Board discusses dog‑off‑leash options: staff favor education first, coordinated enforcement later

Bothell Parks and Recreation staff and board members spent a substantial portion of the Jan. 8 meeting discussing dog off‑leash behavior, potential hours or areas for off‑leash use and how the city should balance education, signage and enforcement.

Staff described a “multi‑pronged” approach that begins with education and training for both the public and departments, then moves to enforcement only when necessary. One staff member summarized the approach as starting with proactive education before relying on animal control for citations.

Why it matters: Off‑leash dogs affect public safety, maintenance workload, and how parks are programmed and designed. The issue is also likely to intersect with the Wayne Golf Course master plan and any decisions about creating or moving designated dog areas.

Key points from the discussion

- Education first: Staff said a six‑ to eight‑month education protocol used in other cities — public outreach, signage, training for staff on safe approaches and distribution of dog waste bags — can reduce conflicts before citations are issued.

- Enforcement role: Parks staff emphasized they are not currently deputized to issue fines and that formal enforcement of leash rules is the responsibility of the city’s animal control office. Staff said animal control already conducts periodic checks at high‑use parks such as Wayne.

- Pilot and alternatives: Staff noted the city’s pop‑up dog park (Powell) and suggested retaining designated off‑leash opportunities while using outreach to steer users to those areas. The group discussed examples from other jurisdictions, including time‑limited off‑leash areas used in larger parks.

- Master‑plan timing: Board members and staff said the Wayne Golf Course master plan and the upcoming “pros plan” process present an opportunity to consider official changes to dog‑use policies, but any changes must account for state law, existing grant restrictions on property use and stakeholder input.

Board direction and next steps

Board members asked staff to compile examples and protocols from other cities (including procedures and signage), to coordinate early with animal control, fire and police, and to prepare materials so that the dog‑use topic is addressed inside the Wayne Golf Course master planning process. Staff said they will return with more specifics at a future meeting.

Ending

No new rule or formal policy was adopted at the Jan. 8 meeting; the board and staff agreed to pursue education, coordinated stakeholder engagement and to consider changes to designated dog areas as part of upcoming master‑planning work.