2001-06-04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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111 Ms. Wendy Cohn, 1509 Rugby Avenue, opposed the leash ordinance. She said dog owners are a legitimate group and passing an ordinance without accommodations to this group would be unfair. Ms. Cohn said the report was biased toward a leash law and she feels the recommendations will not succeed and there will be non-compliance. Ms. Cohn asked that dog owners be considered a legitimate user group and suggested that Council ask Public Works to really look at successful models for dogs off leash. Ms. Patricia Wilkinson, 1107 Myrtle Street, said she goes to Azalea Park and feels the dog ovmers there are responsible and thinks it works well the way it is. Mr. Nichuolas Edsall, 1924 Thomson Road, said he is troubled by the sweeping nature of the proposed ordinance. Mr. Edsel said he feels there are appropriate places to restrict dogs, but this ordinance does not take into account the needs of dogs and dog owners. Mr: Edsel said he also feels the ordinance is unenforceable. Mr. Mike Evans, 201 W, High Street, said he has three dogs he takes to Riverview Park and he does not find the situation there chaotic. Mr. Evans said that tax dollars go to other forms of recreation and this is his form of recreation and he wants it to receive some level of support. Mr. Evans said the time spent in the park with his dogs is a very important part of his life. Mr. Fran Lawrence, 1729 Chesapeake Street, said that Riverview Park was conceived as a natural park and the neighborhood did not want athletic fields there, nor was thought given to making it a dog park. Mr. Lawrence said many people are not comfortable running or walking at the park because of the dogs. Mr. Lawrence said dogs are not needed for safety at the park. Mr. Lawrence said he feels that any dog park should be at least ten acres, and he feels Towe Park would be a good location for one. Ms. Sydney Levine, 606 Druid Avenue ,said she goes to Riverview Park and has never felt threatened by any dogs and she has never seen a dog attack anyone. Ms. Diane McDougal, 1622 Mason Lane, said she would like to see everyone look for better ways to co-exist and she hopes the ordinance is not a done deal. Ms. McDougal said she would like to hear more about alternate times for off-leash. Mr. Paul Muhlberger, 414 Fairway Avenue, said Charlottesville is world class because Council takes a long time to look at issues such as this. Mr. Muhlberger said he feels having a dog area at Towe Park would lessen the use of Riverview. He said he has never seen voice control enforced and he would like to see that happen before a blanket ordinance is adopted. Mr. Muhlberger said some people just have a general fear of dogs. Mr. Muhlberger said he feels such an ordinance will be very difficult to enforce. Ms. Peggy Van Yahres, 1700 Chesapeake Street, Chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, said the Board is unanimously behind the staff recommendations. She said the Board felt they needed to make a compromise and support a leash law and a fenced area for dogs. Ms. Cindy Seale, 1636 Oxford Road, said she feels safe at Riverview because of the presence of dog owners and feels that dog owners are responsible. Ms. Ann Bruner, 1618 Oxford Road, agreed with dog owners who said they need to be able to exercise with their dogs and feels that a fenced in area will not work. Ms. Kay Slaughter, 1501 Short 18th St., speaking for herself and a neighbor, said she bought her house because of the access to the river and she was active in creating the Greenbelt .and gave an easement across her property. Ms. Slaughter said it is unpleasant asking people to control their dogs, and she does not feel rules would be needed if people would be civil. Ms. Slaughter said that some walkers have stopped using the park because they are uncomfortable with the number of dogs. Ms. Slaughter said she supports the leash law and hopes that the leash law will include the Greenbelt Trail. Ms. Slaughter asked that the City put up temporary sign alerting people about the leash law