City Council

COLUMBIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING & REGULAR SESSION CITY HALL – 1840 SECOND STREET JUNE 11, 2013, 7:02 P.M. PLANNING COMMISSIONERS: Kenneth Wieland, Vice-Chair *Denotes Commissioner absent Laurie Falk* Barbara Gordon Nell Harrison Kelly Niles* Jaime Smith Mark Worral* STAFF: Lisa Smith, Planner OTHERS: Larry Preston, Columbia City resident Earline Lunsford, Columbia City resident Shannon Fitzgibbons, City Councilor Patrick Trapp, Port of St. Helens MEETING TO ORDER: Glen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Glen led the pledge of allegiance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: IT WAS MOVED (BARBARA) AND SECONDED (JAIME) TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 12, 2013 MEETING, AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. CITIZEN INPUT AND REQUESTS: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Lisa stated this public hearing is for a conditional use for a dog park on industrial property and it is a quasi-judicial hearing. She asked if there were any ex parte contacts, conflicts of interest or bias to be declared. Nell stated she was a member of the Parks Committee and has been involved in the development of the dog park. Lisa asked Nell if she could make an unbiased decision based on the conditional use criteria in the Columbia City Code, she answered yes. Lisa asked if the audience had any objections to any of the Planning Commissioners hearing this matter, none were heard. Lisa explained the order of the hearing and introduced herself. She stated this conditional use application, submitted by the City, is for a facility for participatory outdoor sports in an industrial zone. The property owner is the Port of St. Helens and located at Second and “E”. Lisa continued to review the staff report. COLUMBIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING AND REGULAR SESSION June 11, 2013 Page 2 of 2 Lisa stated that after she had prepared the staff report, she received the notice from the Fire Department stating they have no objection to the approval as submitted. Lisa read from the staff report that staff is recommending approval of the Columbia City Dog Park subject to the conditions of approval listed on page 7 of the staff report. She also read the appeal process. Earline Lunsford, from 2210 First Street in Columbia City, was asking about the rules for the dog park. She was provided the rules for review. She clarified the hours will be from dawn to dusk. Earline asked who would be responsible for cleaning up the waste and how often from the waste cans. Lisa and Barbara reviewed the parks committee-meeting minutes to clarify the park will be maintained and fencing installed by Columbia Corrections, and the City Public Works as well will be responsible. Earline then asked if there would be an age guideline for who can take the dogs into the park. Lisa stated that the rules require photo ID and indicates the requirement would be for adults. Staff, Commissioners and Earline discussed the ages for photo ID and it was stated by Earline that young kids couldn’t handle dogs if there is another aggressive dog. Earline also stated that people do not obey the rules. Especially when it comes to wearing leashes and picking up after their dogs. She walks almost daily and she has experienced these challenges frequently. Earline also expressed concerns that the rules did not address if a dog digs holes in the ground, are they responsible to fix it. Lisa recapped Earline’s concerns by stated she would like to see something about a minimum age for usage as well as person’s who damage the park are responsible for those damages. Earline agreed with Lisa statement. Lisa also stated that there be a focus on the enforcement of the rules. Earline then expressed a concern about being allowed to bring glass containers into the park. She also talked about the concern of the use of spike collars on dogs. Nell asked what is the purpose of a spike collar. Earline was not sure. She explained she had done some research on suggested rules for dog parks and that was one she found. Lisa and Kenneth explained it was a collar to control the dog. Earline also expressed concern about barking. Lisa stated the use of the park would be limited from dawn to dusk and that is a normal time when the City’s noise ordinances are not operating. Shannon Fitzgibbons, with the Parks Committee stated she is here in support of the dog park, but didn’t add any comments. Patrick Trapp, the Director of the Port, stated he is neither for nor against, but happy to provide the opportunity to the City if they choose and want to take advantage of that property. He plans to continue to work with Leahnette Rivers, as the process moves forward. Patrick also appreciated that the City recognizes the area is part of the Port’s portfolio, but is not under active marketing and don’t anticipate anyone looking to permanently occupy the space. Lisa read a letter into record that was submitted in support of the park from Karen Ladd who lives off The Strand. Lisa stated that based on the testimony heard, there might need to be some changes made to the signage for the park. Addressing minimum age for users, concerns about glass containers, concerns about pet owners repairing damage to the park by their pets and concerns about spike collars being used. These are in addition to all the items that have been put in the proposed rules. Lisa suggested to the Planning Commission that they make as a part of their decision a recommendation to the City Council that they address each of the previous stated concerns as a part of the process and included in the rules. The Council will be the ones who will be enacting an ordinance and it can be enforceable by the local police department. COLUMBIA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING AND REGULAR SESSION June 11, 2013 Page 3 of 3 Kenneth closed the public hearing and opened the floor for discussion between the Commissioners and staff. Barbara expressed concern about limiting the age for the park and how a lot of the kids are currently playing with their dogs in the street and if they are not allowed to use the park, then they will still be on the street. She also didn’t like the idea of kids being unsupervised in the dog park, but would rather then be there than on the streets. Ken stated from his experience for dog parks in Portland, there are not any young kids there typically. Staff and Commissioners discussed at length the topics of: minimum age of users for the park; public restrooms not being available; who will maintain the park; no water source currently provided; is a fence height of 4 feet adequate; and fines and penalties. IT WAS MOVED (BARBARA) AND SECONDED (JAIME) TO ADOPT THE FINDING IN THE STAFF REPORT AND RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE APPLICATION WITH ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION TO THE RULES OF THE PARK ADDRESSING: MINIMUM AGE, GLASS CONTAINERS, RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNERS IF THEIR ANIMALS DAMAGE THE PARK, AND USE OF SPIKE COLLARS. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Barbara thanks those in the audience for their attendance and participation. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: None. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS: None. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:39 p.m. Kenneth Wieland Planning Commission Vice-Chair Attest by: Helen K Johnson Planning, Building Administrative Assistant