The Corporation of Delta COMMISSION REPORT Regular Meeting

Transcription

1 The Corporation of Delta COMMISSION REPORT Regular Meeting To: Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission File No.: From: Parks, Recreation & Culture Department Date: June 08, 2016 RECOMMENDATION: THAT the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission receive the North 40 Park Reserve Survey results (Attachment A). PURPOSE: To provide the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission (Commission) with the results of the North 40 Park Reserve survey, and to provide an update on the next steps to establish enhanced licenced commercial dog walking activities at the North 40 Park Reserve (Park). BACKGROUND: At its February 1, 2016 Executive M~eting, Council approved the following recommendations: ''THAT consideration be given to designate a portion of the municipal owned lands at Churchill Boulevard and 72 Street, known as the North 40 Park Reserve, for licenced commercial dog walking. THAT based on approval of recommendation A staff move forward with a public consultation process. THAT taking into account public feedback staff report back on options to address risk mitigation, including terms and conditions, insurance requirements for commercial offleash businesses, and approval from the Agricultural Land Commission on commercial dog walking activities at the North 40 Park Reserve." Following Councils approval of the above recommendations, the public feedback process took place the weeks of May 23 and 30, 2016 inclusive, and the findings are contained in this report.

2 DISCUSSION: Page 2 of 3 June 08, 2016 Commercial dog walking is currently allowed in Delta however commercial dog walkers are limited to having only two dogs off leash at a time in any of Delta's dog offleash areas. There are no limits that stipulate how many dogs commercial dog walkers can have on leash at a time. Throughout discussions concerning enhanced commercial dog walking activities in Delta it was deemed that the North 40 Park Reserve would be the preferred location for this activity. Further, it was identified that providing enhanced commercial dog walking activities would require specific criteria, rules and regulations to support the activity. In order to determine what level of enhanced activities patrons of the Park would support a survey was developed and implemented by staff onsite the weeks of May 23 and 30, inclusive. The survey is also available on Delta's website until June 30, During the weeks of May 23 and 30, a total of 423 surveys were completed. A summary of the survey results is provided as Attachment A. Highlights of the survey results are as follows: The majority of people surveyed use the Park on a weekly basis The majority of people surveyed have a dog The majority of people surveyed allow their dogs offleash The majority of people surveyed are most comfortable with a 2: 1 dog/human ratio The majority of people surveyed are most comfortable with 20 dogs or less offleash in an area approximately the size of an ice rink The majority of people surveyed support enhanced licenced commercial dog walking activities at the North 40 Park Reserve The majority of people surveyed support more than 2 dogs offleash at a time by licenced commercial dog walkers The majority of people surveyed support 4 dogs or less allowed offleash by licenced commercial dog walkers at a time The majority of people surveyed prefer commercial dog walking take place on weekday mornings As the survey is nearing completion, staff is preparing a proposal that defines an area of the North 40 for licenced commercial dog walkers. The proposal will include, among other things, the following: The size of area proposed for enhanced commercial dog walking activities The number of dogs that can be walked by one operator Training requirements of the operator Identification requirements (for dogs and operators) Insurance requirements of the operator Transportation requirements for operators to and from the Park Licence fee for operator Number of allowable commercial licenced operators permitted at one time Delta vs NonDelta fees

3 Hours of operation Page 3 of 3 June 08, 2016 In addition, the follow up will include identifying the required bylaw changes and amendments to land use designations. Implications: Financial Implications There are no financial implications associated with this report. CONCLUSION: The survey results contained in this report indicate that there is a level of acceptance by the public for enhanced licenced commercial dog walking activities to take place at the North 40 Park Reserve. A follow up report will be provided to Commission that identifies the recommended criteria, rules and regulations that are required in order to sanction this activity at the Park. Ken Kuntz Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture Department submission prepared by: Diana L. Cousins, Senior Policy Analyst DLC/cd/dlc ATTACHMENT: A. North 40 Park Reserve Survey Results

4 <(N co Q) E...c Q) (.) Cl 1 (IJ <( a. Onsite Completed Surveys = 350 Online Completed Surveys= 73 (Total 423) North 40 Park Reserve Survey Results Survey was conducted by Delta staff the weeks of May 23rd and 30th inclusive. " Question #1 Question #2 (a) #2 (b) Question #3 Question #4 Question #5 (a) #5 (b) Question #6 1 '... In a rink siied,, ',.,_..,,. space, how many Do you support Do you prefer... < " What is the ratio of dogs of average opening the North If, yes, how specific days and.. ',. dogs to humans size offleash 40 to professional many dogs off times for How often do you Do you have a Do you allow your you are would you be commercial dog leash ata commercial dog use the North 40? dog? dog offleash? comfortable with? comfortable with? walkers?. time? walkers? Daily= 120 Yes:;: 385 Yes= 359 2:1=153 <20 = 203 Yes= 331 None= 52 Weekdays = 214 ~ Weekly = 1"54 ' ~ ::...._.... No= 31 No=48 4:1= =142 No=88 2=12 Weekends = 164 BiWeekly= 51 6:1= = 39 3 = 25 Stats= 154 Monthly= SO ~ 8:1= =18 4=99. ' Mornings = 2_33. Quarterly= 22 5=18 Afternoons = 214 Annually = 13 6= 70 Evenings = 156 8= = 6 Never= 2.. More t han 2 dogs offleash at a time? 1:1= 1 < 25= 1 Yes= 279 1:3 =3 No=90 No limit =4 No limit= 19 General Comments: 1. Concerns with lttle kids coming with dog walkers bringing 56 dogs offleash would be hazardess. 2. Dog owners must sign a responsibility waiver. 3. Add little bridges for crossing and water station for dogs. 4. More offleash parks needed in North Delta. 5. Only supported if dogs are under control at all times period. 6. Only support if walkers pay a license fee. 7. Letting dogs offleash in parking lot is not.safe. 8. Should only be for Delta residents.

5 c(n :ii EN 0.c Cl> 0 C> ~cu c( a.. Onsite Completed Surveys = 350 Online Completed Surveys= 73 (Total 423) 9. Don't fence this area. 10. Should have water source at entrance. 11. With regards to question #4 it really depends on the size of the dogs. 12. Need more signs onsite to enforce where the offleash area begins. North 40 Park Reserve Survey Results 13. Film crews disrepect other users and drive their vehicles too fast in the area. They can also be very rude. 14. Concern over segregating sections of the park to specific users park should be used by all, it's a gem. 15. Surveyor noticed that most of the people who filled out the survey were dog walkers. Some have good control over their pets. 16. More waste receptacles would be good. 17. Car breakins are a concern, is anything being done about this? 18. Most bird watchers did not want to complete the survey. 19. Dog feces throughout the space is a concern. What will happen when even more dogs are allowed offleash? It's not sanitary or safe. 20. People feeding the wildlife is an issue. 21. Frail people and people with kids in strollers make me nervous with dogs running all around.