gumke suggested a recommendation go through the City Council. 40 The City does have a relationship with the Minneapolis Park Board. 41 42 Commissioner Bordeau suggested this is a good idea to explore. Commissioner Godmare 43 asked how much land would need to be dedicated to parking and Mr. Gumke noted parking 44 could be on the street. What would be a timeline for presenting it to the City Council? Mr. 45 Gumke stated it could be years. He cannot think of anything that is on County property. 46