Fiscal Note
No significant fiscal impact is anticipated from this pilot program. Ranger staff providing additional enforcement and education will be reallocated within the Parks Division’s budget. There may be a marginal increase in dog park permit revenue and additional dog licenses issued by the Clerk’s Office from this program, as it will create more contacts with dog owners by City staff.
Title
Authorizing a pilot program to expand the dogs in parks policy to include additional locations where dogs are allowed within designated parks as authorized by Madison General Ordinances 8.19(1)(a)(3).
Body
WHEREAS, Madison Parks recognizes that as dog ownership has increased and the roles of dogs in the lives of residents has changed, there is a need to evaluate the existing policies related to dogs in parks; and
WHEREAS, Dog walking in parks is currently regulated extensively, with very few opportunities to legally take a dog on a walk in a park; and
WHEREAS, Dog walking provides individual health benefits as it keeps dog owners more active and also provides community building opportunities as it connects people who share a common interest; and
WHEREAS, Madison Parks strives to have the park system used extensively, both to promote the health of our community through positive activities, as well as to discourage negative behaviors on public land; and
WHEREAS, the Park Commission and Long Range Planning Subcommittee will be considering policy modifications regarding dogs in parks as well as off-leash dog park exercise areas and establishing standards for locating these amenities over the coming year; and
WHEREAS, Madison Parks is interested in evaluating on a modest scale the impact of operating under a policy related to dogs in parks that provides access, focuses on education of dog owners, and establishes accountability for owners to obey the reasonable rules established; and
WHEREAS, Madison Parks staff established a process to evaluate parks tha...
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