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164 <br /> <br />COUNCIL CHAMBER - September 17, 2001 <br /> <br /> Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: <br />Mr. Caravati, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards, Mr. Toscano. Absent: Mr. Cox <br /> <br />AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati presented a resolution responding t° the terrorist attacks on <br />September 11th. On motion by Ms. Richards, seconded by Mr. Lynch, the resolution was <br />approved by the following vote. Ayes: Mr. Caravati, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards, Mr. <br />Toscano. Noes: None. Absent: Mr. Cox. <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br /> Ms. Gillian Kyles, 203 Riverside Avenue, expressed concern that the padlocks are <br />missing from the gate to the old pumping station on Riverside Avenue, especially in light <br />of the recent events at the coal tower, and asked that the City look into the situatiora <br /> <br />REPORT: DOGS OFF LEASH <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, City residents <br />and City staffhave been looking at alternatives for locations for dogs to be off-leash. Mr. <br />O'Connell said that regional solutions have been explored. Three options have been <br />explored: off-leash area at a large regional park or private property which would be <br />separate from other users of the park; an off-leash area in a medium sized urban ring park <br />(the County has approved a fenced facility at Towe Park); and small fenced in areas in <br />neighborhood parks such as Azalea, Rives, and Riverview. Mr. O'Connell Said that staff <br />has also looked at the City owned property at Emmet Street/250 Bypass and Melbourne <br />Road though they may not be suitable. Mr. O'Connell said that it is recommended that <br />off-leash areas for dogs be created, and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board <br />recommends that a leash law be passed for City parks. Mr. O'Connell said that staff is <br />looking for direction from Council as to how to proceed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she thinks it wOuld be helpful for the public to see the aerial <br />view of the proposed off-leash area on the City's website. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he thinks the report is the best unbiased report he has seen so far <br />on the subject. Mr. Lynch said he takes exception with some of the assumptions <br />regarding dogs at Riverview, and feels that in the last year or so dogs owners have made <br />significant progress in keeping the park up. Mr. Lynch said he hopes some solution can <br />be found to allow Riverview Park to have an off-leash area for dogs, especially if it is not <br />the sole location for dogs. Mr. Lynch said his top priority is to fred an area in the County <br />for dogs to just rum Mr. Lynch said the proposal for Azalea Park is intriguing, but it <br />would need to be run by the neighborhood. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards noted that dogs would still be allowed at Riverview Park, just on a <br />leash. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said we will have an enforcement issue no matter what we do, noting <br />that dogs owners with no control over their dogs are now violating the ordinance. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards noted that communities often have sponsoring groups that help <br />create dog runs, and who also help with self-policing, which is critical for their success. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question ~om Mr. Toscano, Mr. Peter Mclntosh, Vice Chair of <br />the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, said that Piedmont Virginia Community <br />College property was not explored, but property close to that was looked at. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano said that PVCC has a lot of green area and it is close to the urban <br />area. Mr. Toscano asked if there had been any discussion with the neighborhood about <br /> <br /> <br />