Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Nicholas J. Calderon, Parks Director
Subject: San Mateo County Parks Department's Off-leash Dog Recreation Pilot Program, Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, and required County Ordinance Code amendment
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 3.68, consisting of sections 3.68.080 and 3.68.180, to Title 3 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, establishing specified legal opportunities for dog recreation within San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Areas, previously introduced on November 9, 2021, and waive the reading of the ordinance in its entirety.
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BACKGROUND:
At the October 23, 2018 Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board amended the County Ordinance Code to authorize on-leash dog recreation on County park trails deemed appropriate by the San Mateo County Parks Department ("Department"). At the same meeting, the Board directed the Department to: (1) develop a recommendation for expanded on-leash dog access opportunities in County parks, and (2) develop a recommendation for an off-leash dog recreation pilot program. To assist in this process, the Department created the San Mateo County Parks Dog Work Group ("Work Group"), which was comprised of two Parks Commissioners, three park rangers, members of the Midcoast Community Council and Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council, and representatives from the dog owner, conservationist, equestrian, and mountain bike communities.
After holding monthly public meetings for one year and receiving public feedback, the Work Group developed a recommendation for an off-leash dog recreation pilot program. With the Work Group's recommendation as a guide, the Department prepared its recommendation for an off-leash dog recreation pilot program (included as Attachment 1 and described in detail below).
Before the recommendations could be presented to the Board for con...
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