Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2017 08 09

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Open Space Advisory Board Minutes July 12th, 2017 Page 4 of 6 Off Leash Area (DOLA). Joe shared his comments to the document written in red (see packet). He asked OSAB for their discussion and feedback on his comments. Helen asked about Joe's safety considerations for putting a garbage can in the center of the DOLA. Joe responded that the garbage bag is too heavy for a staff member to carry to the entrance, so they would have to drive a truck into the DOLA. This would also require another staff member to hold the gate so dogs do not escape while the truck is coming into the DOLA. Jeff commented on his frustration with trash can issues, saying that if the City doesn't make it easy for people to obey the rules, then people simply won't comply. He suggested a smaller, lift able trash can in the middle of the DOLA that could be carried out. Ember suggested that maybe a trash can could be in the middle but on the side, along the southern fence, so it could be lifted over the fence to a truck on the trail outside the DOLA. Jeff suggested that the City might need to make adjustments to consider what the citizens actually need, if we want to see compliance. The board would still like to see a trash can at the west end of the DOLA, since some users walk all the way through the DOLA with their dogs, then keep going on a walk around the Mesa. The board still likes the idea of moving the western gate to the SW corner: then a truck could get close to the gate without creating a new two-track trail. Joe cautioned moving a gate would require a CIP. Laura asked how many times a week trash is collected from the DOLA. Joe answered daily during the summer. Fiona asked about Joe's "as needed" comment for having the ranger patrol the DOLA at closing time. Joe said that there are currently more complaints about dogs off leash at North Open Space right now. He likes the flexibility of deploying the ranger as needed. Fiona reiterated that she is concerned about having the DOLA open in low-light conditions, where people can't see where their dogs are pooping. Joe replied that the hours were set by the Mayor and the City Manager. Mayor Muckle said that there are other considerations: people exercise their dogs before and after work hours. He felt like changing the hours of operation could be readdressed, if other suggestions don't improve conditions. Laura asked Joe whether this document had been helpful to staff. Joe thought that it was nice to get a document in this format, especially as it included suggested staff can do immediately. He reported that he had discussed the document with both Open Space and Parks staff. Jim commented that this whole discussion is a good example of an issue where there are no perfect solutions, only reasonable compromises. Fiona agreed that the goal is to make conditions better, while acknowledging that it can't be made perfect. Laura commented that she was happy to see that Joe wrote "yes" after the mud closures suggestion, as this wasn't historically always seen as an acceptable suggestion. Fiona would like to see actual data of coliform levels measured in Harper Lake. Joe reported that Public Works thinks other sources like geese are contributing more contamination that the DOLA. Fiona would also like to see a rough volume or mass estimate of how much poop is collected in trash cans to get baseline measurements. Joe also suggested that there could be temporary DOLA closures due to too much contamination/accumulation. Laura asked whether that has ever been done before. Joe reported that it had. Joe and the board agreed that staff should feel empowered to temporarily close the DOLA at its own discretion. Laura asked if we should expect to see more temporary closures due to conditions going forward, given this conversation, 5