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Commissioners push to speed creation of park compliance officer amid increasing off‑leash incidents
Summary
After multiple reports of collisions and close calls on trails from unleashed dogs, county staff proposed hiring a compliance/enforcement position to monitor parks, VBOs and land‑use permits; commissioners asked staff to draft a job description and enforcement approach that may include abatement or citations.
Commissioners and staff discussed repeated public complaints about off‑leash dogs on county trails—particularly Brophy and Kensington—where bikers and pedestrians have reported near collisions.
David (Land & Resource) said HR has drafted two job descriptions for a proposed compliance officer and that staff are reconciling them before meeting with parks staff to define responsibilities. He emphasized the position would not be a law‑enforcement officer but could oversee zoning compliance, VBO registrations and park issues. "This staff person is not a law enforcement person...it would be a compliance enforcement person," David said.
Brad, who manages parks, noted the county’s parks are on‑leash areas and said enforcement is difficult without a regular presence. Commissioners discussed options ranging from education and signage to abatement processes and citations; Brad and others said abatement options can move faster than misdemeanor prosecutions, which are slow and costly.
Why it matters: Frequent off‑leash incidents are making some trail users avoid county parks, which reduces public use and raises public‑safety risk for trail users. A staff member dedicated to compliance could provide regular presence, outreach and follow‑up on permit compliance.
What’s next: Staff will finalize the job description with HR, discuss coordination with the city and sheriff’s office about enforcement authorities and consider ordinance changes and abatement pathways to create enforceable consequences if education and voluntary compliance don’t work.
