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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.E.2. Dog Park Pass Reconsideration for Southbridge Community park ..r 111111.111 Consent Business 4. E. 2. 1 AKOI'EE TO: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator FROM: Jamie Polley, Parks, Recreation&Natural Resources Director DATE: 09/16/2014 SUBJECT: Dog Park Pass Reconsideration for Southbridge Community Park(A) Action Sought The PRAB has reconsidered the annual dog park pass for Southbridge Community Park. The City Council is asked to approve the PRAB's new recommendation regarding a dog park pass. Background On July 15, 2014 the City Council supported the PRAB's recommendation to partner with TRPD and also sell a City of Shakopee only dog park pass. The partnership recommended included the City receiving 25% of all annual passes sold to residents within the 55379 zip code. The City Council then directed staff to submit the proposal to TRPD Board of Commissioners for final approval. By both partnering and selling our own pass the residents are given the option of paying more for the use of the TRPD Parks. The PRAB also discussed the rules and the license fees and how they affect the annual passes. The PRAB felt it was important to require that all dogs have a current dog license. TRPD does not require that the dogs are licensed. The PRAB recommended to the City Council an annual dog license fee of$15.00 per year with the option to purchase up to 3 years at a time based on the expiration date of the dog's rabis vaccination. The recommended annual Shakopee only dog park pass fee was $10 per dog. The cost for the TRPD annual pass is $35.00. Discussion On August 27, the Scott County Parks Advisory Commission of TRPD discussed the concept of a partnership effort between Three Rivers Park District and the City of Shakopee for dog park pass reciprocity at the new Shakopee Dog Park.The Parks Advisory Commission is very supportive of the partnership concept however, the Park District proposed a slightly different partnership model than what the City proposed. The Parks Advisory Commission recommended the original Park District model including: 1. The City would sell the Park District's dog park pass at the same sites that the Shakopee Only pass would be sold. 2. Full reciprocity for residents to any of the Park District's dog parks throughout the Park District's system, including the Spring Lake, Cleary Lake, and soon to be developed Murphy-Hanrehan dog parks in Scott County. 3. The City would keep 50% of the revenue from the Park District's pass sales generated by the City instead of 25% from the 55379 zip code as originally proposed. (If all —200 Park District dog park passes that are currently sold to zip code 55379 were sold through the City you would retain $3,500 in revenue.) Per the rules recommended by the PRAB and approved by the City Council, a current dog license is required to use the City's dog park. Users that purchase their TRPD annual pass at a City facility could be informed of this rule however users that purchase the TRPD pass through TRPD would not necessarily be informed of the rules of the City of Shakopee and there would be no verification of a current dog license or vaccinations. If the requirement of a current dog license is deemed very important to the PRAB, partnering and the implementation of these rules with TRPD will be very challenging. The original concept of partnering with TRPD was to give Shakopee residents the ability to utilize Shakopee's dog park in addition to TRPD's dog parks. This concept also gives TRPD pass holders in other areas the use of the City's dog park. In reviewing the neighboring cities of Eden Prairie, Burnsville, Edina, Eagan and St. Louis Park who operate their own dog parks, it was found that all of the cities require a current dog license or a City issued permit or collar in which the purchaser must show proof of vaccinations. These Cities also do not charge a daily use fee. After a considerable amount of discussion the PRAB felt that offering a City of Shakopee only dog park pass was easier to manage and simple for the community to understand. The PRAB discussed the options of a separate dog park pass that could be purchased individually or including the use of the dog park in the dog license fee. The PRAB also discussed the daily use fee. It was concluded that the use of the dog park should be included in the dog license fee and if a City of Shakopee dog license is required the City would then not charge a daily fee and would not need to install the "LUKE" system. The PRAB asked staff to research the ability to sell the dog license on line. The ability to sell the license on line would allow a user that goes to the park for the first time that does not have a Shakopee dog license to purchase the license from a smart phone while they were still at the park and not require them to come down to City Hall or the Community Center. In order to provide this service staff would have to first determine how proof of vaccinations are verified. Budget Impact If the City chose to partner with TRPD on the terms that have been presented above, the City would receive revenue from the annual passes (approximately $2,500-$3,500) sold by City staff and daily admissions (approximately $2,400). The estimates are based on the number of 55379 dog park passes and previous estimates from other TRPD Dog Parks. With this option the City would incur the cost of$18,000 to install the "LUKE" system to allow for daily pass purchases at the park and additional staff time to administer the sale of two passes. If the City were to include the use of the dog park in the dog license fee the revenue generated would be from the annual dog licenses. In 2014, 123 dog licenses were sold however dog licenses are currently good for two years and on average approximately 300 licenses are sold each year. The PRAB is recommending increasing the annual dog license fee to $25.00/year with the inclusion of the use of the dog park. Current City Code requires dogs to be licensed in the City, including the dog park within the license fee will hopefully encourage more people to license their dog. Residents that have purchased their dog license for 2014 will have the ability to use the dog park as part of their current license. In addition, residents of other cities can purchase a City of Shakopee dog license and therefore will also have the ability to use the dog park. The City of Eden Prairie has the same requirements. Relationship to Vision A. Keep Shakopee a safe and healthy community where residents can pursue active and quality lifestyles. Requested Action The City Council, if concur; 1. Approve the PRAB's recommendation that the City of Shakopee sell a City of Shakopee dog license that would include the use of the dog park and not enter into an agreement with TRPD. 2. Approve the PRAB's recommendation to update the City's fee schedule with the annual dog license fee of$25.00/year including the use of the dog park. 3. Approve the amended Dog Park Rules to require a City of Shakopee dog license. Attachments: Amended Dog Park Rules CITY OF SHAKOPEE DOG PARK RULES AND OPERATIONS FUN FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG! • Park Hours are 6:00 am- 10:00 pm. • Dogs must be licensed in the City of Shakopee and properly vaccinated. • USE OF THE OFF-LEASH DOG PARK IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE HANDLER. THE OFF- LEASH DOG PARK IS NOT STAFFED. OWNER WAIVES LIABILITY TO THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE FOR ANY INJURY OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY PET. OWNERS ARE SOLELY LIABLE FOR INJURIES OR DAMAGES CAUSED BY THEIR DOG(S). • Dogs must be under visual contact and voice control of the handler at all times.A dog is considered under voice control if it will come when called. Dogs are never to be left unattended.Permission must be granted by each handler for dogs to play or interact with another dog. • Handlers must remain in the area with their dogs at all times. • Each handler must clean up and dispose of dog feces in a sanitary manner, as per City Ordinance.A trash barrel is provided at the park. • Dogs that have been declared dangerous,as per City Ordinance or potentially dangerous in any community or that have a history of aggressive behavior are not allowed in the Off-Leash Dog Park. Any dog that exhibits aggressive behaviors must be removed immediately by the handler. • Dogs must be leashed prior to entering and upon leaving the Off-Leash Dog Park.A dog may not be leashed within the Off-Leash Dog Park except for immediate removal.The handler must keep the leash on their person at all times. • Children under the age of 16 are not allowed in the Off-Leash Dog Park without a supervising adult, very young children are not recommended to be inside the Off-Leash Dog Park. • No more than 3 pets per dog handler are allowed in the area at any given time. • Female dogs in heat or puppies under 4 months are not allowed in the park. • No rawhides,food(dog or human),glass bottles, strollers,carriages,bicycles, chairs,skateboards or scooters allowed in the dog park. • Professional dog trainers are not allowed to use the facility to conduct business. • This park is tobacco,drugs and alcohol free. • The small dog area is limited to dogs no taller than 13"at the shoulder that weigh no more than 25 pounds. • City of Shakopee Ordinance Chapter 14 and Chapter 10, Sec.10.21 applies to this Park. City Ordinances will be enforced. • This park is for everyone,please be considerate! Dial 911 in the event of an emergency. Parks, Recreation&Natural Resources Office: 952-233-9500 SHAKOPEE PARKS,RECREATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES