Council approves leash law

People who bring dogs to Nevada city parks may soon be required to keep them on leashes.

The Nevada City Council unanimously approved Tuesday the first reading of a general ordinance requiring any dogs in city parks to be on a leash held by the owner or the person bringing the dog to the park. Dogs also will not be allowed in the defined areas surrounding playground equipment or tied to park equipment.

The vote was 4-0, with Council Member Brian Leonard absent, but excused. Two readings must be approved for an ordinance to become effective.

The Nevada Parks Board had recommended the council ordinance.

The parks board action came in response to a request from Annie Daugherty, who told the board she and her small dog were attacked by another dog running loose in Marmaduke Park.

Paige Ellis, whose dog precipitated Daugherty's request, told the council Tuesday night that she takes her large German shepherd to Marmaduke Park five or six times a week for exercise. While she is working the dog is kept in a kennel and is unable to get any exercise.

She said that the parks are the only place for people to take their dogs to run and get exercise.

Ellis said her dog ran towards Daugherty and her small dog, to make friends, however, she understands how scary it could be to have a large German Shepherd running at you.

"I researched this with the city and there is no record of a dog attack at Marmaduke Park," Ellis told the council.

"I urge the council to not put this in place and look at building a dog park," Ellis said.

The parks board has expressed interest in building a dog park somewhere in the city, but has not located a suitable place, and has said currently there is no money in the budget to build a dog park.

Board members have said they hope when the renewed parks sales tax starts in 2014 there will be money for this project.

Council member Jayne Novak said if the council approves the leash requirement in parks, it needs to establish a dog park.

"I understand the current city parks are for people," Novak said. "We need a dog park. I know the parks board is looking at having a dog park.

"I don't want a dog park to end up like the leash law did last year," she said.

The city council had a lengthy discussion last year about the need to improve the city's ordinances that control dogs running loose. The current city ordinance requires dogs to be under the control of the owner and does not require an animal be on a leash.

An ordinance requiring leash law for the entire city is under legal review.

In other business the council:

* Unanimously adopted Resolution No. 1370 amending the city's 1984 Comprehensive Plan by adding the Healthy Nevada Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan that was developed by the PedNet Coalition. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan lays out a number of projects to upgrade the city's sidewalks and build bicycle and walking trails throughout the city, as well as close to the city.

* Unanimously accepted the low bid of $2.27 per gallon from Coastal Energy Corp., for slurry oil for the city's streets 2013 street slurry program. In 2012, the low bid for slurry oil was $2.17 per gallon.

* Unanimously changed the zoning of city owned property at 120 S. Ash St., the site of the current Public Safety Building and Earp Park from R-3, apartment district, to C-3, commercial district, at the request of the city, which owns the entire block.

* Unanimously adopted Resolution No. 1368 to waive the city prohibition on discharging fire arms in the city limits and to waive the midnight closing time on the city parks Sept. 12 to 15 to allow the Missouri Osage Territory Muzzleloaders in partnership with the Nevada Parks and Recreation Department to hold an outdoor classroom for area fourth-grade students and to hold a sanctioned Missouri Offhand black powder shooting competition at Marmaduke Park.

* Unanimously adopted Resolution No. 1329 to waive the prohibition on discharging firearms in the city limits on Sept. 26, so the National Wild Turkey Federation can hold a youth hunting clinic at Marmaduke Park. The Wild Turkey Federation partners with the Missouri Department of Conservation and 4-H Shooting Sports to offer turkey hunting strategies, duck hunting strategies, dog handling, archery shooting, black powder shooting and shotgun and BB shooting.