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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-C&NS-2006-08-09 . r COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2006 7: 00 PM. COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS Council Members Present: Mayor Peterson, Robin Holtham-Korherr(Chair), 5th Ward, Joel Zumoff 3rdWard, Michelle Courtney-Berry 2nd Ward, J. R. Clairborne, 2nd Ward 1) Meeting called to order @ 7:20 pm by Robin Holtham-Korherr 2)Approval of Minutes (Not Done At this Time) 3) Correction to Agenda—Move IPD to item #4; Youth Violence to item #5 4) Department Updates—Ithaca Police Department Deputy Chief Curatolo: New Police Officers Kevin Slattery Sworn in 08/09/06, Police Officer Barry Banfield to be sworn in next week. Outlined IPD promotions, activities—drug busts, C-Town noise calming, C-town parties, committee formed to keep parties under control. Lt. Monticello to head speed enforcement—Grants to purchase new state of the art equipment for speed enforcement— long term goals: better equipment, more officers—more tickets—grants to purchase speCed detection equipment—D.C. Curatolo explained how the new speed equipment will operate—extra product, more efficient in speed control. D.C. Curatolo explained the workings of the Traffic Unit w/in the IPD, specific duties. 5)Youth Violence—Update&Discussion with Rev. Dr. &Mrs.William Prescott Read a passage on social and economic effect of youth violence. July 5th, Youth violence Assessment Committee Team formed to address the problems of youth violence& gang related problems. Met with Lee Dillon to discuss support of the program. Committee talked with District Attorney Wilkinson on handling cases. Committee talked to Chief of Police Signer to involved IPD's Community Policing Unit. Stated that the lack of funds has prevented many youth programs. Council thanked the Prescott's for their dedication to this worthwhile cause to prevent the problems of youth violence. Next Committee Forum meeting—08/14/06, 07:00 PM, 116 Cleveland Ave. 6) Public Comments: Doria Higgins—Talked about an environmental review for the Festival Lands. Referred to site map outlined specific areas of concerns for Dog Park. Joel Harlan—Spoke in favor of Dog Park, needs Council to work on change. Improve relation w/people on the streets. Brian Carsage—Complained about the problems of the Dog Park, unleashed dogs, and dog owner's mixed attitudes toward other citizens using the park. Jessica Carsage—Walks dog in Dog Park on leash. Opposed to fenced area. Steve Engleman—Needs the rules to be more enforced. Enjoys the dog park. Mary White—supports T.C. Dog—Dog Park is valuable to pets and owners. Complained about being harassed by non-dog owners on city streets; and police enforcement harassing dog owners. Melissa Locale—Talked about people complaining about the dangers of Dog Park. . r Comm. & Neighborhood Svc. Committee Page#2 Public Comments(cont'd.) Ken Zezerson—There needs to b e a code of conduct for the park and dog owners. Stated T.C. Dog is opposed to a fenced dog park. Linda Russo—Represents city dog owners—favors fenced in dog park and an off leash area. Dennis Foster-Re: the water issue for the park, could have water channeled into the fenced in dog park. Spoke on how to streamline laws to benefit everyone. 7) Council Response: Robin Holtham-Korherr requested Ms. Russo to e-mail Council information on her committee members and intentions. 8) Proposal to Create Off-Leash area on the City-Owned "Festival Lands"—Declaration of Lead Agency Discussion/Resolution Michelle Courtney-Berry motioned and 2"d by J.R. Clairborne Comments—Mayor Peterson stated she met with City Attorney regarding Environmental Impact Statement before decision is made. Michelle Courtney-Berry supports the proposal; people need this space for the public relations of all dog owners. Robin Holtham-Korherr—supports Proposal—has seen other municipalities that have had success with this issue. Vote carried unanimously. 9) Neighborhood Improvement Incentive Funds #1 Ithaca Housing Authority-Motioned by JR. Clairborne, 2nd by Michelle Courtney-Berry,No comments, carried unanimously #2 Titus Tower Tenant Association-Motioned by J.R. Clairborne, 2nd by Michelle Courtney- Berry,No comments, carried unanimously. 10) Old Business-Taxi Ordinance, Olympic Weightlifting Program,etc. 11) Adjournment—J.R. Clairborne motioned to adjourn at 9:15 PM, carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted: Gary Bordoni, CSO Supervisor, IPD Typed by R. Mercado, IPD . v � i CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850-5690 OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY Daniel L.Hoffman,City Attorney Telephone: 607/274-6504 Patricia Dunn,Assistant City Attorney Fax: 607/274-6507 Robert A. Sarachan,Assistant City Attorney Khandikile M.Sokoni,Assistant City Attorney Dawn M.L.Tordel,Legal Assistant MEMORANDUM To: Robin Holtham Korherr, Chairperson Community and Neighborhood Services Committee c�1� From: Daniel L. HoffmalY, City Attorney Date: August 8, 2006 Subject: Environmental Review for Proposed Off-Leash Dog Area First, I would like to correct the article which appeared in today's Ithaca Journal, regarding the proposed off-leash area at the Festival Lands. The article reports that"any action the City takes on rescinding leash laws must first go through a state-guided Environmental Impact Statement." Actually, an Environmental Impact Statement(EIS) is the last possible stage of the environmental review process, and, in most cases, an EIS is not even required. The resolution I drafted for consideration by the Community and Neighborhood Services Committee would simply get the environmental review process started; in no way would a"Yes" vote on that resolution guarantee that an EIS would or must be prepared. The first step in environmental review is the completion of Part 1 of an Environmental Assessment Form(EAF)by the "sponsor"of the proposed project. In fact,there are two versions of an EAF—the "short form" and the"long form." The short form consists of one or two pages of Yes/No questions. The long*form(which is required for any larger-scale"Type 1" project, or when any question in the short form has been answered with a"Yes") is typically 12 to 20 pages long. Part 1 of the long form consists primarily of a description of the project, and is to be completed by the project sponsor. Part 2 consists of the analysis of potential impacts, and is to be completed/approved by the lead agency. Part 3 is used only when certain types of impacts are identified; it is intended to provide more detail, as well as possible mitigating measures, and it is also completed by the lead agency(or its staff). Using the information and analysis provided in the EAF,the lead agency must decide whether an EIS is needed. If it is determined that the project is likely to have a significant impact, a"positive declaration" is made by the lead agency, an the sponsor must complete an "An Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to workforce diversification." za t Memo: Environmental Review for Proposed Off-Leash Dog Area August 8,2006 Page 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EIS before the project can be approved or funded. If it is determined that the project is not likely to have a significant impact, a"negative declaration" is made by the lead agency,the environmental review comes to an end(without an EIS), and a vote is taken on approving or funding the project. With regard to the proposed off-leash dog area, I would like Committee and Council members to be aware of a couple of basic issues that will need to be addressed, if a decision is made to proceed with environmental review. The questions that must be answered are: (1) Who is the sponsor of this proposed action? (2) What is the scope of the proposal? As I understand it, the proposal to designate the Festival Lands as an off-leash area for dogs, and to enact an exception to the City's leash law for that area, has been recommended by a Task Force established by the Mayor. It is also my understanding that the primary impetus for the proposal has come from a community organization known as TCDOG - Tompkins County Dog Owners Group. (I don't know whether TCDOG is a corporation or simply an association.) So, is the "sponsor" of the proposal TCDOG, or the Mayor's Task Force, or"the City?" The sponsor must be identified in the EAF, and in fact the sponsor is supposed to answer the questions in Part 1 of the EAF. Therefore,the sponsor gets to define the parameters of the proposal. Unless the City intends to lease the Festival Lands to TCDOG, I would suggest that for the purpose of reviewing and deciding upon this proposal, the sponsor be deemed to be the City. My reasoning is that since the City is the landowner, it is really the controlling entity; in addition, I think considering the City to be the sponsor would bring more clarity to a situation where many small decisions may need to be made along the way. In order to answer the questions in the EAF and analyze the potential impacts of the proposal, its parameters must be defined with a certain amount of precision. If the exact scope or details of a proposal are not known at this stage, typically, environmental review considers the largest or broadest possible scope (sometimes referred to as the "worst case"). CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850-5690 OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY Po� O� Daniel L.Hoffman,City Attorney Telephone: 607/274-6504 Patricia Dunn,Assistant City Attorney Fax: 607/274-6507 Robert A. Sarachan,Assistant City Attorney Khandikile M.Sokoni,Assistant City Attorney Dawn M.L.Tordel,Legal Assistant MEMORANDUM To: Robin Holtham Korherr, Chairperson Community and Neighborhood Services Committee From: Daniel L. Hoffina; C tyy Attorney Date: August 8, 2006 Subject: Environmental Review for Proposed Off-Leash Dog Area First, I would like to correct the article which appeared in today's Ithaca Journal, regarding the proposed off-leash area at the Festival Lands. The article reports that"any action the City takes on rescinding leash laws must first go through a state-guided Environmental Impact Statement." Actually, an Environmental Impact Statement(EIS) is the last possible stage of the environmental review process, and, in most cases, an EIS is not even required. The resolution I drafted for consideration by the Community and Neighborhood Services Committee would simply get the environmental review process started; in no way would a"Yes"vote on that resolution guarantee that an EIS would or must be prepared. The first step in environmental review is the completion of Part 1 of an Environmental Assessment Form(EAF) by the"sponsor" of the proposed project. In fact, there are two versions of an EAF—the "short form" and the"long form." The short form consists of one or two pages of Yes/No questions. The long form(which is required for any larger-scale"Type 1" project, or when any question in the short form has been answered with a"Yes") is typically 12 to 20 pages long. Part 1 of the long form consists primarily of a description of the project, and is to be completed by the project sponsor. Part 2 consists of the analysis of potential impacts, and is to be completed/approved by the lead agency. Part 3 is used only when certain types of impacts are identified; it is intended to provide more detail, as well as possible mitigating measures, and it is also completed by the lead agency(or its staff). Using the information and analysis provided in the EAF,the lead agency must decide whether an EIS is needed. If it is determined that the project is likely to have a significant impact, a"positive declaration"is made by the lead agency, an the sponsor must complete an "An Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to workforce diversification." co ` s L Memo: Environmental Review for Proposed Off-Leash Dog Area August 8,2006 Page 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EIS before the project can be approved or funded. If it is determined that the project is not likely to have a significant impact, a"negative declaration" is made by the lead agency,the environmental review comes to an end(without an EIS), and a vote is taken on approving or funding the project. With regard to the proposed off-leash dog area, I would like Committee and Council members to be aware of a couple of basic issues that will need to be addressed, if a decision is made to proceed with environmental review. The questions that must be answered are: (1) Who is the sponsor of this proposed action? (2) What is the scope of the proposal? As I understand it, the proposal to designate the Festival Lands as an off-leash area for dogs, and to enact an exception to the City's leash law for that area, has been recommended by a Task Force established by the Mayor. It is also my understanding that the primary impetus for the proposal has come from a community organization known as TCDOG - Tompkins County Dog Owners Group. (I don't know whether TCDOG is a corporation or simply an association.) So, is the"sponsor"of the proposal TCDOG, or the Mayor's Task Force, or"the City?" The sponsor must be identified in the EAF, and in fact the sponsor is supposed to answer the questions in Part 1 of the EAF. Therefore,the sponsor gets to define the parameters of the proposal. Unless the City intends to lease the Festival Lands to TCDOG, I would suggest that for the purpose of reviewing and deciding upon this proposal,the sponsor be deemed to be the City. My reasoning is that since the City is the landowner, it is really the controlling entity; in addition, I think considering the City to be the sponsor would bring more clarity to a situation where many small decisions may need to be made along the way. In order to answer the questions in the EAF and analyze the potential impacts of the proposal, its parameters must be defined with a certain amount of precision. If the exact scope or details of a proposal are not known at this stage,typically, environmental review considers the largest or broadest possible scope (sometimes referred to as the "worst case"). Memo: Environmental Review for Proposed Off-Leash Dog Area August 8,2006 Page 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the case of the off-leash proposal, factors (with a potential environmental impact)that appear to be undefined or unresolved at this point include: - whether part or all of the "main"off-leash area would be fenced; - whether the off-leash area is intended to extend onto any portion of the State Park (eg., in order to provide access to the lakeshore); and - whether the off-leash area would include a separate, fenced enclosure for small dogs. Unless these questions can be definitively answered by the sponsor before the environmental review begins,my advice would be that the analysis provided in the review should include the possibility of the largest scope. Both the State and City environmental review laws prohibit the"segmentation"of environmental review except under certain, defined circumstances. Thus, if there is any intent to extend the off-leash area to the Lake, or to include a separate enclosure for small dogs, even if those are seen only as possible, future stages,their potential impact should be analyzed now, in this EAR I have been asked whether a Council member"should"vote to commence the environmental review, even if s/he does not necessarily support the concept of the off-leash area at the Festival Lands. The environmental review process is intended to give legislators (and the public)thorough information and analysis on potential impacts, as early as possible in the decision-making process. If a project such as the "dog park"is going to be considered seriously, environmental review should occur, and it should happen soon. However, assuming that the City would in fact be the real "sponsor" of such a project,the City has no obligation to proceed with it or even to consider it. I would suggest that for anyone who already knows that s/he would not want there to be an off-leash area at the Festival Lands, under any conditions, voting in favor of conducting the environmental review(which represents an investment of City time and energy)doesn't make sense,because it represents the"first step" down a path that could lead to a dog park at that site. But, for anyone who thinks s/he needs more information before making up his/her mind,the environmental review process would undoubtedly be helpful. In this way,the vote on whether to commence environmental review can effectively be seen/treated as an early"straw poll"on whether the concept is worth pursuing at all (which is just what Joel—and the Task Force -had wanted to find out, from my understanding). Cc: Mayor Carolyn K. Peterson Other Members of Common Council William J. Gray H. Matthys Van Cort Proposal to Create an Off-Leash Doe Area on the City-Owned"Festival Lands"-Declaration of Lead Aeency -Resolution WHEREAS,the Mayor's Task Force created to consider the possibility of establishing one or more off- leash areas for dogs in the Ithaca area has recommended that such an off-leash area be established by the City on the so-called"Festival Lands"owned by the City,and possibly be extended on to a portion of the adjacent lands of the Allan H.Treman State Marine Park(upon the consent of the State Park),and WHEREAS,the City's Parks Commission has recommended that the Festival Lands not be used for an off- leash dog area WHEREAS, State Law and Section 176 of the City Code provide that no agency may undertake, fund or approve an action until the agency has complied with the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act(SEQRA)and,if it is an agency of the City of Ithaca,with the City's Environmental Quality Review Ordinance(CEQRO),and WHEREAS, SEQRA and CEQRO require that any action be preliminarily classified as Type I,Type II (exempt)or unlisted,and that,from among the involved agencies for any action,a Lead Agency be established for conducting environmental review of the action,in accordance with state and local law,and WHEREAS,the involved agencies with regard to approvals that would be required for the proposed off- leash dog area are the Common Council and the Board of Public Works,and,potentially,New York State Parks, and WHEREAS,this proposed action is an Unlisted Action under both the City of Ithaca Environmental Quality Review Ordinance and the State Environmental Quality Review Act;now,therefore,be it RESOLVED,That the City of Ithaca Common Council does hereby declare itself Lead Agency for the environmental review of the proposed establishment of an off-leash dog area on the Festival Lands,and be it further RESOLVED,That notice of the Common Council's intent to be the Lead Agency for this action be provided to the Board of Public Works and New York State Parks,together with a copy of Part 1 of the Environmental Assessment Form for the action. Background Information: Dog Park Proposal The Tompkins County Dog Owners Group(TCDog)brings two proposals before the City of Ithaca Neighborhood and Community Issues Committee and the Department of Public Works. Both proposals involve exemptions from the city leash law in specific park areas. Both have been endorsed by relevant commissions and departments. Briefly, they are: • A pilot program at the Allen H. Treman State Marine Park, permitting voice- controlled (owner-controlled) dogs off-leash during the winter and during limited hours in the summer in a specific area not identified in the state park master plan as a natural area. This proposal was developed in collaboration with the regional state parks office and requires city approval because a portion of the land is owned by the city and because of the exemption required to allow off-leash dogs within city limits without ticketing. The state parks department is ready to proceed with the pilot when city approval is obtained. • A proposal for a multiuse area that would include off-leash dogs in limited sections of the Southwest Natural Area, when that park is developed. This proposal was developed in collaboration with the Southwest Natural Area Committee and has been endorsed by the city Natural Areas Commission. Support documents are attached. Salient points include: • There is no public place in Tompkins County where owners can exercise their dogs safely and legally off-leash. As a consequence, other areas are being used inappropriately for this purpose. • Dog owners represent a large and growing constituency. • Hundreds of communities have successful dog parks and report no incidents of harm to humans or other dogs. • The proposed parks have rules to ensure that owners can control and will clean up after their dogs. • Anticipating the eventual approval of the dog park by local authorities, many local residents already exercise their dogs at the Treman Marina, and have done so without serious incident for years. • The proposals have been endorsed by the Parks Commission, the Natural Areas Commission, the New York State Department of Parks and Historic Preservation, and in principle by the SPCA. • TCDog has built visibility during its year-long history, presenting at city and community meetings, organizing volunteer"poop-scooping patrols,"providing informative interviews for local print and.electronic media, reviewing relevant research, and maintaining electronic communication among dog owners about concerns. Allan H. Treman State Marine Park Pilot Dog Park Rules Hours of use: May 1-September 30 Sunrise-9 An 5 PM-Sunset October 1-April 30 Dawn to Dusk BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR DOG OFF LEASH: 1) Sign the logbook for each use. 2) You are responsible for your dog's behavior and safety: a) Carry a leash at all times and keep your dog in sight. b)Immediately leash dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior. c)Keep your dog under voice control at all times. 3) All dogs must meet NYS licensing requirements or equivalent. 4) Clean up after your dog. 5)Respect other park users. 6) Stay within designated areas. 7)Limit 2 off-leash dogs per person. Incident Report Example: Date: Time: Your name and contact information(optional): What happened: Outcome: Signing below indicates you agree to the park rules and accept liability for your dog's behavior Allan H. Treman Marina Dog Park, Ithaca, NY Date Time Time Your Name and Dog's Name(s) #of City or Town of Comments In Out dos _ Dog License MECHANICS OF THE PILOT PROPOSAL AT TREMAN MARINA ♦ The Parks Department will issue a Special Use Permit for an off-leash dog park for one year to the 501-c3 representing TCDOG. Usage fees from individuals .are impossible to collect in this park, but the costs for plowing, policing, and emptying the waste can must be covered by TCDOG. A first installment to cover set-up costs will be due from TCDOG within the first couple of months. The park fee will be $400 annually. Funds are available to cover nearly the entire proposed first-year use fee. ♦ Users will sign in and out at a covered logbook station containing a map of the park; a list of park rules; a bulletin board for messages; a logbook for each user to sign in and out; an incident report box for comments and reports on activities in the park; brochures on dog behavior, training, and responsible dog ownership; and plastic bags for dog waste clean-up. ♦ Signing in and out during the pilot period allows TCDOG to monitor the usage of the park and signifies users'agreement with the park rules. Park rules include users' full personal responsibility for their dogs'behavior, compliance with local licensing and vaccination requirements, voice control of their dogs, no females in heat, and immediate leashing of aggressively-behaving dogs. Puppies and young children are discouraged from entering the park. ♦ During the pilot period, TCDOG will informally monitor of the park. In most cases, this means users remind each other to clean up after their dogs, sign in and out of the logbook, and generally follow the park rules. Users who abuse the u privilege of an off-leash park or put any human or dog in jeopardy will get negative sanctions from the group and, if the situation warrants,the park police will assist in enforcing rules. Aggressive dog or human behavior will not be tolerated. ♦ Hours will be limited during the months the boat slips are open(roughly May to October): dawn to 9 AM and 5 PM to dusk. During the winter months, hours will be dawn to dusk. ♦ The area will continue as a permanent dogpark after a review of the park's success during the pilot period. Reviewers will include the steering committee of TCDOG, Jack Clancy,Regional Director of the Finger Lakes State Parks, and Jeff McDonald, Capital Facilities Manager. Note: TCDOG has the resources for both peer monitoring and use-monitoring (compiling data on park use and incident reports). As evidence of our ability to compile data, we conducted a 500-person survey during a 2-month period in the spring. We found, among many other findings,that 94%of local respondents favored an off-leash park, including people who don't themselves own dogs. TCDOG will be compiling periodic reports about the usage and about the number and types of incidents. u Page 1 of 2 WHAT IS TCDOG? TCDOG is a diverse group of Tompkins County residents whose mission is to "facilitate communication among dog owners, the public, and government about mutual concerns and issues regarding dogs." We currently have nearly 200 registered members, 100 more affiliated members through our listserv, and a steering committee of 13 actively involved members. We began as an organization a year ago, and the group picked up momentum during the winter months when the leash law was actively enforced at Treman Marina. Since then, we have developed extremely cooperative relationships with the State Park Regional Director Jack Clancy and Capital Facilities Manager Jeff McDonald to get a limited-hours off leash arrangement at Treman Marina for a pilot dogpark. We also have the support of Senator Kuhl and Marty Luster. ACTIVITIES OF TCDOG To increase the number of legal and safe off-lead options for dogs and their owners. We have been pursuing three avenues for off-leash options in Ithaca. The dogpark closest to realization is the area to the left of the boat slips at Allan H. Treman Marina, off route 89. Other areas include the Southwest Park development, which now mentions a dog area in the plan because of our efforts, and a new, yet-to-be developed park on Bostwick Road. To reduce the amount of dog waste left in public areas of Tompkins County. We are currently organized on two fronts: one is regularly-scheduled Saturday morning poop pick-ups by teams at Treman Marina and the Wildflower preserve. The other is a local cleanup effort of specific targeted neighborhood areas. In either case, we wear TCDOG T-shirts and encourage maintenance of the cleaned areas by leaving signs, "This area has been cleaned by TCDOG. Please help maintain this area so we can all enjoy a cleaner city." To educate the public about dog behavior, ownership responsibilities, and dog-human etiquette. We have produced a brochure to be distributed in local dog-related businesses and offices. The brochure identifies tips on reading dog body language, etiquette for walking dogs offleash, the rules of the proposed dog park, and the benefits of off-lead areas. To facilitate communication among dog owners Our electronic discussion list links over 300 residents with each other to learn more about local issues regarding dogs, plan dogwalking events, and update the community about off leash options. The list also informs members of safety concerns for dog walkers, such as dead animals on trails or car break-ins in local park areas. Page 2 of 2 G�!f10N•ys m a w U. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation u O NEW YORK STATE i Finger Lakes Region-PO Box 1055,Taughannock Park Road,Trumansburg, New York 14886-1055 607-387-7041 FAX 607-387-3390 Regional Commission: George E.Pataki,Governor Beverly C.Anania,Chair Bernadette Castro,Commissioner Clement N. Granoff John C. Clancy,Regional Director Linda Jackson Rowland Stebbins III February 5, 2001 Marcia H. Finch Carol C. Reeves Honorable Alan J. Cohen Mayor, City of Ithaca 108 E. Green Street Ithaca,NY 14850-5690 Dear Mayor Cohen: The non-profit organization TCDOG (Tompkins County Dog Owners' Group) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation are cooperating to establish a pilot off-leash dogpark in the City of Ithaca at Allan H. Treman State Marine Park. We expect the dogpark to be very popular with dog owners and with the public at large, as it will reduce the use of less appropriate areas in the city for off- u leash dogwalking, such as the Six Mile Creek Wildflower Preserve. The proposal for an off-leash dog area at the Allan H. Treman State Marine Park was endorsed in the spring of 2000 by both the City Parks Commission and the Natural Areas Commission. We are enclosing a map so you may see the area of the lands that will be used for the park, and also a list of the proposed park rules. The proposed dogpark boundaries include part of the city-owned Festival Lands. We request approval from the city to utilize the city-owned lands as indicated on the enclosed map for the dogpark. A few representatives of TCDOG have scheduled a meeting with you through your secretary,Linda, to discuss this change in use and answer any questions you may have. Sincerely, TOMPKINS COUNTY DOG OWNERS' GROUP J L . John C. Clancy Heather Hofmeister danne Morgan Regional Director JCC:ts Jonathan Bernstein Enc. u An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Agency FLSP001(12/99) OCArded on recycled paper Allan H. Treman Marine Park Pilot Dog Park Rules u Hours of use: May 1-September 30 Sunrise-9 AM, 5 PM-Sunset October 1-April 30 Dawn to Dusk BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR DOG OFF LEASH: 1) Sign the logbook for each use. 2) You are responsible for your dog's behavior and safety: a) Carry a leash at all times and keep your dog in sight. b) Immediately leash dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior. c) Keep your dog under voice control at all times. 3) All dogs must meet NYS licensing requirements or equivalent. 4) Clean up after your dog. 5) Respect other park users. 6) Stay within designated areas. 7) Limit 2 off-leash dogs per person. Off-leash.dog park proposal ..� Southwest Park Natural Area Introduction We, the Tompkins County Dog Owners Group(TCDOG), believe that the citizens of the county need safe areas to exercise our dogs off-leash. TCDOG is a new organization with over 100 members representing residents of the city, town, and county. We have researched the facilities and arrangements at some of the over 350 off-leash dog parks that exist in the United States. Ithaca dog owners need large, safe places where they can let their dogs play together i off-leash year round. A well-exercised, well-socialized dog gets along better with humans and other dogs. It is less likely to bark excessively or be aggressive at home. r Planning parks for dog owners as legitimate users of natural areas has become common i in the United States. At present there is no public area in the City or Town*of Ithaca where dog owners may r legally walk their dogs off-leash.The City Parks Commission cannot offer dog owners a k sufficiently large parcel of land. Dogs may be walked on local trails,but only on-leash. These trails close during hunting season and are often impassible, even dangerous, € during the winter. Proposal We propose that a portion of the undeveloped Southwest Area be designated as a Natural Area whose use would include dogs off-leash under voice and sight control. The area would also be used for fishing,walking,birding, and other recreational purposes.The off-leash area would require minimal development,primarily rough trails or pathways. The off-leash area could also serve as a buffer between the more . developed areas and the protected Nedg ndo Woods. " Background ' The Southwest Park area was"alienated" some years ago-land originally designated as parkland was rezoned for development in exchange for the establishment of substitute parkland area.The substitute parkland falls partly in and adjacent to the property designated for the Southwest Area Land Use Plan(SWALUP). The portion within the SWALUP consists of about 25 acres;the portion adjacent to the SWALUP is approximate'-Y-35 acres. Proposed Area The proposed off-leash area is in the 35-'acre parcel of adjacent substitute parkland (See Figure 10). It lies between the railroad tracks and the Cayuga Inlet, at its northernmost tip is a DEC fishery. There is an unpaved road leading from 13A across the railroad tracks to the fishery. There is space for installing a gravel parking lot for park users.