Boise Off Leash Area Info

Dog Off-Leash Area Task Force
To create sustainable dog off-leash areas and encourage safe and
responsible use of parks and open space to enhance Boise's recreational opportunities.

Meeting Minutes
September 13, 2000
4:00 - 5:30 P.M.
Boise Parks & Recreation Department
1104 Royal Blvd

In Attendance:

Jamie Koole
Erik Kingston
Julie Morgan
Marion Kropp 
Linda Watkins
Patti Murphy
Jerry Tracy
Marty Guerra

Handouts: Site Cost Estimates, Draft of Recommendations for the
Establishment of Off-Leash Dog Areas in Boise with Attachments.

Meeting Minutes: August Meeting Minutes Approved.

Informational Discussion:

Dogs & Kids: A discussion through e-mail has brought forward a concern of dogs and 
kids and how they interact in off-leash areas. There have been several suggestions 
regarding how to educate parents and children on how to behave around dogs, how
kids should approach dogs, and how to let people know that when they are eye-level  
they are seen as more of a threat to dogs and not all dogs like kids. Ted Baird from 
the City Legal Department has reviewed all e-mails and attended the meeting to discuss
 how to approach this subject. Ted answered Task Force questions and suggested that 
we put our ideas down on paper and draft a rules and regulations section that addresses 
dogs and kids. Once developed, City Legal and the City Risk Manager will review the 
information and make recommendations.

Park Rules & Regulations: Erik Kingston drafted a sign for the Rules and Regulations. 
Minimum suggestions were given. An updated copy will be e-mailed.

Proposal Discussed: Updates were made to the proposal regarding acreage of sites and  
various wording changes and DOLA Rules.

Board Member Recommendations:
• Include site cost estimates and estimated maintenance cost of the project.
• Where development funds for the OLAs will come from.
• Where future maintenance costs will come from.
• Priority of development of sites.
• Explanation of Class Habitat at Willow Lane.
• Expected park funding and opening dates.
• Documentation of volunteer hours put into this project.
• What is happening at Camel's Back Park currently.
These items will be placed in the recommendation and sent to the Task Force and BPR 
Staff for review. 

Informational discussion regarding the City D.O.G. Recommendation to
City Council

City D.O.G. has sent a proposal to the City Council, providing suggestions for generating 
a positive campaign around dog licensing. They provided suggestions as follows:
• Develop and promote a website posting of license tag numbers and owner information.
• One benefit of licensing is that it is "a ticket home for a lost dog." Currently if a dog is
found at night or on the weekend, people can't call the City Clerk's office for owner
information. The website would reunite pets and their owners more quickly, save time
for city workers by reducing phone calls and decrease the number of animals taken to
the Humane Society. Owners could be given the option of not having information listed.
• Enable online licensing through a secure connection. This would make it very easy to 
license a dog.
• City Dog Owner's Group would post licensing information with a direct link to Boise
City's online licensing page. Online licensors could be given the option of faxing
spay/neuter confirmation if needed. For those renewing existing licenses, this wouldn't
be an issue.
• The opportunity to make a donation toward the development of off-leash areas could be
made available at the time of licensing.
• Allocate $1 of the current license fee toward the development of OLAs through Boise City
Parks & Recreation.

Task force is hoping to be able to make a recommendation to the board at the November 
Board of Park & Recreation Commissioners meeting.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

NEXT MEETING DATE - Wednesday, September 25, 2000 from 4:00 - 6:00 @ BPR
Admin. Conf. Room

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February Minutes    January Minutes

Please remember to carry bags and clean up after your dog!