A notice of motion from Ward 3 councillor June Hofland calling for the city's two fenced-in, leash-free dog parks to remain closed will be heard at the city council meeting on Aug. 24.
It was introduced to council at Monday night's planning meeting for the first time, but not discussed or debated.
On Aug. 24 council will vote with no debate or discussion to see if that debate, discussion and public delegation is justified at the September meeting of council.
Hofland will need the majority of council to vote in favour her motion on Aug. 24 for it to move forward to that next stage.
The two parks are currently both closed, but are expected to open shortly at the same time, when the new Bristol Street Park location is finished.
Hofland's motion expressed concern about the close-quarters found in the dog parks and what that might mean during the pandemic.
She wants them to stay closed “until such time as staff have reported back on the feasibility of a fenced dog park located in a non-residential area for consideration in the 2021 budget.”
Council has previously committed to a study looking into a possible location in a non-residential area of town following backlash that occurred when Peter Misersky opened. A report is due in the fall on the matter, in time for final 2021 budgetary decisions.
There are currently no public health-related reasons preventing the dog parks from opening. The city chose to open them simultaneously once Bristol Street is complete in part so that Peter Misersky doesn't become overused if it opens as the only one in the city.
