The Corporation of Delta COMMISSION REPORT Regular Meeting. Commercial Dog Walking Community Consultation Process

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1 The Corporation of Delta COMMSSON REPORT Regular Meeting To: Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission File No.: From: Parks, Recreation & Culture Department Date: October 28, 2016 Commercial Dog Walking Community Consultation Process RECOMMENDATON: THAT the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission receive this report for information. PURPOSE: To update the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission (Commission) on the proposed community consultation process with respect to the terms and conditions for the implementation of a commercial dog walking area at the North 40 Park Reserve (Park). BACKGROUND: The Commission 2016 work plan includes an examination of establishing a commercial dog walking facility in the community. Many hours of research, public feedback and discussion have gone into moving this initiative forward. At the September 15, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission, a memo with a draft report (Attachment A) on the North 40 Park Reserve-Commercial Dog Walking was received and referred to a community consultation process. DSCUSSON: A process has been outlined in Attachment B that includes public open houses, on-site surveys and at least one meeting with commercial dog walking companies. The process will begin in January 2017 and be concluded by the end of March 2017 t is anticipated that final recommendations will be available for Commission in April mplications: Financial mplications - Auxiliary staff will be utilized to conduct the on-site surveys at a cost of approximately $2,500. All other staff are already budgeted within the departments' financial plan.

2 Page 2 of2 Commercial Dog Walking Community Consultation Process October 28, 2016 CONCLUSON: The community consultation process is required in order to better understand the implications of the proposed terms and conditions for commercial dog walking activities at the North 40 Park Reserve. Ken Kuntz Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture Department submission prepared by: Diana L. Cousins, Senior Policy Analyst dlc/bw/dlc/cd ATTACHMENTS: A. Memo and Draft Report: North 40 Park Reserve-Commercial Dog Walking 8. Commercial Dog Walking Community Consultation Process F:\ADMN\Commission Reports\Comrniss1on Reports DC086.docx- Tuesday, November :37:21 PM

3 .&i).:.,.~ The Corporation of Delta Parka, Recreation & Culture Department MEMORANDUM Attachment A Page 1 of 9 To: From: Date: Subject: File No.: Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission Ken Kuntz, Director September 8, 2018 North 40 Park Reserve - Commercial Dog Walking The attached draft report is provided to the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission (Commission) in a draft format for review of the report's proposed direction. At present, staff is waiting to receive word back from the Agriculture Land Commission on whether or not commercial dog walking activities would be permitted at the North 40 Park Reserve. Staff is particularly interested in seeking input from Commission on the proposed terms and conditions at this time while we await the Agricultural Land Commission response. Ken Kuntz, Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture Attachment North 40 Park Reserve - Commercial Dog Walking Report DLC/cd F:\ADMN\Commisslon Reports\Commlssion Reports \KK038.docx

4 Page 2 of g The Corporation of Delta COMMSSON REPORT Regular Meeting To: Parks, Recreation a Culture Commission File No.: From: Parks, Recreation & Culture Department and Property Use a Compliance Department Date: September 6, 2016 North 40 Park Re rve - Commercial Dog Walklng RECOMMENDATONS: THAT the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission recommend to Council: A. THAT the proposed Terms and Conditions as outlined n Attachment A for commercial dog walking at the North 40 Park Reserve be referred to a public consultation process. B. THAT staff report back to Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission on the outcome of the public consultation process. PURPOSE: To seek conditional approval on the Terms and Conditions for licenced commerclal dog walking activities, on a portion of the North 40 Park Reserve-(Park) as shown on Attachment B. BACKGROUND: n March 2015, the Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission (Commission) received correspondence relative to commercial dog walking and directed staff to report back on a process for expanded commercial dog walking activities, and a community consultation process. Commercial dog walking takes place n several communities around the lower mainland. Currently licenced commercial dog walking s allowed n parks and open spaces within the municipality of Delta {Delta) however, only two dogs are allowed off~ leash at a time, and only within one of Delta's 12 off-leash areas. At its February 1, 2016 Executive Meeting, Council approved the following recommendations:

Page 3 of 9 Page2of4 North 40 Park Reserve - Commercial Dog Walking 14035-20 September 6, 2016 A.

5 Page 3 of 9 Page2of4 North 40 Park Reserve - Commercial Dog Walking September 6, 2016 A. "THAT consideration be given to designate a portion of the municipal owned lands at Churchill Boulevard and 72 Street, known as the North 40 Parle Reserve, for llcenced commercial dog walking." B. "THAT based on approval of recommendation A staff move forward with a public consultation process." C. "THAT taking into account public feedback staff report back on options to address risk mitigation, including terms and conditions, insurance requirements for commercial off-leash businesses, and approval from the Agricultural Land Commission on commercial dog walking activities at the North 40 Parle Reserve." DSCUSSON: A public consultation process on the concept of commercial dog walking at the Park concluded at the end of June The on-site portion of the public consultation process took place the weeks of May 16 and 23 and the on-line portion concluded on June 30. A total of 529 surveys were completed. While the nformation gathered from the public consultation process can be extrapolated in several different ways, on a per line basis the majority of respondents were weekly users of the space, were in favour of allowing commercial dog walking activities at the Park, and were comfortable with commercial dog walkers having more than 2 dogs off leash at a time. The majority of respondents favoured weekday morning use of the space for commercial dog walkers {Attachment C). As directed by Council, this report deals with the proposed Terms and Conditions required for licenced commercial dog walking activities. n addition to the survey information significant research went into the formation of the proposed terms and conditions. The research took into account best practices and experiences from other communities. Most communities have taken a conservative approach to commercial dog walking activities in order to ensure minimal conflict with other uses and compliance with the regulations. During the on-site portion of the public consultation process staff heard from a lot of other users in the park, many who utilize the space on a weekly basis for either individual dog walking or for other causal purposes; photography, nature walks, historical observations, bike riding, etc. While many of the individuals that staff spoke to support allowing commercial dog walking to take place n the Park, there were concerns about dogs not being under control, the amount of feces being left behind and possible negative interactions between different Park uses. n order to address the concerns of all Park users a number of proposed Terms and Conditions are recommended to define commercial dog walking activities. The proposed Terms and Conditions would require the operator to obtain a commercial use permit ssued by Delta. Amongst other conditions the permit limits licenced commercial dog walkers to a maximum of eight dogs per person: four of which many be off-leash at a time within the designated space at the Park. The number of dogs one operator may

Page 4 of 9 Page3of 4 North 40 Park Reserve - Commercial Dog Walking 14035-20 September6, 2016 have was based on the experience and research conducted by neighbouring municipalities.

6 Page 4 of 9 Page3of 4 North 40 Park Reserve - Commercial Dog Walking September6, 2016 have was based on the experience and research conducted by neighbouring municipalities. The range of off leash dogs allowed in neighbouring municipalities ranged from a low of six dogs to a high of ten dogs. The proposed area within the Park has been defined as a space at the far end of the Park entrance to separate the uses and therefore minimizing the potential conflicts with other Park users. However, the space is not proposed to be designated solely for commercial dog walkers. t is estimated that additional amenities will be required at the Park to support the introduction of commercial dog walking activities. The estimated cost of these amenities is estimated between $5,000 to $7,000. A commercial use permit fee of $500 plus tax is proposed and would be valid for one year from the date of issuance. The permit s -non-transferable" n the event a business is sold. Revenue generated from licence fees would be utilized to offset the cost of the amenities. Delta will reserve the right to revoke a permit based on complaints, violations, expired insurance or licences, or other issues deemed to be in contradiction of the permitted use. The North 40 is within the Agricultural Land Reserve. As a non farm use permission from the Agriculture Land Commission (ALC) is required. Staff has contacted the Agriculture Land Commission and is currently waiting for confirmation regarding the allowance of this activity at the Park. Delta's Zoning Bylaw has also been considered. The North 40 Park Reserve s zoned A 1 Agriculture. Allowable uses under A 1 zoning are farming, breeding pets and kennel and related ancillary uses. Delta does have a general provision within the Zoning Bylaw that says certain public uses are allowed n any zone, for this reason it is believed that public use of the Park for dog walking is acceptable under Delta's Zoning Bylaw, however ALC approval of a non farm use is required. lmpllcatlona: Financial mplications - The designated space within the Park will require some additional slgnage and on-site amenities such as, waste bins, dog bag dispenser, etc. costs for these amenities is estimated to range between $5,000 to $7,000. Licence fees collected from this use will assist in offsetting these costs. CONCLUSON: Designating an area at the North 40 Park Reserve for commercial dog walking activities where more than two dogs will be allowed off leash at a time s a new endeavour for Delta, therefore, it is recommended that Delta take a conservative approach and that a thorough review of the activity s conducted and reported back after one year's time. Ken Kuntz Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture Hugh Davies Manager, Property Use & Compliance

7 Page 5 of 9 Page 4 of 4 North 40 Park Reserve - Commercial Dog Walking September 6, 2016 Department submission prepared by: Diana L. Cousins, Senior Polley Analyst DLC/cd/dlc ATTACHMENTS: A. Terms and Conditions B. Site Map C. North 40 Park Survey Results

8 Page 6 of9 North 40 Park Reserve (Park) Commercial Dog Walking Terms & Conditions Llcenced Commercial Dog Walkers... Must have a valid Delta business licence Must carry a valid insurance policy with a minimum of $5m liability coverage and naming the Corporation of Delta as an additional nsured Must take a course on responsible dog handling, or be able to prove that they have already taken a training course; both to the satisfaction of the Manager of the Delta Animal Shelter Must purchase an annual permit Delta permit issued by the Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture Must be 19 years of age and older Must wear clothing (vest/shirt) that identifies them as a llcenced commercial dog walker Must immediately muzzle and leash any dog that acts n an aggressive manner Must leash any dog that s unable to respond: that s not 11 under controln Must pick up after all dogs in their care and act as responsible custodians of the Park Must be respectful of all other Park users and obey all Park signs Must have suitable transportation to ensure the health and safety for all animals in their care Additional Criteria: f a dog under a commercial dog walkers care has a history of being aggressive, that dog is not allowed off-leash at any time Each commercial dog walker is allowed up to eight dogs: four of the eight are allowed off-leash at a time All dogs must remain on-leash until they are within the designated commercial dog walking space within the Park All dogs must wear a vest or tag that identifies them as a part of the commercial dog walking group (the vest or tag must match the handlers dentification) Commercial dog walking can take place at the Park: Monday- Friday between 9:00am - 11 :OOam and 2:00pm - 4:00pm Saturdays from 1 O:OOam - 1 :OOpm; commercial dog walking is not allowed at the Park on Sundays or Statutory Holidays at this time All outstanding fees and fines owed to Delta must be paid, prior to the ssuance of the Delta pennit Permit Fee: Annual fee s $ plus tax Charwtn1 section for fall to comply with conditions of permit wlll result n a $300 fine; as per the Municipal Ticketing Bylaw Sec. 6.l(a) At any time Delta may temporary close or deny access to the Park, decommission the space for commercial dog walking activities, or designate the Park for alternate uses at any time for municipal purposes or any purpose that Delta deems necessary, which may result n cancellation of the Delta permit.

9 Page 7 of 9 1

10 page B of 9 On-site Completed Surveys "' 350 On-line Completed Surveys= 179 (Total Surveys= 529) North 40 Park Reserve SUrvey Results S!'MY was conducted by Delta staff the weeks of May 23rd and 30th nclusive. Question#! Question #2 (a) #2(b) Questlon#3 Questlon#4 Question #5 (a) n a rink sized space, how many Do YoU support Do YoU prefer What s the ratio of clop of average openlftl the North f, yes, how speclftc days and clop to humans size off-leash 40 to professional many dop off- ~mes for How often do YoU Do you have a Do YoU allow your you are would you be commercial dog leash at a commercial dog use the North 40? dos? ~off-leash? comfortable with? comfortable with? walkers? time? walkers? Dally= 132 Yes=451 Yes=433 2:1=194 <20=-266 Yes=394 Weekly= 184 No=61 No=62 4:1= =169 No= 115 Bl-Weekly " 65 6:1 = =46 Monthly= 72 NO nuponse = "1.1 8:1= = 19 Quarterly = 37 Annually = 23 MOre man 1. oop off-leash at a time? 11:1=1 14:1 = l Yes=~r 3:1=3 No=91 Nollmlt=4 No Response = 24 General Comments: 1. Concerns with lttle kids coming with dog walkers bringing 5-6 dogs off-leash would be hazardess. 2. Dog owners must sign a responslblllty waiver. 3. Add llttle bridges for crossing and water station for dogs. 4. More off-leash parks needed n North Delta. 5. Only supported f doss are under control at all times period. 6. Only support f walkers pay a license fee. 7. letting doss off-leash n parklns lot s not safe. 8. Should only be for Delta residents. #5 (b) Question#& None=127 weekdays = 14 Weekends = 190 3=31 Stats= 176 4= 109 morninss=~ 5=18 Afternoons "' 278 6=108 Evenlnss = 167 8=20 10=6 -r=z Nollmlt=19

11 Page 9 of g On-site Completed Surveys = 350 On-line Completed Surveys= 179 (Total Surveys= 529) North 40 Park Reserve Survey Results 9. Don't fence this area. 10. Should have water source at entrance. 11. With rqards to question #4 t really depends on the size ofthe dop. 12. Need more signs on-site to enforce where the off-leash area be1lns Fiim crews dlsrepect other users and drive their vehicles too fast n the area. They can also be very rude. 14. Concern over sesresatlns sections of t1'e park to specific users - park should be used by all, t's a pm. 15. Surveyor noticed that most of the people who filled out the survey were dos walkers. Some have good control over their pets. 16. More waste receptacles would be 1ood. 17. Car break-ns are a concern, s anything beln1 done about this? 18. Most bird watchers did not want to complete the survey. 19. Dot feces throughout the space s a concern. What will happen when even more dop are allowed off-leash? t's not sanitary or safe. 20. People feedlna the wildlife s an ssue. 21. Frail people and people with kids n strollers make me nervous with doss runnlna all around.

12 erdal Dog Walking Community Consultation Process Attachment B Page 1of r,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!lll On-site Staffed Popu p Displays Promotion Social Media ~ -, 1 (December/January) (December-February) l:iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiillf Regulatory Criteria «/» &t cu u e Q. c 0 "+; ns ~ :::s «/» c 0 u, (...: , Public Consultation 1 Open House(s) (January) On-Site Public Consultation Process ----Review-( Eebruar:.y)_ ---- Consultation with Commer~ial Dog Walkers (March) ~iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-i ) ~ Recommendations to Commission & Council (May) ( : Potential

The Corporation of Delta COMMISSION REPORT Regular Meeting

The Corporation of Delta COMMISSION REPORT Regular Meeting To: Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission File No.: 1403520 From: Parks, Recreation & Culture Department Date: June 08, 2016 RECOMMENDATION: