Parks staff outlines Columbia City dog-park plan and membership model, board backs resident pricing

Columbia City Parks staff presented detailed plans for a gated dog park and discussed membership pricing, security and operations at the Parks Board meeting on June 22.

The park will use a programmable lock system and phone-based access software; staff said the hardware and initial programming are priced at roughly $2,200 and cited $1,200 as the replacement cost for the older style remotes. Staff said membership will require in-person submission of vaccination records and that access credentials will not be issued until records are filed with park staff. "If we had 40 people, we would need to put the price at $55 for the year," the staff member said while outlining one pricing scenario. Board member Kim Varga said she preferred an annual approach: "I vote a year."

Why it matters: the dog-park plan includes infrastructure and recurring costs that the board intends to cover through one-time membership fees and an annual software subscription. Staff described steps to limit unauthorized access (key fobs as an alternative to phone access) and to require waivers and a liability release as part of the membership packet.

Key details discussed - Locks and software: staff said the system purchase and programming will be about $2,200, a figure used to model membership pricing. Some board members noted the software can be set to deactivate a member’s access if vaccination records lapse. Staff said Emily will collect and file vaccination records and that two staff members (Tom and the presenting staff member) will be given administrator access. - Amenities: staff ordered two ADA-accessible drinking fountains (with lower “pup” bowls) and said they are seeking a rinse-off/mud-wash station, benches and shade structures. Drinking-fountain costs were described as high in several estimates ($7,000–$9,000 cited as typical retail/installation ranges). - Gates and circulation: the site will have multiple double gates (including a double gate dividing large/small dog areas) and 5-foot access gates; staff confirmed 10-foot access was planned for equipment where needed. - Membership structure and pricing: after comparing regional dog-park models and Lebanon’s published fee schedule, the board discussed several options (six-month trial vs. annual) and settled on a resident-first annual structure in the $35–$45 range with a proposed model of $40 per year for the first dog and $10 for each additional dog. Nonresident pricing (an option for later) was discussed as $50 plus $10 per additional dog. Several members emphasized keeping fees reasonable while ensuring funds for upkeep. - Enrollment and enforcement: staff proposed membership packets (rules, waiver and vaccination proof) to be submitted in person; software would notify staff before access expires and could block access automatically if documentation isn’t renewed. Board members discussed possible on-site enforcement and reliance on software automation to limit daily staff policing. - Timeline: staff said membership sales could begin in August and the park open in September, with the final rules and fee schedule to be circulated to the board the Friday before the next meeting for review.

Board reaction and next steps Board members repeatedly emphasized balancing affordability and long-term upkeep, suggesting adjustments to fee levels if needed after launch. Staff will draft final rules and a fee schedule and distribute it to board members for review; no formal ordinance or citywide policy change was proposed at the meeting. The board did not take a roll-call motion to adopt the final rules at this meeting; the staff will return a draft for formal approval.

Quote: "If we had 40 people, we would need to put the price at $55 for the year," the staff member said while outlining budget scenarios.

What’s next: staff will prepare a written packet of rules, the waiver and a fee schedule for board review; membership processing is planned to start ahead of a target opening in September.