Parks Commission — Burlington, VT
Date: 2025-06-10
Time: 17:30

Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR
 Remotely via Zoom

Join via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/95148673662
Phone one-tap: +13052241968,,95148673662# US
Join via audio: +1 305 224 1968 US
Webinar ID: 951 4867 3662
1. Agenda
  1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda

2. Consent Agenda
  Subject 2.1. May Commission Meeting Minutes (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Minutes
 Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, approve the minutes and place them on file

  Subject 2.2. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for World Refugee Day at Leddy
 Park (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

  Subject 2.3. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for National GoSkate Day at A_Dog
 Skatepark (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront
Type Action (Consent)


Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

Subject 2.4. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for Friends for A_Dog Foundation at
 A_Dog Skatepark (attachment)
Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


Category 2. Consent Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


Type Action (Consent)


Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

Subject 2.5. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for The Champlain Valley Down
 Syndrome Group at Battery Park (attachment)
Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


Category 2. Consent Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


Type Action (Consent)


Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

Subject 2.6. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for Old Spokes Home on Burlington
 Greenway (attachment)
Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


Category 2. Consent Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


Type Action (Consent)


Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

Subject 2.7. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for People Helping People Global at
 North Beach (attachment)
Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


Category 2. Consent Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront
  Type Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

  Subject 2.8. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver forThe ALS Association at Oakledge
 Park (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit


  Subject 2.9. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
 at Oakledge Park (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

  Subject 2.10. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for Steps at Oakledge Park
 (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

3. Public Forum
  Subject 3.1. Verbal Comments
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 3. Public Forum
  Department Council and Board


  Type Procedural



4. Deliberative Agenda
  Subject 4.1. Ski Rack Commission change request
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 4. Deliberative Agenda
  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action


  Subject 4.2. Conservation Legacy Fund request (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 4. Deliberative Agenda
  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action


  Subject 4.3. Appendix D Section 2 and 5 (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 4. Deliberative Agenda
  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action


  Subject 4.4. Appendix D Section 7 (attachments)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 4. Deliberative Agenda
  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action


  Subject 4.5. Review Commission Report (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 4. Deliberative Agenda
  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront
  Type Action



5. Standing Items
  Subject 5.1. Parks Foundation (verbal)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 5. Standing Items

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Information


  Recommended Action

6. Director's Report
  Subject 6.1. Monthly Parks Commission Update (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 6. Director's Report

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Information


  Recommended Action

7. Commissioner's Items & Volunteer Hours

8. Adjournment
  Subject 8.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 8. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type Procedural


  Recommended Action

Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR
 Remotely via Zoom

Join via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/95148673662
Phone one-tap: +13052241968,,95148673662# US
Join via audio: +1 305 224 1968 US
Webinar ID: 951 4867 3662
1. Agenda
  1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda

2. Consent Agenda
  Subject 2.1. May Commission Meeting Minutes (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Minutes
 Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, approve the minutes and place them on file

  Subject 2.2. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for World Refugee Day at Leddy
 Park (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

  Subject 2.3. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for National GoSkate Day at A_Dog
 Skatepark (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront



 Page 1 of 221
Type Action (Consent)


Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

Subject 2.4. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for Friends for A_Dog Foundation at
 A_Dog Skatepark (attachment)
Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


Category 2. Consent Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


Type Action (Consent)


Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

Subject 2.5. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for The Champlain Valley Down
 Syndrome Group at Battery Park (attachment)
Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


Category 2. Consent Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


Type Action (Consent)


Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

Subject 2.6. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for Old Spokes Home on Burlington
 Greenway (attachment)
Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


Category 2. Consent Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


Type Action (Consent)


Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

Subject 2.7. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for People Helping People Global at
 North Beach (attachment)
Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


Category 2. Consent Agenda

Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


 Page 2 of 221
  Type Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

  Subject 2.8. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver forThe ALS Association at Oakledge
 Park (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit


  Subject 2.9. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
 at Oakledge Park (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

  Subject 2.10. Request for Special Use Permit Waiver for Steps at Oakledge Park
 (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 2. Consent Agenda

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action (Consent)


  Recommended Action waive the reading, accept the communication and approve the request for special use
 permit

3. Public Forum
  Subject 3.1. Verbal Comments
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom



 Page 3 of 221
  Category 3. Public Forum
  Department Council and Board


  Type Procedural



4. Deliberative Agenda
  Subject 4.1. Ski Rack Commission change request
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 4. Deliberative Agenda
  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action


  Subject 4.2. Conservation Legacy Fund request (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 4. Deliberative Agenda
  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action


  Subject 4.3. Appendix D Section 2 and 5 (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 4. Deliberative Agenda
  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action


  Subject 4.4. Appendix D Section 7 (attachments)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 4. Deliberative Agenda
  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Action


  Subject 4.5. Review Commission Report (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom
  Category 4. Deliberative Agenda
  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront




 Page 4 of 221
  Type Action



5. Standing Items
  Subject 5.1. Parks Foundation (verbal)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 5. Standing Items

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Information


  Recommended Action

6. Director's Report
  Subject 6.1. Monthly Parks Commission Update (attachment)
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 6. Director's Report

  Department Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront


  Type Information


  Recommended Action

7. Commissioner's Items & Volunteer Hours

8. Adjournment
  Subject 8.1. Motion to adjourn
  Meeting June 10, 2025 - Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting - Tuesday, June 10, 2025,
 5:30 PM, Front Conference Room, 645 Pine Street OR Remotely via Zoom


  Category 8. Adjournment

  Department Council and Board


  Type Procedural


  Recommended Action




 Page 5 of 221
 PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
 645 Pine Street, Front Conference Room
 Minutes
 May 13, 2025 @ 5:30PM


Commission Present: Bergmann, Boehm, Etter, Johnson, Keech, Lantieri and Mobley

Not Present:

Staff Present: Wight, Cahill, Gustin

The meeting was convened at 5:32 p.m. by Lantieri.

Approval of Agenda
Motion to amend the agenda to move 2.14 off the consent agenda and place with public forum by
Keech, second by Etter, motion carried
Motion to amend the agenda to move 4.6 to follow 4.1 by Boehm, second by Keech, motion carried
Motion to adopt amended budget by Keech, second by Mobley, motion carried

Approval of Consent Agenda
Motion to approve the consent agenda by Boehm , second by Mobley, motion carried.

Public Forum
Public forum opened at 5:40 p.m.
Members of the public spoke concerning the Dog Task Force Off-Leash agenda items, public forum was
closed at 5:50 p.m. Citizens speaking included Jake Schuman, Steve (did not catch last name), Christine
Freeman, Ryan Crehan. A statement from Cleary Buckley sent ahead was read by Lantieri.

ECHO Vending Right of Way
Zandy Wheeler, co-owner of Ski Rack and Ted Lawson, Executive Director of ECHO, spoke on
their plan to add a bike rental fleet at ECHO. Keech questioned why the city would charge Ski
Rack and not other providers that utilized the Greenway. Wight provided information on why
this item comes before the Parks Commission. Motion to approve with a 10% gross sales
commission to BRPW by Boehm, Bergmann seconded, motion carried with one abstention by
Keech.

Open Space Plan Preview
Scott Gustin, Principal Planner for the Permitting & Inspections Department, provided an
update on the Open Space Plan work and will be back to the Commission in August for final
approval.

Off-leash Dog Areas
Commissioners discussed a process for reviewing the Dog Task Force work. A determination
was made to break the discussion into fenced areas and non-fenced areas. The June meeting



 City of Burlington  645 Pine Street  Burlington, Vermont 05401  (802) 864-0123

 Page 6 of 221
will focus on reviewing the Task Force recommendations on fenced areas, and there was
general consensus at the meeting on supporting fenced areas. Discussions related to non-
fenced areas might start in June, depending on the agenda's length, but will more likely start in
August.

Appendix D Section 1
Wight reviewed all changes to Section 1 for final comment. Motion to approve by Moebly,
second by Johnson, motion carried.

Appendix D, Section 4
Wight reviewed all changes to Section 4 for final comment. Motion to approve by Boehm,
second by Moebly, motion carried.

Appendix D, Section 2
Due to length of meeting did not discuss

FY26 Budget
Wight reviewed the department's impact from the layoffs and shared Putzier’s hello/goodbye,
saying that she really enjoyed working with them.

Standing Items:

Park Foundation Update
Lantieri noted there is a quarterly meeting in June.


Director’s Items
Wight noted they will send the May Commission report within a week or two.


Commissioner's Items & Volunteer Hours
Mobley and Boehm had two additional hours
Lantieri had four additional hours


Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Moebly , second by Keech at 7:45 p.m., motion carried unanimously.




 Page 2 of 2

 Page 7 of 221
MEMO
Date: June 10, 2025
To: BPRW Commission
From: Candice Holbrook, Customer Service Associate
RE: Sonali Samarasinghe Special Use Permit for June 21, 2025


Request for waiver at the Leddy Tent to allow amplified sound for World Refugee Day on Saturday, June
21, reservation hours are 9:00am – 8:00pm.

The amplified sound used will be from a microphone and band A2VT performance, and will take place
from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. They will have approximately 100 attendees visit throughout the day. Not all
attendees will be there at once.

The request is on a day with no conflicting events.


Staff Recommendations:
Allow waiver for amplified sound.




 Page 8 of 221
MEMO
Date: June 10th, 2025
To: BPRW Commission
From: Meghan O’Daniel, Community Garden & Parks Outreach Coordinator
RE: National GoSkate Day Special Use Permit for June 21st, 2025


Request for a Special Use Permit at the A_Dog Skatepark to hold a community event.

Chris Russo, a community member, and other skaters who regularly use A_Dog Skatepark, would like to
hold an event to celebrate National GoSkate Day on Saturday, June 21st. The goal of the family friendly
event is to build community for all ages – sharing in local music and culture, and celebrating the legacy of
the A_Dog Skatepark and the history of skate culture in Burlington.

This event will be free and open to the public from 2pm – 9pm and include amplified music performed by
local bands, free food and skateboard related giveaways. Their volunteers will be responsible for site
clean-up. They are working with the Department to secure the necessary Certificate of Insurance.

Contact for the event is Chris Russo.

It is on a day with no conflicting events.


Staff Recommendations:
Allow for Special Use Permit




 Page 9 of 221
MEMO
Date: June 10th, 2025
To: BPRW Commission
From: Meghan O’Daniel, Community Garden & Parks Outreach Coordinator
RE: A_Dog Day Special Use Permit for August 30th, 2025


Request for a Special Use Permit at the A_Dog Skatepark to hold a community event with fundraising on
August 30th, 2025.

Friends for A_Dog Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the legacy of our friend
and community member, Andy Williams, is preparing for their 12th annual A_Dog Day celebration at the
skatepark. Funds raised at the event will go towards educational programs in the arts, youth camps and
scholarships.

This event will be free and open to the public from 12pm – 6pm and include amplified music performed
by live bands and DJs, food trucks, give-aways, a skate jam and more. They are expecting roughly 100-150
attendees throughout the afternoon. Their volunteers will be responsible for site clean-up. They have the
necessary Certificate of Insurance.

Contact for the event is Trina Zide.

It is on a day with no conflicting events.


Staff Recommendations:
Allow for Special Use Permit




 Page 10 of 221
MEMO
Date: June 10th, 2025
To: BPRW Commission
From: KJ Doyle, Events Planner
RE: Buddy Walk Special Use Permit for October 5th, 2025


Request for a Special Use Permit at Battery Park to hold a fundraising event.

The Champlain Valley Down Syndrome Group (CVDSG) will be hosting their 15th Buddy Walk at Battery
Park. Fundraising efforts for this event help support their mission to provide information, resources and
support to individuals with Down syndrome to help them achieve their full potential as well as promote
awareness and inclusion within the wider community.

This event will have around 180 participants and 15 volunteers. They are not requesting use of the
Burlington Greenway, but instead will walk down Battery Street, down along the Waterfront Boardwalk,
crossing through the park to Lake Street and then back up Battery Street to the park. CVDSG will be
providing free food for the participants. They have arranged for extra portalets and their staff will be
responsible for site clean-up. The amplified sound will take place between 12pm – 1pm, including music
from a playlist and speeches. They have already requested Battery Park. They have the necessary
Certificate of Insurance.

Staff contacts for the event is Stacey Kelleher.

It is on a day with no conflicting events.


Staff Recommendations:
Allow for Special Use Permit




 Page 11 of 221
MEMO
Date: June 10th, 2025
To: BPRW Commission
From: Meghan O’Daniel, Community Garden & Parks Outreach Coordinator
RE: Old Spokes Home Special Use Permit for September 27th, 2025

Request for a Special Use Permit on the Burlington Greenway to hold a fundraising event.

From the Executive Director, Sarah Camille Wilson:

“The Fall Fundo is Old Spokes Home's annual fundraising ride. We sell out registration to 250 riders each
year. The 2025 Fundo will take place on Saturday, September 27th with a fundraising goal of $60,000.

Old Spokes Home is a nonprofit bike shop in Burlington’s Old North End. Our mission is to transform
lives and communities by increasing access to bikes. We are a community hub that includes youth and
adult educational programs, a retail bike shop, an active and committed volunteer base, and a
community workshop. Each year, we refurbish, sell, and give away hundreds of donated used bikes.

The Fall Fundo is a ride, not a race! It's an opportunity for riders of all experience levels to ride with
friends and make new ones. Inclusion and accessibility are central to the Fundo, and we welcome riders
using adaptive equipment and families riding with kids. We offer three supported routes: 15, 50, & 100
km (~10, 35, & 60 miles).

The 50k and 100k routes both start from Old Spokes Home, at 9am and 10am respectively. In 2024 we
had 140 riders in the 50k and 80 riders in the 100k. The breakdown between the two rides varies from
year to year, but it will be in a similar range. Both rides will be paced by the ride leaders to maintain a
safe and respectful speed while on recreational infrastructure.

The 50k and 100k routes are the same until they get outside Burlington, where the 100k goes farther.
The route changes each year, to keep the ride fun and exciting, and to highlight the great infrastructure
and biking in the greater Burlington area.

While we have not finalized the full 2025 routes, both the 50k and 100k groups will enter the bike path
from Depot street, and will exit the bike path either onto Sears Lane or after Oakledge Park. These rides
will not return to Old Spokes Home via the bike path.

The 15k ride also uses a portion of the Bike Path. It follows a modified version of the Cycle the City
route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44344095. The 15k departs from Old Spokes Home at noon. It
enters the bike path from Killarny Drive and exits onto Maple Street. This ride is the smallest by far. We
had 23 riders in 2024, and we anticipate a similar number in 2025. This ride is family friendly, and always




 Page 12 of 221
includes kids riding on their own, on their parents' bike, or being towed. It's a very relaxed pace, and
should blend in with typical traffic on a Saturday afternoon.

We have event insurance coverage and will provide a COI to the City.”


Staff Recommendations:
Allow for Special Use Permit




 Page 2 of 2



 Page 13 of 221
MEMO
Date: June 10th, 2025
To: BPRW Commission
From: KJ Doyle, Event Planner
RE: Brain Freezer 5K Special Use Permit for September 13th, 2025


Request for a Special Use Permit at the North Beach Shelter to hold a fundraising event.

People Helping People Global (PHPG) will be hosting their 14th annual Brain Freezer 5K race at the North
Beach Shelter. Fundraising efforts, including a 50/50 raffle, for this event help support their mission to
provide interest-free micro-loans to individuals who want to start or expand small businesses as well as
provide artisans with fair wages and access to more viable international markets to people in the
developing world.

This event will have around 250 participants and they are requesting use of the bike path with a
turnaround point at Waterworks Park that will be where people stop to eat ice cream part way through
the race and music playing. The amplified sound will take place between 9:30am–12:30pm, including
music from a playlist and announcements. They have already booked the shelter and the park. Their staff
will be responsible for site clean-up at both locations. They have the necessary Certificate of Insurance.

Staff contact for the event is Michelle Piche.

It is on a day with no conflicting events.


Staff Recommendations:
Allow for Special Use Permit




 Page 14 of 221
MEMO
Date: June 10th, 2025
To: BPRW Commission
From: KJ Doyle, Events Planner
RE: The ALS Association Special Use Permit for September 27th, 2025

Request for a Special Use Permit at Oakledge Park to hold a fundraising event.

The ALS Association will be hosting their annual walk at Oakledge Park on Saturday, September 25th for
the 5th year. Fundraising efforts for this event will help support their mission of discovering treatments
and a cure for ALS, as well as to serve, advocate for and empower people affected by ALS to live their lives
to the fullest. The funds raised will stay in our local community and help to provide services that directly
impact the lives of people with ALS, their families and their caregivers.

They will have roughly 300 attendees and 30 volunteers. They will have amplified sound from 10am – 1pm
for announcements and music. Their volunteers will be responsible for site clean-up and they will be
renting portalet for the event. They have the necessary insurance.

Staff contact for the gathering is Nicholas Morciglio.

It is on a day with no conflicting events.

Staff Recommendations:
Allow for Special Use Permit




 Page 15 of 221
MEMO
Date: June 10th, 2025
To: BPRW Commission
From: KJ Doyle, Events Planner
RE: CFF Special Use Permit for September 21st, 2025


Request for a Special Use Permit at Oakledge Park to hold a fundraising event.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) will be hosting their annual walk at Oakledge Park on Sunday,
September 21st. Fundraising efforts for this event help support their mission to cure cystic fibrosis and to
provide all people with CF the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives by funding research and drug
development, partnering with the CF community, and advancing high-quality, specialized care.

This event is expected to have around 250 participants and 20 volunteers. They are requesting use of the
Bike Path from Oakledge Park to Perkins Pier and back. CFF is anticipating that they will be providing
complimentary snacks for participants but if that changes are prepared to work with the Department to
ensure all vendors follow the required guidelines and go through the proper process. The amplified sound
will take place between 9am and 12pm, and will consist of a DJ and announcements. They will be providing
port-a-lets and their staff and volunteers will be responsible for site clean-up. They have the necessary
Certificate of Insurance. They have already booked the Upper and Lower Shelters at Oakledge Park.

Contact for the event is Jim Gilbert.

It is on a day with no conflicting events.


Staff Recommendations:
Allow for Special Use Permit




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MEMO
Date: June 10th, 2025
To: BPRW Commission
From: KJ Doyle, Events Planner
RE: Steps Special Use Permit for October 4th, 2025

Request for a Special Use Permit at Oakledge Park to hold a fundraising event.

The team at Steps is returning to Oakledge Park to host their annual Steps for Social Change fundraiser.
Steps for Social Change is a community event focused on self-care and physical wellness. It was born out
of the needs they saw in survivors and our broader community during the start of the pandemic and has
grown and evolved into a community celebration and 5k/fun run to promote the importance of attending
to our physical wellness and making investments in the things that will feed our bodies and souls. They
encourage people to set personal wellness goals or team up with friends and family to create shared goals
and to raise funds to support Steps’ mission to assist in the transition to a safe, independent life for all
those who have been affected physically, sexually, emotionally or economically by domestic abuse and to
promote a culture that fosters justice, equity and safety.

The 5k is a component that they know opens new ways for people to get involved! They will also be
hosting a Field Day event after the 5k that will consist of activities for kids, yard games, a bounce house
and food trucks. They are anticipating that roughly 150 people will attend and will have amplified sound
from 9am – 12pm for announcements. They have the necessary insurance.

Staff contact for the event is Jordan Calderara.

It is on a day with no conflicting events.

Staff Recommendations:
Allow for Special Use Permit




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BURLINGTON CONSERVATION LEGACY GRANT APPLICATION: SHORELINE MITIGATION DESIGN


SHORELINE MITIGATION DESIGN: PROJECT AREA




 This image was taken as waters began to
 rise in 2023 during the first of three major
 floods that caused significant
 erosion/damage to the shoreline at Mayes
 Landing and Derway Cove Parks.




 Page 36 of 221
BURLINGTON CONSERVATION LEGACY GRANT APPLICATION: SHORELINE MITIGATION DESIGN



 This image from 2018 facing upriver from
 Derway Cove shows a relatively stable
 shoreline and emerging vegetation.




 The 2023 flood carved away an estimated
 20,000 square feet of shoreline, and
 several large trees that were providing
 stabilization for the bank.




 Post 2023 flood, WVPD relocated the trail
 and introduced some planting to stabilize
 the new shoreline. The 2024 flood -
 exactly one year later – further eroded the
 shoreline.




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BURLINGTON CONSERVATION LEGACY GRANT APPLICATION: SHORELINE MITIGATION DESIGN




 Prior to the floods of 2023-4, the
 shoreline had become relatively
 stable, with mature trees, small stone,
 brushy vegetation and woody debris
 providing support.




 That stability was completely
 undermined by the two floods,
 completely dislodging the large trees
 and vegetation that were in place.




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BURLINGTON CONSERVATION LEGACY GRANT APPLICATION: SHORELINE MITIGATION DESIGN




 These images were taken immediately
 after the floodwaters receded. Much of
 the material has washed away.




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BURLINGTON CONSERVATION LEGACY GRANT APPLICATION: SHORELINE MITIGATION DESIGN




 Mayes Landing (above) has been severely
 impacted. The bike bridge abutment
 (left), directly adjacent to Mayes, will be
 addressed by the City of Burlington
 separately with large riprap stone.




 Page 40 of 221
MEMO
Date: June 10, 2025
To: Burlington Parks Commission
From: Cindi Wight, BPRW Director
CC: Erin Moreau, Waterfront Director & Harbormaster; Rob Peterson, Marina Manager & Deputy
Harbormaster; Alec Kaeding, Waterfront Operations Manager
RE: Appendix D, Section 2 & 5 update (updated memo to include sections 2 and 5 only)

PURPOSE
Update Appendix D, Sections 2 and 5 of the Burlington ordinances to provide clarity for staff, clarity for
the public and ensure there are processes in place to protect our parks, beaches and marinas.

BACKGROUND
Appendix D of the Burlington Code of Ordinances covers the rules and regulations of City Parks, Beaches
and Waterfront Areas. Other areas of the Burlington Code of Ordinances impact parks, but for this
agenda item, we are focusing on Sections 2 and 5 of Appendix D. The last major revision for the majority
of these sections was over 25 years ago.

We welcome suggestions and thoughts on the changes.

What is Section 2: Perkins Pier Marina, Waterfront Park and Community Boathouse.
Section 2 focuses on marina regulations at both Perkins Pier and the Community Boathouse, as well as
motor vehicle access to Waterfront Park. The reasoning behind Section 2 is to provide parameters of
City and boat owner expectations for seasonal and transient dockage.

Significant changes
 1) Clarified language throughout Section 2 to determine what applies to Seasonal Boaters,
 Transient Boaters and/or both.
 2) Updated to reflect new habits and trends in boating, specifically not allowing a slip holder to
 sublet their slip.
 3) Inserted clarification on who may provide permission for seasonal and transient boating.
 4) Added new language (#11) to clearly outline behavior expectations of all boaters and visitors to
 slips and moorings.
 5) Included new requirement for all boaters to possess and maintain vessel insurance (#12).




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What is Section 5: Park closings.
Section 5 focuses on regulations pertaining to park closings. The reasoning behind Section 5 is to
provide clarity for motor vehicle access to parks and clarify closure times and non-permitted activities.

Significant changes
 1) Updates the process used for permitted parking.
 2) Clarifies the permitted season for vehicle access at North Beach Campground and Park.
 3) Changes the beach hours again to “dawn to dusk” to remain consistent with changes in Section
 4.
 4) Changes authorization of park closures and special parking from “Park Superintendent” to
 Director.




 Page 2 of 2



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2 Perkins Pier Marina, Waterfront Park and Community Boathouse.

(A) Safety and Courtesy:

(1) Motorists shall not operate any motor vehicle within the land area of Perkins Pier or Waterfront
Park at a speed in excess of five (5) miles per hour.

(2) Motorists shall park automobiles and boat trailers only in areas designated for that purpose and
shall ensure that said vehicles and/or trailers do not block or impede pedestrian and bicycle access along
designated pedestrian and bicycle paths. Persons wishing to use launching facilities may do so only after
purchase of an appropriate daily vehicle entrance tickethourly permit or season’s vehicle and trailer
vehicle entrance passpass.

(B) Season & Transient Docking Permits:

(1) No seasonal boaterperson shall tie up overnight to any slip or bulkhead without first having
acquired a transient contractpermit signed by the Marina ManagerDock Master or having paid a
transient fee.

(2) Transient vVessels within the approved docking or mooring areas are presumed to be overnight if
they remain after 78:00 p.m. E.D.T. All Transient Boaters are required to check in with the Dockmaster
upon arrival and acquire an overnight permit and pay overnight fee.

(23) Vessel oOwner must provide adequate line and feneders and maintain them in proper condition
and arrangement. In the interest of safety, the Dockm Master may require that dock lines and feneders
be changed or altered. Iin an emergency situation threatening damage to the owner’s vessel, another
vessel or property of the City of Burlington. The Dock Master Dockmastermay cause appropriate lines
and feneders to be attached to the owner’s vessel and do other necessary work and the cost of so doing
shall be charged to the owner.

(34) The City of Burlington canwill provide docking assistance and will maintain reasonable surveillance
during regular hours but will not be held responsible for the security and/or safe-keeping of vessels
moored or docked at the facility.

(45) The Seasonalis dock or mooring agreement is not transferable and the City reserves the right to
use accommodations reserved by this agreement during temporary vacancies by owner. Owner shall
give the City advance notice of commencement and duration of such vacancies. There is no permissible
subletting of the slip or mooring by vessel owner at any time or length. The vessel in the assigned slip
must be registered in the owners name and align with the same name on the permit/contract.

(56) After May 1st no refunds will be given to persons choosing not to use a designated slip or mooring
after having previously made payment to reserve said slip or mooring for the season. The only exception
would be if the Department is able to refill the space at full value by May 15th of the same year.

(67) In no case may flame, heating elements, inflammable liquids, explosive gases or other hazardous
materials or equipment be used on the vessel while it remains at the City’s facilities, but the use of
containedapproved galley stoves, lamps, motors and other equipment shall be allowed in safe
accordance with manufacturer guidelines..




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(78) Owner expressly undertakes and agrees to hold the City harmless with respect to damage or loss
to or of the vessel or its outfit, except such damage as may be conclusively attributed to the City’s own
negligence, and this undertaking is provided to induce the City to enter into this agreement.

(89) Season’s docking permit rates shall be set annually by the Harbor Commission, subject to final
approval of the City Council. Persons acquiring a larger or smaller boat during the permit period shall
have their fee altered and prorated on the basis of the amount of the season left. Boats shall not tie up
prior to May 15th or later than October 15th without written permission from the Harborm Master or
Deputy Harbormaster. Season’s slips remaining open after July 1 may, after due notice by the Harbor
Commission, be reclaimed and reallocated by the CommissionHarbormaster or Deputy Harbormaster.

(910) Permit holders failing to remove vessel from assigned slip by October 15 are subject to a late fee
and/or towing fee set annually by the Harbor Commission.

(11) All permit holders, both seasonal and transient and their guests, are expected to conduct
themselves in a respectful manner. Belligerent behavior, harassment of guests or staff or conduct
disruptive to the operations of the marina will not be tolerated and are reasons for immediate removal.
The Harbormaster or Deputy Harbormaster have the ability to revoke any permit, either temporary or
permanent if behavior is found to be disruptive.

(12) All boaters staying at our docks or moorings are required to possess Vessel Insurance.

(1013) Additionally, rules set annually by the Parks and Recreation Commission and Harbor
Commission are in effect and enforceable by ordinance.

(Reg. of 11-4-85; Reg. of 6-27-88; Reg. of 6-22-92)




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5 Park closings.

(A) Motor vehicles are prohibited at all times within the confines of City Hall Park, Champlain Street
Park, Lakeside Park, Pomeroy Park, Roosevelt Park, Smalley Park and Battery Park.

(B) Motor vehicles are permitted to be driven and/or parked within the confines of Waterfront Park,
Leddy Park, CalahanSouth Park, Oakledge Park, Schmanska Park, Ethan Allen Park, North Beach Park and
Perkins Pier, provided that:

 (1) Motor vehicles shall be excluded from the confines of Leddy Park between 11:009:30 p.m.
 and 6:00 a.m., except that motor vehicles may be driven and/or parked within the confines of
 Leddy Park during such time for the purpose of attending scheduled skating events at Gordon H.
 Paquette Municipal Arena. Motor vehicles shall be excluded from Perkins Pier between the
 hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except that motor vehicles may be driven and/or parked
 within the confines of Perkins Pier if the person driving and/or parking such vehicles displays on
 his or her dash-board a late parking permit obtained from the attendant upon admission to the
 Pier.pays the appropriate parking fee associated with such parking activity.

 (2) Motor vehicles shall be excluded from the confines of Schmanska Park, Ethan Allen Park,
 Waterfront Park and Oakledge Park between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

 (3) Motor vehicles shall be excluded from the confines of North Beach ParkCampground,
 unless access and parking within the campsite area are allowed by permitreservation, between
 Saturday at 6:00 a.m. on the last weekend in April and the end of Labor Day in the following
 manner:May 15 and October 14.

 (a4) Motor vehicles shall be excluded from the "benach parking lot" between May 15 and
 October 15 from dusk to dawn.as follows:

 1. Between 9:30 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. or

 2. Within twenty (20) minutes after the time that the lifeguard in charge shall announce
 that the beach is closed.

 (45) Between midnight on Labor Day and 6:00 a.m. on the last Saturday of ApriOctober 15 and
 May 14l motor vehicles shall be excluded from the confines of North Beach Park, including teh
 campground and beach, between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.



 (56) Motor vehicles shall not be parked within the confines of any city park except in those
 areas properly designated and marked parking areas. Motor vehicles shall not be parked within
 the confines of a city park except by those using the park for recreational purposes.

(C) The Director of BPRWsuperintendent of parks or tour commander of the police department shall
have the authority to close any park to vehicles and/or person on a temporary basis for the following
reasons:

 (1) Maintenance and/or construction.




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 (2) For public protection from conditions caused by weather or climate.

 (3) When there is reason to believe that the closing of such park is necessary for the
 maintenance of order, safety and decency in such park and in those areas surrounding such
 park.

(D) The Directorsuperintendent of parks may, as authorized by the board of parks and recreation
commissionersParks Commission, allow vehicles in prohibited areas for special events occurring in such
areas.

(E) There shall be stop signs placed at the following locations within the city parks:

 (1) At the Flynn Avenue exit from Oakledge Park.

 (2) At the North Avenue exit from Leddy Park.

 (3) At the North Beach entrance.

 (4) At the entrance to Perkins Pier.

(F) No person shall park a motor vehicle in any parking space on Perkins Pier which is marked for boat
trailers.

(F)G) Closing hours for City Hall Park. City Hall Park shall be closed for public use from 12:00 midnight
until 6:00 a.m. on a daily basis. This park closing shall not effect pedestrian crossings through the park.




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MEMO

To: Burlington Parks Commission
From: Cindi Wight, Director, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, Nate Lantieri, Parks Commission Chair
 and Kirstin Boehm, Parks Commission Vice-Chair
Date: June 10, 2025
Subject: Fenced Off-Leash Areas


Background:
In 1999, the City started plans for the first off-leash fenced dog parks in Burlington at Starr Farm Park
and Waterfront Park. The areas were completed in 2001/2002. Starr Farm received new fencing a
couple of years ago and the Waterfront Dog Park was relocated in approximately 2016 to the Urban
Reserve as part of the development of the A_Dog Skate Park and northern waterfront improvements.

During that time, between 1999 and 2002, the City added a section in Appendix D that allowed for
fenced dog parks, including Starr Farm and Waterfront Park, as well as areas set aside for non-fenced
off-leash spaces. This was a pilot and was never finalized.

Around 2015/2016, the City completed a site plan for Oakledge Park as part of improvements to the
park. In the site plan, there is an intention for a future fenced dog park and the recent survey by the Dog
Task Force showed strong interest in a fenced dog park at Oakledge. If it was determined that a fenced
dog park was a good addition for Oakledge it would go on the city’s capital list as a future project when
funding and time allows for completion.

Appendix D vs Policy
The Dog Task Force recommended a basic framework for Appendix D with more detailed information in
the Off-Leash Dog Policy (OLDP). To change anything in Appendix D requires the authority of both the
Commission and the Council, whereas changes to the OLDP would only require Commission authority,
making it nimbler. For example, Appendix D lists the parks for fenced dog parks, but the times they are
open or closed would be in the policy.

Goals for the June Commission meeting
 • Review and vote on the recommendations of the Dog Task Force for Appendix D
 o Question – Does that mean there will be non-fenced off-leash areas?




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 ▪ Answer – No. As proposed below, it would only formalize areas where there are
 fenced dog parks

 • Review a draft timeline for the Commission resolving all recommendations related to the Parks
 Commission from the Dog Task Force. (No vote needed; this is just a project management tool
 for the Commission.)

 Draft Timeline for Parks and Recreation Commission to provide a proposal to City Council for:

 1. Appendix D, Section 7
 2. Off-Leash Dog Policy
 Both documents consider, as their starting point, Appendix F of the City of Burlington Dog Task
 Force (2023)

 Meeting Task/Vote
 June 1. Get answer to question about any liability from City Attorney
 2. Vote on proposed Appendix D Section 7
 3. Discussion on timeline for overall recommendation to City Council

 August 1. Review and Discuss Off Leash Dog Policy (on screen, line by line.)

 September 1. Review and Discuss Off Leash Dog Policy (on screen, line by line.)

 October 1. Review and Discuss Off Leash Dog Policy in context of budget,
 resources, and staff capacity (from BPRW Director or staff)

 November 1. Review and revise next steps.




Proposed Update of Section 7 to City Ordinance Appendix D by the Dog Task Force
(with recommended staff updates in B, C and F using strike and underline)

 Appendix D

Sec. 7. - Off-leash dog opportunities

A. Off-Leash Dog Policy. The Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department (PRW) shall
maintain an Off-Leash Dog Policy (OLDP) as approved by the Parks Commission. The policy
may be modified by PRW with the approval of the Parks Commission. The OLDP shall govern
the establishment of off-leash dog opportunities, except that permanent fenced dog parks shall
be established by ordinance. The OLDP shall govern operations of off-leash dog opportunities




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and share enforcement authority with the animal control officer(s) as enumerated in this
section.
B. Designation of Areas. Areas shall be designated for the purpose of allowing dogs to be
under control of the guardian owner or guardian’s owner’s agent by means other than physical
restraint. Opportunities shall include: fenced dog parks, water access, and field use on an
hourly, seasonal, or year-round basis within reasonable walking distance of
neighborhoods. Opportunities, where possible, shall be dispersed across the city. .
 1. Permanent off-leash fenced dog parks shall be located at:
 • Oakledge Park
 • Starr Farm Dog Park
 • Urban Reserve
 2. Off-leash non-fenced areas are listed in the OLDP, dogs are prohibited at the
 following parks. Dogs in these parks must be leashed at all times:
 • Appletree Park
 • Arms Park
 • Baird Park
 • Battery Park
 • Bike path
 • Champlain Street Park
 • City Hall Park
 • Dewey Park
 • Ethan Allen Park
 • Kieslich Park except for the portion known as “Texaco Beach”
 • Lakeside Park
 • Little Park
 • MacKenzie Park
 • North Beach
 • Pomeroy Park
 • Potvin Park
 • Roosevelt Park
 • Schifilliti Park
 • Starr Farm Park except for the portion known as “Starr Farm Dog Park”
 • Water Works Park
 • Waterfront Park
C. Public Information.
 1. PRW shall provide information about off-leash dog opportunities to include
 maps, hours, and references to rules & policies with onsite signage and through
 its website.
 2. PRW shall annually conduct a targeted campaign to educate the community about
 the City ordinances that pertain to off-leash dogs in general, and the off-leash dog
 opportunities and associated rules and policies..
 3. Funds to implement Section C shall be made available to PRW from the fees
 collected pursuant to Article II Section 5-17.
D. General Rules for All Areas Designated as Off-Leash Dog Areas.




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 1. A person taking a dog into an off-leash area shall have the dog held on leash
 when entering and exiting the off-leash area.
 2. A person taking a dog into an off-leash area shall maintain voice, hand, or leash
 control over the dog at all times while the dog is in the off-leash area. Such
 person shall have in their possession a leash at all times.
 3. A person taking a dog into an off-leash area is responsible for all actions of the
 dog, shall keep the dog within their vision at all times, and shall remove the dog
 when their behavior is in violation of the City of Burlington Code of Ordinances,
 including but not limited to Appendix D Secion 7, or the PRW OLDP.
 4. The following are prohibited in off-leash dog areas:
 • Glass containers.
 • Female dogs in heat.
 • Excessive barking, howling, or other noise.
 • Bullying of other dogs.
 • Failure to remove feces; All feces shall be removed from the off-leash
 area and placed in the appropriate receptacle.
 • Unlicensed dogs; All dogs shall be licensed and display valid license tags.
 • Dangerous dogs as defined by Burlington Code of Ordinances, Article II,
 Section 5-13.
 • More than 3 dogs per person.
 • Children under 12 years of age unaccompanied by an adult.


 E. Enforcement.
 1. In addition to the penalties provided for by ordinance, a person or dog that
 violates the rules of this section is subject to ejection from the off-leash area as
 defined in the OLDP.
 2. In addition to the penalties provided for by ordinance, a duly authorized
 enforcement officer may impound a dog for a violation of the rules of this
 section or for activities determined to be a nuisance.
 3. In addition to the penalties provided for by ordinance, all violations of Appendix
 D and the OLDP include a restorative justice process with the Burlington
 Community Justice Center.
F. Administration.
 1. Commercial Use of Parks. The PRW may issue a permit and charge a fee to allow
 for commercial use of off-leash dog areas by professional trainers, and for-profit
 and not-for-profit animal organizations. Portions of the off-leash dog areas shall
 remain available for unencumbered use by the public as off-leash areas during
 these events. Fees collected by PRW for commercial use shall be used for the
 establishment, operations, or improvements of designated off-leash dog
 areas. Commercial use of off-leash dog areas without a permit shall result in a
 fine as set for in Chapter 22 section 23 of the Burlington Code of
 Ordinances. Commercial use of off-leash dog areas may be further defined or
 modified by the OLDP.




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To begin reviewing at the August 2025 meeting

Proposed Off-Leash Dog Policy (OLDP)

The following text has been drafted by the Dog Task Force as a proposed Off-Leash Dog
Policy to be reviewed by the Parks Commission, and once an official OLDP is established, to
be revised by the Parks Commission as needed.

 OFF-LEASH DOG POLICY
Purpose:

This policy incorporates by reference all rules set forth in Appendix D of the Burlington Code of
Ordinances.

Areas of Policy:



 1. Designation of Areas and Times of Operations
 2. Additional Rules for Use of Off-Leash Fenced Dog Areas
 3. Rules for Commercial Use of Off-Leash Dog Areas
 4. Signage
 5. Public Outreach & Enforcement
 6. Operations


 1. Designation of Areas and Times of Operations.
 The following areas are off-leash areas, as designated herein or on site:
 1. Fenced Dog Parks
 I.Starr Farm Park (year-round).
 Times. The designated area may be used year-round from 8:00 a.m. to
 8:00 p.m. or sunset, whichever is earlier.
 ii. Urban Reserve (year-round).
 Times. The designated area is open for off-leash use at any time.
 iii. Oakledge Park (year-round)
 Times. The designated area is open for off-leash use during the hours the
 parking lot is open for vehicle parking.


 2. Off-Leash areas (not fenced)


 i.North End of Leddy Beach (year-round). The area north of the northernmost
 entrance to Leddy Beach
 Times. The designated area is open for off-leash use at any time.




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 ii. Oakledge Cove (year-round). The area of Oakledge Park known as Oakledge Cove
 Times. The designated area is open for off-leash use at any time
 iii. Northshore Natural Area (year-round).
 Times. The designated is open for off-leash use at any time
 iv. Blanchard Beach (seasonal). The area of Oakledge Park known as Blanchard
 Beach
 Times. The designated area is open for off-leash use at any time between
 November - March
 v. Texaco Beach (year-round). The beach area of Kieslich Park known as “Texaco”
 Beach.
 Times. The designated area is open for off-leash use at any time
 vi. Lower Calahan Park (year-round). The area of Calahan Park that is bounded on
 the east by the sledding hill, north by Locust Street, west by Pine Street, and
 south by the park/neighborhood boundary excluding programmed areas such as
 baseball fields, roads/walks, etc.
 Times. The designated area is open for off-leash use from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
 vii. Open Area of Schmanska Park (year-round). The multipurpose field of Schmanska
 Park extending from the basketball court to the tennis court.
 Times. The designated area is open for off-leash use from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
 viii. Open Area of Smalley Park (year-round). The multipurpose field excluding the
 programmed softball field.
 Times. The designated area is open for off-leash use from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
 ix. Gravel Path of the Urban Reserve The area of the Urban Reserve that is the
 maintenance access running parallel to the train tracks between the designated
 off-leash area signs on the northern and southern ends.
 Times. The designated area is open for off-leash use at any time.



2. Community Expectations for Use of Off-Leash Fenced Areas
 a. In addition to the rules set forth in Appendix D, please observe the following
 guidelines:
 i. Do not allow dogs to dig holes, except in an area designated for
 digging by the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department (PRW).
 The person accompanying the dog shall fill in any hole created by the
 dog prior to exiting the area.
 ii. Do not consume human food.
 iii. Do not feed other people’s dogs.
 b. All gates to the dog park must be closed after entering and exiting.
 c. The priority use for off-leash dog parks is off-leash dogs. Please ensure that children
 do not interfere with the activities of dogs in the park.


3. Community Expectations for Use of Unfenced Off-Leash Areas

 In addition to the rules specified in Appendix D, please observe the following guidelines:




 Page 52 of 221
 a. Ensure your dog is placed back on leash after leaving an off-leash dog area.
 b. Dog guardians should be respectful of other users using the space. This is a shared
 space, even during the times where dogs are allowed off-leash. The priority use for
 these areas is not necessarily dogs.
 c. Non-dog guardians should expect dogs may be running free in designated off-leash
 areas.


4. Rules for Commercial Use of Off-Leash Fenced areas
 a. Commercial users are required to be a Park Program participant.
 b. Commercial users are responsible for creating any boundaries, with temporary fencing
 or by other temporary means, required to meet their needs and that of the other users.
 c. Commercial users are limited to twelve days per year exclusive of commercial uses that
 do not restrict other uses of the area.
 d. No more than one commercial user may use the same dog park concurrently.
 e. Off-leash dogs will be permitted to access any areas of the off-leash area that are not
 separated by temporary or permanent fencing.
 f. With the exception of extraordinary circumstances, no more than 33% of an off-leash
 dog area shall be permitted to be restricted for commercial use.
 g. Commercial use shall not interfere with standard entrances and exits from the off-leash
 dog area.
 i. If any PRW staff time is required for the event, commercial users of the
 park are responsible for all costs related to the staff time. PRW staff will
 only be made available with the approval of the PRW Director
 ii. Commercial users will be responsible for all costs related to set-up,
 operations, security, and cleanup for all events.
 iii. Standard PRW Department requirements for reserving parks apply.

5. Public Outreach & Enforcement.
 . The PRW and the Police Department shall collaborate to educate and enforce the rules
and policies applicable to off-leash dog areas,A person who violates any rules or policies
applicable to off-leash dog areas on two (2) occasions within a twelve-month period shall be
barred from taking any dog into the off-leash areas during the six (6) months subsequent to the
second violation.


6. Operations
 a. The PRW shall maintain a volunteer group that provides guidance and support
 for off-leash areas
 b. The PRW Director may, upon a finding of need at a particular off-leash area,
 close the area to off-leash use. The reopening of such area is at the discretion of
 the Director. The Director shall post a notice indicating that the area has been




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closed for off-leash use at the entrance to the area and at other locations in the
area if needed to give notice to the public of the closing.




 Page 54 of 221
MEMO

To: Burlington Parks Commission
From: Cindi Wight, Director, Parks, Recreation & Waterfront
Date: April 8, 2024
Subject: Reset and Review of Responsibilities from the Dog Task Force Final Report


Background:
In 2021, the City Council established the Dog Task Force in response to increased community concerns
around dogs in Burlington, including off-leash use, enforcement, licensing, and related issues. The Task
Force worked through 2023 and issued its final report in December 2023. The report includes
comprehensive findings and recommendations to update ordinances, improve licensing and
enforcement, and better support coexistence between people, dogs, and the broader community.
In early 2024, the City Council reviewed the final report and issued a formal referral:

“To refer the recommendations of the 2021-2023 Dog Task Force Report to the following Committees,
Commissions, and Departments for further review, study, and recommended action...
… Recommendation regarding creation of additional off-leash areas to the Parks Commission.”

The Commission previously considered forming a subcommittee to take on this work, but progress has
been limited. As of March 2024, the Parks Commission Chair and Vice Chair have recommended the
Commission bring the work back to the full body and commit to regular discussion during upcoming
meetings.

Commission Authority and Policy Framework:
 • Chapter 5 of the Burlington Code of Ordinances outlines the authority of the Parks Commission
 to manage and regulate off-leash areas.
 https://www.codepublishing.com/VT/Burlington/#!/Burlington05/Burlington0502.html#5-14
 • Appendix D, Section 7, addresses off-leash areas. However, Section 7 reflects a pilot project
 from over twenty years ago that was never finalized or adopted and does not reflect current
 policy. The Dog Task Force Report makes recommendations for updating Appendix D.
 • The Off-Leash Dog Policy proposed in the Dog Task Force final report (Appendix F) includes a
 comprehensive and updated framework that would be adopted and overseen by the Parks
 Commission.




 Page 55 of 221
Relevant Task Force Recommendations for Commission Review:
 1. Establish a formal Off-Leash Dog Policy with Parks Commission oversight.
 2. Create a pilot program for designated unfenced off-leash areas in parks.
 3. Update City ordinances to formalize current and new off-leash areas (fenced and unfenced).
 4. Support education efforts through events and outreach, in coordination with BPRW.



Proposed Next Steps:
 • Use the April 8, 2024 meeting as a reset: clarify the Commission's charge and begin building a
 work plan.
 • Dedicate time at each Parks Commission meeting over the next several months to review
 sections of the final report and proposed policy language.
 • Begin with a review of the proposed Off-Leash Dog Policy (Appendix F) and list of pilot areas at
 the May meeting



Attachment: Dog Task Force Final Report




 Page 56 of 221
‭12/13/23‬

 ‭City of Burlington, VT‬
‭2021-2023 Dog Task Force‬


‭Executive Summary‬



‭The Dog Task Force was created in 2021 by a‬
‭City Council resolution to address the‬
‭growing number of dogs in Burlington and a‬
‭perceived increase in conflicts. The Task‬
‭Force included a broad representation of‬
‭stakeholders. It met from 2022-2023 to carry out the tasks outlined in the resolution. This‬
‭report includes details of the work of the Task Force, recommendations and rationale.‬

‭Key recommendations:‬

 ‭1)‬ ‭Modernize and update the city ordinances that relate to animals.‬
 ‭2)‬ ‭Improve the licensing process and dramatically increase the number of animals‬
 l‭icensed in the city. Allocate a portion of the license revenues for programs and‬
 ‭activities that support healthy and happy dogs and cats within the City.‬
 ‭3)‬ ‭Require cats to be licensed and prohibit at-large cats, with certain exceptions‬
 ‭4)‬ ‭Improve the reporting, compliance and enforcement of animal-related ordinances‬
 ‭by creating the position of Animal Control Officer at the Police Department and‬
 ‭adding professional experts to the Animal Control Committee.‬
 ‭5)‬ ‭Establish a policy for off-leash dogs that includes the management and creation of‬
 ‭fenced and unfenced off-leash dog areas at a limited number of locations; and‬
 ‭recommend BPRW conduct a pilot project to test unfenced off-leash areas for dogs.‬




 Page 57 of 221
 ‭6)‬ ‭Create and expand an annual calendar of education outreach, activities and‬
 ‭parks-based events to reduce issues and conflicts around domestic animals while‬
 ‭celebrating the joy they bring to Burlington’s residents.‬




‭Table of Contents:‬

‭Executive Summary‬ ‭1‬
‭Findings and Recommendations‬ ‭4‬
 ‭Ordinance Updates‬ ‭4‬
 ‭Licensing Programs and Policy Updates‬ ‭5‬
 ‭Cats: Licensing and Prohibition of At-Large Cats‬ ‭7‬
 ‭Reporting, Enforcement & Compliance‬ ‭8‬
 ‭Off Leash Areas‬ ‭10‬
 ‭Education Campaign‬ ‭11‬
‭Appendices‬ ‭14‬
 ‭Appendix A: Council Resolution‬ ‭14‬
 ‭Appendix B: Committee Members & Staff Participants‬ ‭19‬
 ‭Appendix C: Proposed Amendments to City Ordinances‬ ‭20‬
 ‭Appendix D: Detailed Licensing Information‬ ‭42‬
 ‭Appendix E: Compliance, Reporting, and Enforcement Challenges‬ ‭45‬
 ‭Appendix F: Proposed Off-Leash Dog Ordinance and Off-Leash Dog Policy‬ ‭48‬
 ‭Appendix G: Off-Leash Detailed Findings & Recommendations‬ ‭53‬
 ‭Appendix H: Education Campaign‬ ‭57‬
 ‭Appendix I: Data Summaries (Police Incident Reports, Off-Leash Survey)‬ ‭63‬
 ‭Appendix J: Task Force Progress Reports to City Council PACC Committee‬ ‭70‬
 ‭Appendix K: History of Prior Task Force Work‬ ‭70‬




‭2‬
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  ‭Fig. 1. A map showing that dog registrations appear to be evenly spread across the city, indicating both that‬
‭dogs are located all over the city and that the low licensing numbers are pervasive and not restricted to any‬
 ‭specific areas.‬




 ‭3‬
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‭Findings and Recommendations‬



‭Ordinance Updates‬

‭Recommendation:‬ ‭Modernize and update the city ordinances‬‭that relate to animals‬

‭The City of Burlington ordinances related to animals (Chapter 5 “Animals and Fowl”) have‬
 ‭not been updated on a regular basis, in some cases for 26 years. As a result, many of the‬
  ‭ordinances are outdated with regard to current terminology and regulatory practices. The‬
 ‭Task Force ordinance subcommittee conducted a comprehensive review of the ordinances‬
 ‭and compiled a list of recommendations.‬

‭The recommendations, as follow, fall primarily into four categories: updates to language,‬
 i‭mprovements to animal shelter policy, licenses and other recommendations to improve‬
  ‭the welfare of dogs and cats, and measures to strengthen enforcement. Please note that in‬
 ‭the course of the review of Chapter 5, the Task Force has made recommendations that fall‬
 ‭outside the four corners of the Resolution, such as revisions to the regulation of exotic‬
 ‭animals, and these recommendations, while not noted below, are included in Appendix C.‬
 ‭The Task Force requests that the City consider these additional recommendations as well in‬
 ‭order to ensure that the ordinances better reflect current societal views of animals.‬

‭Language:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Retitle Chapter 5 “Animals”‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Retitle Article II “Dogs and Cats”‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Replace the term “pound” with “animal shelter” throughout‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Replace the term “owner” with “guardian” throughout‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Replace the term “pet” with “companion animal” throughout‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Replace the term “vicious” with “dangerous” throughout‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Replace “it” with “they” when used in reference to an animal throughout‬

‭Animal shelter:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Provide an animal shelter for all species of companion animals in need‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Remove option for animal shelter to sell or give away unredeemed animals, and‬
 ‭restrict options to offer for adoption or transfer to cooperating animal shelter‬




‭4‬
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‭Dogs and cats:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Require that dogs and cats wear identification‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require that cats be licensed‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Increase license fees and review the fee structure at least every 5 years‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Dedicate license fees to education and other services pertinent to improved welfare‬
 ‭of resident dogs and cats‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Prohibit at-large cats‬

‭Enforcement:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Provide a dedicated, certified animal control officer with investigative resources‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Increase fine for violations of Chapter 5 and include restorative justice as a‬
 ‭supplemental option for offenders‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require impoundment of any animal suspected of being a stray‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Increase impoundment fee‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require boarding fee to reflect actual expenses‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Increase fine for cruelty to animals‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Add a licensed veterinarian and a certified animal behavior professional to the‬
 ‭animal control committee‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Allow any person to use reasonable force to remove an animal whose health or‬
 ‭safety is at risk from a motor vehicle if designated officials are unavailable‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Prohibit any person from leaving the scene of an accident for which they have‬
 ‭reason to believe that they have caused the injury or death of an animal‬

‭Appendix C includes a copy of Articles I, II, and III of Chapter 5 and Section 22-13 of Chapter‬
‭22 as well as a detailed discussion of the bases for the recommendations.‬




‭Licensing Programs and Policy Updates‬

‭Recommendation: Improve the licensing process and dramatically increase the number‬
‭of animals licensed in the city. Allocate a portion of the license revenues for programs‬
‭and activities that support healthy and happy dogs and cats within the City.‬




‭5‬
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‭The Task Force found that Burlington was under licensing dogs compared to neighboring‬
‭communities. Licensing is an important means of monitoring the overall health of the City’s‬
‭dogs with respect to rabies, and thus reducing transmission of this virus. Rabies, once‬
‭symptoms appear, is fatal to humans and animals. In addition, treatment is expensive,‬
‭painful and occurs over multiple visits. Further, licensing facilitates returning animals to‬
‭their guardians quickly and efficiently, which reduces stress on the animals and saves City‬
‭resources for other needs.‬

‭The Task Force performed a detailed review of licensing data and trends and found that‬
l‭icensing rates in Burlington are very low compared to neighboring cities with smaller‬
‭populations. The 2022 rate of licensing in Burlington is estimated at 11%. The practices of‬
‭the neighboring community of South Burlington, which has an estimated 35% licensing rate‬
‭for dogs, were compared with Burlington’s practices.‬

‭In the course of the Task Forces research, it was apparent that there are no dedicated‬
‭funds for the development of parks resources for animals and their guardians. With some‬
‭effort to improve licensing numbers, revenue increases for the city could be significant‬
‭enough to fund additional programs and activities that support healthy and happy dogs‬
‭and cats within the City. Examples of these programs are listed below.‬

‭The Task Force overwhelmingly recognized the importance of improving and expanding‬
l‭icensing within Burlington. The Task Force recommends that the City’s licensing programs‬
‭be strengthened and expanded as follows:‬

I‭mprove licensing compliance‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Expand outreach and awareness to increase the number of animals licensed‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Educate the community about how the licensing funds are used, and the benefits of‬
 l‭icensing (e.g. community health - rabies vaccination ensured)‬
 ‭○‬ ‭This information should be provided when an animal is licensed‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require cats to be licensed (see next recommendation)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Expand the consequences for not licensing dogs and cats‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Increase penalties (see Appendix C, Chapter 5 Article III )‬




‭6‬
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 ‭○‬ ‭Work with landlords and housing associations to encourage licensing‬
 ‭requirements in lease/HOA agreements. Less funding for resident‬
 ‭companion animal programs‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require at-large animals be licensed before they are returned to their guardian‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require animal control officers to verify licenses when responding to incidents and‬
 ‭record that information in the incident report‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Grant the police real-time access to licensing information to increase the ease of‬
 ‭rabies verification in the event of a bite.‬


‭Use the resulting increase in licensing revenues to create a special fund‬
‭The fund would support:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Annual licensing efforts‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Development of a streamlined process to share licensing data‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Improved incident reporting and data tracking and improved responsiveness from‬
 ‭police‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Additional companion animal programs and education‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Low-cost spay/neuter services‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Additional park facilities for animals‬

‭Appendix D includes detailed research and discussion of the bases for these‬
‭recommendations.‬




‭Cats: Licensing and Prohibition of At-Large Cats‬

‭Recommendation: Require cats to be licensed and prohibit at-large cats.‬

‭The Task Force recommends that the City of Burlington require cats be licensed for their‬
‭own welfare and that of other animals, to aid in identification for animal control purposes,‬
‭and to better ensure public safety.‬

‭Burlington would not be the first to do so, as both South Burlington and Shelburne require‬
‭cats to be licensed. The many benefits of licensing are enumerated in Appendix C under‬
‭the‬‭discussion of Article II, sections 5-16 and 5-14‬,‭‬‭and‬‭include improving the health of cats‬



‭7‬
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‭and reducing the number of cats who are lost with no way to identify the guardian.‬
‭Increased revenues from licensing could also help support better responsiveness to‬
‭cat-related incidents, as well as support affordable spay/neuter options for low-income‬
‭residents.‬

‭The Task Force also recommends that the City prohibit at-large cats, that is cats that are‬
‭off-premise and not restrained by their guardian. Free roaming cats are more likely to‬
‭experience disease and both accidental and intentional injuries as well as fatalities, and‬
‭thus have shorter life spans (this is reflected in City data where 50 percent of reports about‬
‭cats pertained to cats who had been found deceased, and of those, 75% were found in‬
‭roadways). Cats permitted to roam off-premises can easily become nuisances on both‬
‭public and private property and are classified as such in some neighboring municipal‬
‭ordinances. Further, free-roaming cats are well documented in the scientific literature as‬
i‭mmensely destructive to wildlife, particularly birds.‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Implement ordinance recommendation regarding licensing cats and prohibiting‬
 ‭at-large cats as per the Ordinance Update recommendation‬

‭For a more detailed discussion, see Appendix C, Article II, Discussion.‬




‭Reporting, Enforcement & Compliance‬

‭Recommendation: Improve the reporting, compliance and enforcement of animal-related‬
‭ordinances by creating the position of Animal Control Officer at the Police Department‬
‭and adding professional experts to the Animal Control Committee.‬

‭The Task Force reviewed reporting, compliance and enforcement of dog related‬
‭ordinances.‬

‭This included reviewing reporting mechanisms, social media, Front Porch Forum, and police‬
‭department data for incidents such as off-leash dogs, aggressive dogs, attacks by dogs, as‬
‭well as responses by the Burlington Police Department (BPD). Data obtained from the BPD‬
l‭ikely reflects only a small portion of the actual incidents that involve animals in the‬
‭community. Because residents may be aware of the narrow scope of the Department's‬




 ‭8‬
 Page 64 of 221
‭work on these issues, as detailed below, it can be assumed that many residents do not‬
‭bother to report animal incidents and thus there is no record created.‬

‭Currently the City’s Community Service Officers (CSO) respond to dog and rabies vector‬
‭related calls for service. Incidents that are called in are responded to and are documented‬
i‭n incident reports. Depending upon the follow-up required, incidents may be responded to‬
‭over several shifts. CSOs have many other responsibilities besides responding to animal‬
i‭ncidents. If there is a higher priority incident such as a car accident, their attention may be‬
‭focused on those. Additionally CSOs’ responsibilities are limited to responding to‬
‭dog-related reports and to reports about rabies vectors. Therefore concerns about cats or‬
‭other animal types besides dogs are referred to other organizations such as the Humane‬
‭Society of Chittenden County or to a wildlife removal service.‬

‭The Task Force recognizes the work that the CSOs perform everyday, but strongly‬
‭recommends that a part- to full time animal control officer be hired by the City.‬

‭An animal control officer (ACO) also responds to incidents, but in addition proactively‬
‭enforces ordinances (such as leash laws) and oversees the overall health and safety of‬
‭animals within the City. An ACO would have specific and ongoing training and certification‬
i‭n the handling and welfare of animals, be able to perform inspections on and monitor‬
‭facilities that shelter animals, educate the public on how to care for animals, and‬
i‭nvestigate trends and repeat problems or animals, conduct in-depth investigations and‬
‭overall be a point person and resource for the Burlington community.‬

‭To improve compliance and enforcement of ordinances, the Task Force recommends the‬
‭following:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Create a position at the Police Department of Animal Control Officer‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Ensure personnel that are involved in animal welfare & enforcement of the Animals‬
 ‭Ordinances have proper training and access to updated licensing information‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Increase education to improve community awareness on how to report incidents‬
 ‭effectively‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Expand online incident reporting categories to include animal issues and ensure‬
 i‭ssues are assigned to responsive entities within City operations‬




‭9‬
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 ‭●‬ ‭Recommend adding licensed veterinarian and certified animal behavior professional‬
 ‭to animal control committee‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Improve organization and categorization of data as it relates to incident‬
 ‭reporting/tracking‬

‭See‬‭Appendix I‬‭for a summary of animal incidents reported‬‭to police and how they were‬
‭typically addressed/resolved, per the report data available.‬




‭Off Leash Areas‬

‭Recommendation: Establish a policy for off-leash dogs that includes the management and‬
‭creation of fenced and unfenced off-leash dog areas at a limited number of locations; and‬
‭recommend BPRW conduct a pilot project to test unfenced off-leash areas for dogs.‬

‭Currently, it is against City ordinances to allow a dog off leash anywhere in the city, except‬
i‭n two fenced-in dog parks and one unfenced beach area. Areas in which dogs may be‬
‭off-leash comprise a total of 3.5 out of the 520 acres of City Parks (less than 1% of all park‬
l‭and). Many Burlington dog guardians allow their dogs off leash indiscriminately on‬
‭Burlington’s trails and in parks and the City’s enforcement of current leash laws is weak to‬
‭non-existent. The committee researched potential locations, looked at programs in‬
j‭urisdictions throughout the US for best practices and conducted a City-wide survey. There‬
i‭s a strong desire from dog guardians to have easy access to off-leash areas.‬

‭Our parks are a limited resource, and while more areas could be fenced in for dogs, this‬
‭would exclude regular park goers from this valuable space.‬

‭The Off-Leash Areas recommendations, as follow, satisfy the need to create space in our‬
‭urban environments where dogs may play freely and the desire not to fence off all of our‬
‭parks for dogs, while providing a mechanism to better regulate and manage spaces where‬
‭dogs are off-leash. By providing sufficient sanctioned off-leash spaces for dogs to play,‬
‭explore, and run, the City may focus on the enforcement of regulations requiring dogs be‬
‭on a leash otherwise within the City’s system of parks and recreation paths, protecting all‬
‭users and our urban wildlife.‬




‭10‬
 Page 66 of 221
‭The Task Force recommends increasing designated off-leash spaces while simultaneously‬
i‭ncreasing the enforcement of leash laws in the rest of the city. The goal is to ensure‬
‭healthy and safe access to appropriate outdoor space for dogs across the City and to‬
‭support enforcement of inappropriate spaces where dogs should not be off leash.‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Update the City ordinances with a new‬‭Section 7 of‬‭Appendix D‬‭which will add one‬
 ‭fenced off-leash dog area to Oakledge, formalize the two existing off-leash fenced‬
 ‭dog areas, and provide the parks department with regulations and the ability to‬
 ‭enforce these regulations.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Establish an‬‭Off-Leash Dog Policy‬‭with oversight by‬‭the Parks Commission‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Create a pilot program of off-leash dog areas, as drafted in the‬‭Off-Leash Dog Policy‬
 i‭n Appendix F‬

‭The list of pilot areas in the‬‭Off-Leash Dog Policy‬ ‭came from a review of prior committee‬
‭work (see Appendix K), current parks programming and usage, and survey results‬
‭(Appendix I). Considerable thought was given to how to avoid clashes, including the‬
‭following:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Clear signage indicating designated off-leash areas & rules for using these spaces.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭A landing page on Burlington Parks Recreation Waterfront (BPRW) website showing‬
 ‭where dogs can and can’t go, and where they must be kept on-leash.‬




‭Education Campaign‬

‭Recommendation: Create and expand an annual calendar of education outreach,‬
‭activities and parks-based events to reduce issues and conflicts around domestic animals‬
‭while celebrating the joy they bring to Burlington’s residents.‬

‭The Burlington Dog Task Force worked with the Parks & Recreation Department to support‬
‭the education campaigns and events, including:‬

 ‭❖‬ ‭Barking contribution to noise pollution, and solutions to unwanted barking, posted‬
 ‭on 2/16/2023‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭On leash in natural areas, posted on 5/18/22‬




‭11‬
 Page 67 of 221
 ‭❖‬ ‭Scoop the Poop campaign, posted on 4/1/22‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭Dog License education, posted 3/22/23‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭Wag the Waterfront event‬

‭The Burlington Dog Task Force has created a draft‬
‭calendar with suggested educational posts for social‬
‭media and Front Porch Forum, as well as sample‬
‭campaigns, as included in‬‭Appendix H‬‭. Additional‬
‭educational ideas included the following:‬

 ‭❖‬ ‭“Having a dog in Burlington” literature‬
 ‭handed out when a license is first issued‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭More signage similar to what BPRW posted‬
 ‭on the bike path during the summer of 2023‬
 ‭(see image on the right).‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭Recommend that a web page on the city’s‬
 ‭website is developed that goes over‬
 ‭everything to do with dogs and cats: rules,‬
 ‭how and why to license, off leash rules, off‬
 l‭eash areas. Then this site can be referenced‬
 ‭and linked to. (signs have QR codes leading‬
 ‭to this page)‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭How/when to report issues‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭Impact of outdoor cats on wildlife‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭Low cost spay/neuter options‬

‭The Task Force recommends the following‬
‭educational steps be taken by the City:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Follow an annual calendar of automatic‬
 ‭social media posts/news releases (see‬
 ‭appendix for content subjects)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Hold annual programs in parks such as the‬
 ‭recent “Wag the Waterfront”.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Provide behavioral learning opportunities to animals and their companions‬



‭12‬
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 ‭●‬ ‭Provide resources for new arrivals (either new residents of Burlington who have‬
 ‭dogs, or current residents who get a new dog) on on and off leash areas,‬
 ‭regulations, general “good neighbor” guidelines and wellness resources‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Install signage on guidelines for behavior of dogs in designated off-leash areas‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Distribute education/information/tips annually on the cards that accompany dog‬
 l‭icense tags‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Develop a curriculum for the community justice center, should a restorative justice‬
 ‭approach be adopted for resolving violations of dog policies & ordinances‬




‭13‬
 Page 69 of 221
‭Appendices‬



‭Appendix A: Council Resolution‬

‭On March 30, 2021 the New North End City Councilors (Barlow, Carpenter, and Dieng),‬
‭South End City Councilor Shannon, and Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Director Wight‬
‭hosted an informative and constructive meeting with city residents to better understand‬
‭pet issues beyond complaints shared on social media. This led to a Burlington City Council‬
‭resolution on June 28 to create a Burlington Dog Task Force to address these issues. Dog‬
‭Task Force members were officially appointed on November 17, 2021 by the PAC and the‬
‭first meeting of the Task Force convened on January 27, 2022. The original resolution is‬
‭copied below.‬

‭The scope of work included a mix of actions for implementation and policy‬
‭recommendations.‬


‭HRB/Resolutions 2021/BURLINGTON PARKS ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE TO CREATE A‬
‭DOG TASK FORCE 7/8/2021‬

‭CITY OF BURLINGTON‬

‭In the year Two Thousand Twenty-one‬

‭Resolved by the City Council of the City of Burlington, as follows:‬

‭BURLINGTON PARKS ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE TO CREATE A DOG TASK FORCE‬

‭That WHEREAS, According to the City Charter, a dog is defined as the following: Dogs shall‬
i‭nclude both male and female of the canine species. Dog shall also mean any animal which‬
i‭s considered to be a wolf-hybrid as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 3541(6).‬

‭WHEREAS, Dogs are considered an integral part of our society, playing different roles and‬
‭providing services in the daily lives of humans, such as for accessibility, companionship,‬
‭exercise, security and more.‬




‭14‬
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‭WHEREAS, Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is a dog that‬
‭has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability,‬
i‭ncluding a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.‬

‭WHEREAS, According to the American Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty (ASPCA),‬
‭dog adoptions are up 700% nationally during the pandemic.‬

‭WHEREAS, According to the City of Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront website,‬
‭“The State of Vermont has one of the highest rates of pet ownership around the nation, the‬
‭City of Burlington has made possible for community members to share their experiences in‬
‭many different locations in the greater Burlington Area.”‬

‭WHEREAS, The City of Burlington issued 755 dog licenses and collected over $23,000 in dog‬
l‭icense revenue for the 2020 fiscal year.‬

‭WHEREAS, The City of Burlington via the Department of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront‬
‭has made a substantial investment in the renovation of the Starr Farm Dog Park located in‬
‭the New North End.‬

‭WHEREAS, Over the past few months, residents of the New North End alongside other‬
‭residents of the city have shared via social media (Front Porch Forum, Facebook) a growing‬
‭number of incidents involving dogs or dog owners. The incidents were reported by both‬
‭dog owners, former dog owners or nondog owners.‬

‭WHEREAS, Most of those incidents are similar in nature; some are unique incidents that‬
‭resulted in a decreased quality of life and have caused tensions between neighbors. Those‬
i‭ncidents include but are not limited to the following:‬

 ‭● Off leash dogs in city parks, natural areas or beaches‬

 ‭● Dogs attacking people or other dogs‬

 ‭● Dog feces not being picked up‬

 ‭● Policies not being enforced‬

 ‭● Unlicensed dogs‬

 ‭● Dog barking contributing to noise pollution‬




‭15‬
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‭WHEREAS, Several other issues involving other types of pets in the city were also shared by‬
‭community members.‬

‭WHEREAS, On Tuesday, March 30th the New North End City Councilors, Barlow, Carpenter‬
‭and Dieng, hosted an informative and constructive community meeting alongside South‬
‭End District City Councilor Shannon and Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Director Wight in‬
‭order to better understand the pet issue beyond the complaints shared on social media.‬

‭WHEREAS, The Community meeting was well attended and received by the community. The‬
‭attendance ranged from people of the South End, Old North End and New North End. Most‬
‭attendees were dog owners or former dog owners as well as non-dog owners, nature‬
l‭overs, dog park volunteers and professionals working with pets.‬

‭WHEREAS, Residents who attended the community meeting brainstormed ideas and best‬
‭practices related to these issues and are willing to formally help the city in an ongoing way.‬

‭WHEREAS, The Burlington City Council, via a resolution, respectfully tasked the Parks, Arts‬
‭and Culture Committee to make a recommendation via a resolution by June 28th to the‬
‭Council regarding the creation of a Burlington Dog Task Force to address the issues raised‬
i‭n this resolution and possibly other issues.‬

‭WHEREAS, The Parks, Arts and Culture Committee, in consultation with the Director of‬
‭Parks, Recreation and Waterfront and the Starr Farm Dog Park Volunteer Coordinator,‬
‭developed the following recommendations for a nine (9) member task force and their‬
‭scope of work.‬

‭NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, The nine-member Dog Task Force shall be composed of‬
‭the following members:‬

 ‭1)‬ ‭Starr Farm Dog Park Volunteer Coordinator‬
 ‭2)‬ ‭Representative of a dog shelter, dog rescue group or other dog group to be‬
 ‭appointed by PACC‬
 ‭3)‬ ‭Dog trainer to be appointed by PACC‬
 ‭4)‬ ‭Veterinarian or animal health professional to be appointed by PACC‬




‭16‬
 Page 72 of 221
 ‭5)‬ ‭Burlington Police Department Community Resource Office representative to be‬
 ‭designated by the Chief of Police‬
 ‭6)‬ ‭Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront representative (staff with land use or‬
 ‭event planning expertise) to be designated by the BPRW director‬
 ‭7)‬ ‭At large Burlington community member who is a non-dog owner to be appointed by‬
 ‭PACC‬
 ‭8)‬ ‭At large Burlington community member who is a dog owner to be appointed by‬
 ‭PACC‬
 ‭9)‬ ‭A representative of the Parks Commission to be appointed by the Parks Commission‬
 ‭Chair‬

‭BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Parks Director will create an application for task force‬
‭membership.‬

‭Applications will be received by the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office until August 31, 2021. PACC‬
‭appointed members shall be selected by the Parks, Arts and Culture Committee at their‬
‭September meeting‬

‭BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The Parks, Art and Culture Committee recommends the‬
‭following:‬

 ‭A.‬ ‭That the Dog Task Force members elect a Chair as their first order of business in‬
 ‭their first meeting; and the Director of Burlington Parks and Recreations and‬
 ‭Waterfront to identify an administrative staff to the taskforce‬
 ‭B.‬ ‭That the following be within the Dog Task Force’s scope of work:‬
 ‭1)‬ ‭Review current city programs and policies including other dog task force‬
 ‭work.‬
 ‭2)‬ ‭Conduct an Education Campaign:‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭Off leash dogs in city parks, natural areas or beaches‬
 ‭b)‬ ‭Dogs attacking people or other dogs‬
 ‭c)‬ ‭Dog feces not being picked up‬
 ‭d)‬ ‭Dog barking contributing to noise pollution‬
 ‭3)‬ ‭Review licensing rules and make recommendations‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭Review licensing fees and make recommendations‬
 ‭b)‬ ‭Explore modernizing license fee applications‬



 ‭17‬
 Page 73 of 221
 ‭c)‬ ‭Consider the question of licensing of outdoor cats‬
 ‭4)‬ ‭Review compliance and policy enforcement and make recommendations‬
 ‭5)‬ ‭Plan Pet/Dog Events, Activities and Celebrations, i.e., National Pet Day or‬
 ‭National Dog Day Celebration‬
 ‭6)‬ ‭Review current funding allocated to our municipal dog/pet resources and‬
 ‭make recommendations‬
 ‭7)‬ ‭Provide quarterly updates to the Parks, Arts, and Culture Committee‬
 ‭8)‬ ‭Generate a final report to be presented to the City Council by April 29, 2022‬




‭18‬
 Page 74 of 221
‭Appendix B: Committee Members & Staff Participants‬

‭The full Task Force met monthly, with subcommittees and working groups collaborating in‬
‭additional meetings as-needed.‬

‭Table 1. Appointed Members and City Staff‬


 ‭Appointed Members‬ ‭City Staff‬


  ‭Jake Schumann, Chair through 10/24/2022‬ ‭Cindi Wight, BPRW Director‬
 ‭(Position 1)‬


 ‭Lori Kettler (Position 2)‬ ‭Meghan O’Daniel, BPRW Staff‬


  ‭Maria Karunungan, Chair 10/24/2022‬
 ‭forward (Position 3)‬


 ‭Nina Hurley (Position 4)‬


 ‭Dominic Tenan (Position 5, Reassigned)‬

 ‭Yusuf Abdi (Position 5, Reassigned)‬

 ‭Thomas Young (Position 5)‬


 ‭Alec Kaeding (Position 6)‬


 ‭Ilona Blanchard (Position 7)‬


 ‭Ute Montensen (Resigned, Position 8)‬

 ‭Joanne Kalisz (Replaced, Position 8)‬


 ‭Abbey Duke (Position 9)‬




 ‭19‬
 Page 75 of 221
‭Appendix C: Proposed Amendments to City Ordinances‬
‭Proposed Amendments to Article I of Chapter 5‬
‭The Task Force’s recommended amendments are inserted and underlined, and text that‬
‭would be eliminated is indicated by strikethroughs.‬




 ‭ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL‬
‭5-1 ‬‭Pound‬‭established‬‭Animal shelter provided‬‭.‬
‭There shall be‬‭established‬‭provided‬‭by the city council‬‭a pound‬‭an animal shelter‬‭for‬‭the‬
 i‭mpounding of all beasts‬‭all domestic and exotic animals‬‭in need‬‭liable to be impounded‬‭.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97)‬


‭5-2 Appointment of‬‭poundkeepers; compensation‬‭animal‬
 ‭shelter personnel‬‭.‬
‭It shall be the duty of the mayor to appoint such‬‭poundkeepers‬‭persons‬‭as may be required to‬
 ‭take care of and keep such pound as may be‬‭manage‬‭and maintain the animal shelter that is‬
  ‭established‬‭pursuant to section 5-1‬‭.‬‭Their compensation‬‭shall be the same as provided by the‬
 l‭aws of this state for poundkeepers in towns.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97)‬


‭Cross reference—Duties of officers of the city, § ‬‭2-4‬‭.‬

‭5-2a Appointment of animal control officer‬
‭It shall be the duty of the mayor to appoint an enforcement officer(s), in accordance with‬
 ‭section 122 of the city charter, who shall be a member of the Burlington Police Department.‬
  ‭Such enforcement officer(s) shall be a certified animal control officer.‬



‭5-3 Animal bites.‬
‭It shall be the duty of every person bitten, or his or her parent or guardian, and the attending‬
 ‭physicians to report to the‬‭city health officer‬‭animal‬‭control officer, who shall report to the city‬
  ‭health officer,‬‭within twenty-four (24) hours the‬‭name, address and telephone number of the‬
 ‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭or keeper of the animal‬‭which‬‭who‬‭bit‬‭the person and the complete‬
 ‭circumstances,‬‭to the extent known‬‭.‬




 ‭20‬
 Page 76 of 221
‭(Ord. of 6-23-97)‬


‭5-4 Nuisance animals.‬
‭(a)‬‭No‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬,‭ keeper or other person having‬‭control shall permit an animal to be a‬
 ‭nuisance animal. For the purposes of this section, nuisance animal means any animal or‬
  ‭animals‬‭which‬‭who‬‭:‬

 ‭(1) ‬‭Molests‬‭Attacks‬‭or harasses passersby or passing‬‭vehicles, or otherwise creates a‬
 ‭public safety hazard;‬

 ‭(2) Attacks other animals‬,‭ including but not limited‬‭to wildlife‬‭;‬

 ‭(3) Damages property other than that of‬‭their‬ i‭ts owner‬‭guardian‬‭;‬

 ‭(4) Defecates off the premises of the animal’s‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬,‭ and the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬,‭‬
 ‭or other individual in control of the animal, fails to remove such deposit immediately;‬

 ‭(5) Roams off the premises of the guardian while not under control of the guardian, or‬
 ‭the guardian’s agent, by leash or other similar means of physical restraint at all times; or‬

 ‭(‭‬5‬‭6‬‭) Barks, whines, howls, cries, or makes a noise‬‭commonly made by such animals in‬
 ‭an excessive and continuous fashion so as to disturb the peace and quiet of any other‬
 ‭person.‬

‭(b) Any dog or cat found to be a nuisance animal by an animal control officer shall be‬
 i‭mpounded if the guardian, or the guardian’s agent, is not present and cannot be located‬
  i‭mmediately.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 10-23-06, eff. 11-22-06)‬


‭5-5 Exotic animals.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Purpose and findings:‬‭The purpose of this section‬‭is to enhance the public safety of persons‬
 ‭who are present on the district known as the Church Street Marketplace (the Marketplace) and‬
  i‭n the city’s parks by regulating the presence of "exotic" animals on the Marketplace and in the‬
 ‭city’s parks. The council finds that such pets can pose a threat to the public health, safety, and‬
 ‭welfare if present on the Marketplace and in city parks. Such pets are unlicensed and are not‬
 ‭typically leashed, as is required of domestic dogs.‬

‭(b) ‬‭Definitions:‬‭"Exotic pet" means all animals‬‭except domestic dogs, domestic cats and the‬
 ‭European ferret ‬‭(Mustela putorious furo).‬

‭(c) ‬‭General prohibition:‬‭No person shall have an‬‭exotic pet or permit their exotic pet to be on‬
 ‭or about the Marketplace or within a city park unless expressly approved by the Marketplace‬
  ‭Director or Parks Department respectively or exempted under the terms of this section.‬




 ‭21‬
 Page 77 of 221
‭(d) ‬‭Exemptions:‬‭A person may have or permit an exotic pet to be on or about the Marketplace‬
 ‭or within a city park when done to transport the pet directly from a pet store in the vicinity of‬
  ‭the Marketplace or city park after purchase of such pet or to return such pet to said pet store.‬
 ‭The person must retain a receipt for the purchase of such pet and shall display the receipt upon‬
 ‭demand from any animal control officer, law enforcement officer, or other person duly‬
 ‭authorized to enforce animal control ordinances.‬

‭(a)‬ ‭Purpose and findings‬‭: The city recognizes that‬‭the keeping of exotic animals raises animal‬
 ‭welfare concerns and public health and safety concerns not commonly associated with‬
  ‭domesticated animals. This section is intended to prevent mistreatment of exotic animals,‬
 ‭reduce the risk of harm to the public from contact with exotic animals as well as accidents and‬
 ‭other incidents involving such animals, and reduce the public health risk associated with‬
 ‭diseases and pathogens carried by such animals.‬

‭(b)‬ ‭Definitions‬‭: “Exotic animal” means all animals‬‭except domestic dogs, domestic cats,‬
 ‭domestic mice, domestic rats, domestic rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, the European‬
  ‭ferret, and livestock as defined by Title 6, section 791 of the Vermont Statutes.‬

‭(c)‬ ‭Prohibition‬‭: The offer for sale, sale, purchase,‬‭possession, or public display of any exotic‬
 ‭animal within the corporate limits of the city is prohibited.‬

‭(d)‬ ‭Exemptions‬‭: Any exotic animal possessed on the‬‭date of the enactment of this ordinance is‬
 ‭exempted from the prohibition on possession set forth in subsection (c) upon registration of‬
  ‭the animal with the Board of Health. The exemption applies only to the individual animal so‬
 ‭registered, and does not apply to any animal of the same species subsequently acquired. The‬
 ‭prohibition set forth in subsection (c) shall not apply to registered 501(c)(3) organizations whose‬
 ‭primary purpose is education, animal rescue, or animal rehabilitation.‬

‭(Ord. of 10-27-03, eff. 12-3-03)‬


‭5-6 Use of non-domesticated animals for public display‬
 ‭prohibited.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Purpose.‬‭This section is intended to assist‬‭in the prevention of the mistreatment of‬
 ‭non-domesticated animals used in any public display, to reduce risk of harm to the public from‬
  ‭accidents and incidents involving such animals, and to reduce the public health risk associated‬
 ‭with diseases and pathogens carried by such animals.‬

‭(b) ‬‭Definitions.‬

 ‭(1) ‬‭Non-domesticated animals‬‭are defined as ‬‭Felidae‬‭(all‬‭wild cats and hybrids‬
 ‭thereof), ‬‭Ursidae‬‭(all bears), ‬‭Proboscideae‬‭(all elephants),‬‭and Non-human Primates‬
 ‭and ‭‬Prosimians.‬

 ‭(2) ‬‭Public display‬‭shall mean the exhibition, presentation‬‭or showing of live‬
 ‭non-domesticated animals to the general public regardless of whether for profit, on a not‬
 ‭for profit basis or without charge.‬




 ‭22‬
 Page 78 of 221
‭(c) ‬‭Prohibition.‬‭The public display of live non-domesticated animals within the corporate limits‬
 ‭of the city is prohibited.‬

‭(Ord. of 9-7-04; eff. 10-13-04)‬


‭5-‬‭7‬‭6‬‭—5-12 Reserved.‬




‭Discussion‬
‭Section 5-1‬

‭The current language of section 5-1 requires the city to provide an animal shelter that‬
‭accepts “all beasts liable to be impounded.” It is the Task Force’s understanding that the city‬
‭has previously contracted only for the impoundment of dogs in need. The Task Force‬
‭recommends that the city provide a shelter for all domesticated and exotic animal‬
‭residents in need.‬

‭Section 5-2a‬

‭Section 5-2a is a new section that requires the appointment of a dedicated, certified animal‬
‭control officer, or officers, within the Burlington Police Department (“BPD”).‬

‭Currently, limited animal control functions are performed by the community service‬
‭officers at the BPD. Community service officers are not required to have experience or‬
‭training specific to animal control functions, such as animal handling, care, and welfare.‬1
‭The Task Force recommends that the city retain an officer, or officers, whose sole duty is to‬
‭respond to animal-related issues and to expand the program so that the city’s animals and‬
‭citizens are better served in this regard. To achieve that goal, the Task Force recommends‬
‭that animal control officers obtain certification in animal control and be required to‬
‭participate in continuing education courses, through a national professional training‬
‭program.‬




‭1‬
  ‭See‬‭City of Burlington, Community Service Officer‬‭Job Description,‬
‭https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/burlingtonvt/jobs/3045625/community-service-officer‬‭..‬



  ‭23‬
 Page 79 of 221
‭The National Animal Care and Control Association (“NACA”) recognizes the difficulty in‬
‭determining the optimum number of animal control officers for any particular locality.‬2 ‭The‬
‭calculation is affected by a number of factors such as the number of calls for service, officer‬
‭safety, citizen safety, types of services provided, population density and diversity, and‬
‭coverage area.‬3

‭Assessment of the number of officers required to address the animal control needs in‬
‭Burlington is further complicated by the fact that calls for service may not accurately reflect‬
‭the need for an animal control officer. For example, residents may be aware that the BPD‬
‭does not respond to calls regarding free-roaming cats and, as a result, they do not place‬
‭such calls for service.‬

‭Studies and other evidence suggest that most cities with a population similar to that of‬
‭Burlington (approximately 44,000 residents) employ or contract with at least one animal‬
‭control officer.‬4

‭In Vermont, an online search reveals that many smaller and less diverse municipalities have‬
‭at least one animal control officer who may be part- or full-time, employed, contracted, or‬
i‭n a few instances a volunteer. A partial list includes Barre, Bolton, Brattleboro, Castleton,‬
‭East Montpelier (2 officers), Fairfax, Guilford, Hartland, Highgate, Hyde Park (2 officers),‬
‭Newfane, Putney, Randolph, Readsboro, Rockingham, Sharon, Shelburne, Shaftsbury,‬
‭Waterbury, and Windham.‬

‭Section 5-4‬

‭Section 5-4 expands the definition of “nuisance animals” to include free-roaming animals. It‬
‭also authorizes law enforcement to impound a “nuisance animal” if the animal’s guardian,‬
‭or the guardian’s agent, is not present or readily located, and it requires impoundment of‬
‭free-roaming animals under such conditions.‬



‭2‬
 ‭National Animal Care and Control Association, “Determining Field Staffing Needs,”‬
‭https://www.nacanet.org/determining-field-staffing-needs/‬‭.‬
 ‭3‬
 ‭Id‬‭.‬
  ‭4‬
 ‭For example, a study conducted by NACA found the average ratio of field animal control officers to citizens was‬
 ‭one officer for every 16,000 to 18,000 persons.‬‭https://www.sheltertrak.com/downloads/kern/kcac_audit/4.pdf‬‭.‬
 ‭Private online discussion groups for animal control officers across the country suggest similar statistics. Printouts on‬
 ‭file with the author.‬



  ‭24‬
 Page 80 of 221
‭Section 5-5‬

‭Section 5-5 replaces the ban on exotic animals on Church Street Marketplace and in city‬
‭parks with a city-wide ban on the offer for sale, sale, purchase, possession, or public display‬
‭of exotic animals, with a grandfather clause for animals currently possessed, and‬
‭exceptions for certain 501(c)(3) organizations.‬

‭The Task Force recognizes that the proposed amendment falls outside the scope of its‬
‭mandate but wishes to take this opportunity to point out that societal views on the keeping‬
‭of exotic animals have changed markedly in the last decade as we have learned more about‬
‭these animals. It is now well accepted that the complex needs of exotic animals cannot be‬
‭met in captivity, even by the most well-meaning guardians,‬5 ‭and that the exotic animal‬
‭trade itself is a source of much suffering.‬6

‭The environmental impact of the exotic pet trade can be severe as well, often having a‬
‭devastating effect on wild populations of the species traded. For example, it is estimated‬
‭that every year 21% of the wild population of African Grey parrots, a popular “pet” and an‬
‭endangered species, are poached.‬7

‭Exotic pets released into the wild when their novelty wears off, or when they become too‬
‭expensive or too difficult to handle, can wreak havoc on native flora and fauna. Perhaps the‬
‭most well-known examples of this problem are the Burmese pythons and green iguanas in‬
‭Florida.‬8 ‭Vermont is not immune to invasive species, and it is projected that as the climate‬
‭continues to warm some invasive species, such as red-eared slider turtles commonly sold‬
i‭n local pet stores, will survive and establish breeding populations in the state.‬9



‭5‬
 ‭Exotic animals, even those bred in captivity, still possess innate social and physical needs, and require mental‬
‭stimulation that cannot be provided in private homes.‬‭See‬‭, Progressive Animal Welfare Society, “Exotic‬‭Pets,”‬
 ‭https://www.paws.org/resources/exotic-animals/‬‭.‬
  ‭6‬
 ‭E.g‬‭., World Animal Protection, “7 Reasons Why You‬‭Shouldn’t Keep Wild Animals as Exotic Pets,”‬
 ‭https://www.worldanimalprotection.ca/news/7-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-keep-wildlife-pets‬‭;‬‭Born Free U.S., “The‬
 ‭Dangers of Keeping Exotic Pets,”‬
 ‭https://www.bornfreeusa.org/campaigns/animals-in-captivity/the-dangers-of-keeping-exotic-pets/‬‭.‬
 ‭7‬
 ‭Id‬‭., World Animal Protection.‬
 ‭8‬
 ‭Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, “Burmese Python,”‬
 ‭https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/snakes/burmese-python/‬‭;‬‭Florida Fish and Wildlife‬
 ‭Commission, “Green Iguana,”‬‭https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/green-iguana/‬‭.‬
 ‭9‬
 ‭Vermont Reptile & Amphibian Atlas, “Pond Slider,”‬
 ‭https://www.vtherpatlas.org/herp-species-in-vermont/trachemys-scripta/‬‭.‬



  ‭25‬
 Page 81 of 221
‭Aside from the animal welfare and environmental concerns, many species of exotic animals‬
‭carry zoonotic diseases, and there are frequent reports of injuries and deaths from exotic‬
‭animals kept as “pets,” who can retain their wild instincts even after decades of captive‬
‭breeding.‬10

‭All states prohibit or restrict the possession of certain exotic animals, and the latter often‬
i‭nvolves a permit, license, or registration requirement.‬11 ‭Vermont allows unrestricted‬
‭possession of many exotic animals, such as certain species of pythons and boas, but‬
‭requires a permit to possess other species, such as anacondas and black widow spiders.‬12

‭As the private “ownership” of exotic animals has increased, a growing number of counties‬
‭and municipalities across the nation have enacted ordinances to prohibit or further restrict‬
‭the presence of exotic animals in their communities, for the safety of residents and the‬
‭welfare of the animals.‬13 ‭For example, Rainsville Alabama’s Responsible Pet Ownership‬
‭Ordinance prohibits the keeping of any non-domesticated, wild animal.‬14 ‭Richmond Virginia‬
‭has a comprehensive ban on the ownership, breeding, purchase, sale, offer for purchase or‬
‭sale, keeping or maintenance of all exotic or wild warm-blood animals, venomous reptiles‬
‭and amphibians, and members of the crocodilian family, with exceptions for a limited‬
‭number of identified species who are in captivity and have never seen the wild, or who‬
‭have been domestically bred or legally imported.‬15




‭9‬
 ‭E.g‬‭., Bruno B. Chomel, Albino Belotto, and François-Xavier‬‭Meslin, “Wildlife, Exotic Pets, and Emerging Zoonoses,”‬
‭Emerg Infect Dis, v.13(1); 2007 Jan., available at‬‭https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2725831/‬‭, last‬
 ‭accessed Sept. 23, 2023.‬
  ‭10‬
 ‭E.g‬‭., People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,‬‭“Reptile Incidents,”‬
 ‭https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/reptile-incidents-factsheet.pdf‬‭.‬
 ‭11‬
 ‭Findlaw, “Exotic Animal Laws by State,”‬
 ‭https://www.findlaw.com/injury/torts-and-personal-injuries/exotic-animal-laws-by-state.html‬‭.‬

‭12‬
 ‭Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, “Unrestricted Wild Animal List” and “Restricted Wild Animal List,”‬
‭https://vtfishandwildlife.com/sites/fishandwildlife/files/documents/Learn%20More/Living%20with%20Wildlife/Im‬
 ‭portation/Unrestricted_Wild_Animal_List.pdf‬‭.‬
  ‭13‬
 ‭See‬‭Humane Society of the United States, “Where the‬‭Wild Things Shouldn’t Be,”‬
 ‭https://humanepro.org/magazine/articles/where-wild-things-shouldnt-be‬‭.‬
 ‭14‬
 ‭City Of Rainsville, Alabama, “Non-Domesticated, Wild Animals,” Ord. No. 5-23-13-A, sec. 10,‬
 ‭http://www.rainsvillealabama.com/ordinances/Ordinance-5-23-13-A-amendment.pdf‬‭.‬
 ‭15‬
 ‭City of Richmond, Virginia, Ord. No. 2023-130 - Amended 20230626,‬
 ‭https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/ordinances/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=1228386‬‭.‬




  ‭26‬
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‭The Task Force recommends that the city consider the proposed revisions to section 5-5 for‬
‭the reasons stated herein.‬

‭Section 5-6‬

‭Section 5-5, if adopted, makes the prohibition on public display of certain‬
‭non-domesticated animals in section 5-6 duplicative and thus unnecessary.‬




‭27‬
 Page 83 of 221
‭Proposed Amendments to Article II of Chapter 5‬
‭The Task Force’s recommended amendments are inserted and underlined, and text that‬
‭would be eliminated is indicated by strikethroughs.‬


 ‭ARTICLE II. DOGS‬‭AND CATS‬‭1‬

‭5-13 Definitions.‬
‭The following definitions shall apply to this article:‬

‭"At-large"‬‭shall mean not under the control of the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬,‭‬‭a member of the guardian’s‬
 i‭mmediate family, or the guardian’s agent‬‭or another‬‭individual either‬‭by leash‬,‭ cord, chain‬‭or‬
  ‭other similar means of physical restraint.‬

‭"Dog"‬‭shall include both male and female of the canine‬‭species. Dog shall also mean any animal‬
 ‭which‬‭who‬‭is considered to be a wolf-hybrid as defined‬‭in ‭‬20‬‭V.S.A. § ‭‬3541‬‭(6).‬

‭“Cat”‬‭shall include both male and female of the feline‬‭species.‬

‭"Enforcement official"‬‭when used herein shall mean‬‭any animal control officer, police officer,‬
 ‭poundkeeper‬‭shelter manager‬,‭ urban park ranger or‬‭other individual specifically designated by‬
  ‭the city council to enforce the provisions of this chapter.‬

‭"‭‬Owner‬‭Guardian" ‭‬shall include any person or persons,‬‭firm, association or corporation owning,‬
 ‭keeping or harboring a dog‬‭or cat‬‭.‬

‭"‭‬Vicious‬‭Dangerous dog"‬‭shall mean a dog‬‭which‬‭that‬‭attacks or bites a person or other‬‭domestic‬
 ‭pet‬‭companion animal‬‭while the dog is off the premises‬‭of the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭or keeper, and‬
  ‭the person or‬‭pet‬‭companion animal‬‭attacked or bitten‬‭requires medical attention.‬‭Vicious‬
 ‭Dangerous‬‭dog complaints shall be investigated pursuant‬‭to section ‭‬5-27‬‭(b).‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 4-17-00; Ord. of 4-17-23(1))‬


‭5-14 Identification required.‬
‭Identification that includes the name and contact information for the guardian of the dog or cat‬
 ‭shall be securely attached to a collar or harness and worn at all times.‬


‭5-‬‭14‬‭‬‭15‬‭At-large prohibited.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Prohibition.‬‭Except as exempted below, no person‬‭shall permit a dog‬‭or cat for whom they‬
 ‭are the guardian‬‭him or her‬‭or‬‭who is‬‭under‬‭his or‬‭her‬‭their‬‭control to be at-large as defined in‬
  ‭section ‬‭5-13‬‭or to trespass upon the property of another,‬‭public or private.‬




 ‭28‬
 Page 84 of 221
‭(b) ‬‭Public Safety.‬‭Should an at-large dog‬‭or cat‬‭be deemed to pose an imminent public safety‬
 ‭risk, said animal may be killed by the Police Department or their designee. Such an act shall‬
  ‭occur where other reasonable means to control the animal have been unsuccessful or deemed‬
 ‭not practicable under the circumstances.‬

‭(c) ‬‭Exemptions.‬‭A dog‬‭or cat‬‭may be‬‭is not‬‭at-large‬‭if‬‭it is‬‭they are‬‭:‬

 ‭(1) On the premises of the dog’s‬‭or cat’s‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭;‬

 ‭(2) On the premises of the person under whose control the dog‬‭or‬‭cat is under;‬‭or‬

 ‭(3) On the premises of another person as long as that person has given permission for‬
 ‭the dog‬‭or cat‬‭to be at-large‬‭;‭‬.‬

 ‭(4) ‬‭A dog is not at-large if they are‬‭Ii‭‬n‬‭a designated‬‭off-leash dog area managed and‬
 ‭regulated by the board of parks and recreation commissioners.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 4-17-00; Ord. of 9-10-12(1))‬


‭5-‬‭15‬‭16‬‭License and rabies vaccination required.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Licensing.‬‭Every‬‭owner or keeper‬‭guardian‬‭of‬‭a dog‬‭or cat‬‭more than six (6) months old‬‭who‬
 ‭has resided in the city for more than 90 days,‬‭shall‬‭be required to‬‭annually‬‭register and license‬
  ‭the animal‬,‭‬‭in the manner prescribed by the city‬,‭‬‭with the city clerk’s office‬‭and to do so‬
 ‭annually provided that no guardian shall be required to register a dog or cat more than once in‬
 ‭any calendar year‬‭. The license shall expire on the‬‭first day of April next after its issuance. Upon‬
 i‭ssuance of such license and payment of the license fee as required in section ‭‬5-17‬‭of this‬
 ‭chapter, each‬‭dog owner‬‭guardian‬‭shall receive a‬‭dog‬‭license tag.‬

‭(b) ‬‭Rabies vaccination.‬‭Proof of a current rabies‬‭vaccination, as required by state law, shall be‬
 ‭required for the licensing of any animal.‬

‭(c) ‬‭Fixture of tag.‬‭The‬‭dog‬‭license tag issued‬‭to any person as provided herein shall be securely‬
 ‭attached to a collar or harness on such licensed dog‬‭or cat‬‭and worn at all times.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 8-14-00; Ord. of 6-4-07, eff. 7-4-07)‬


‭State law reference—Control of rabies ‭‬20‬‭V.S.A. § ‭‬3801‬‭et‬‭seq.; immunization required, ‬‭20‬‭V.S.A. § 4003.‬


‭5-‬‭16‬‭17‬‭License fees.‬
‭(a) In addition to the license fee and any penalty fee required by state law, the municipal fee‬
 ‭for each license required by this article shall be‬‭twenty dollars ($20.00) for each‬
  ‭neutered/spayed dog and forty dollars ($40.00) for each non-neutered/non-spayed dog.‬
 ‭recommended by the city clerk’s office and approved by the city council, provided that the fee‬
 ‭for an intact dog or cat shall be greater than that for a neutered or spayed dog or cat. The fees‬
 ‭established under this section shall be reviewed not less than every five years.‬




 ‭29‬
 Page 85 of 221
‭(b) The municipal fees collected under this section shall be used for education and other‬
 ‭services pertinent to the improved welfare of dogs and cats who reside in the city.‬

‭(b)‬‭‬‭(c)‬‭ The‬‭owner or keeper‬‭guardian‬‭of a neutered/spayed‬‭dog that serves as the person’s‬
 ‭service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request waiver of the municipal‬
  l‭icense fee (but not the state fee) by providing to the city clerk’s office adequate responses to‬
 ‭the following questions in writing:‬

‭• Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?‬

‭• What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 6-25-01; Ord. of 6-4-07, eff. 7-4-07; Ord. of 2-16-21)‬


‭State law reference—Similar provisions, ‬‭20‬‭V.S.A.‬‭§ ‭‬3581‬‭.‬


‭5-‬‭17‬‭18‬‭Removal of dog waste required.‬
‭The‬‭owner, keeper‬‭guardian‬‭or person in control of‬‭any dog‬‭or cat‬‭shall be responsible for the‬
 ‭removal of any defecation deposited by such dog‬‭or‬‭cat‬‭on any public or private property.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97)‬


‭5-‬‭18‬‭19‬‭—5-23 Reserved.‬


‭Discussion‬
‭The title of Article II is revised to reflect the recommended addition of cats to specified‬
‭sections of the Article.‬

‭Section 5-13‬

‭Section 5-13 adds a definition of “cat” and updates the definition of “guardian” accordingly.‬

‭Section 5-14‬

‭Section 5-14 is a new section that requires dogs and cats to wear identification that‬
i‭ncludes the name and contact information for the guardian. This requirement serves to‬
‭protect companion animals, and benefits animal control efforts and public safety as well.‬




 ‭30‬
 Page 86 of 221
‭Rhode Island summarizes the benefits of such an ordinance in the preamble to a state law‬
‭that requires identification for cats.‬16 ‭Specifically, the Rhode Island legislature determined‬
‭that:‬

 ‭(1) Cat identification would provide cats protection under the law, equal to that afforded‬
 ‭dogs, by establishing ownership which, in turn, would encourage cat owners to take full‬
 ‭responsibility for their pets’ welfare.‬

 ‭(2) [Already required in Vermont] Cat identification would protect cats, as dogs are now‬
 ‭protected, by establishing minimum holding periods for cats released to and/or impounded‬
 ‭by municipal animal control facilities and private animal shelters.‬

 ‭(3) A program to require cat identification should facilitate the return of lost, owned cats.‬

 ‭(4) Cat identification would provide a method to help distinguish between owned and‬
 ‭unowned cat populations thus assisting animal control officers and animal shelters in‬
 ‭carrying out their mission.‬

 ‭(5) Cat identification would advance the reduction of the untold suffering of cats at-large in‬
 ‭our state by helping to insure the quick return of injured and sick animals to their owners.‬

 ‭(6) Passage of this bill would reduce the number of unowned cats and increase education to‬
 ‭owners as to the need for sterilization of cats, thereby reducing unwanted litters, eliminating‬
 ‭cat over-population problems, and reducing the costs to cities and towns for euthanizing‬
 ‭at-large or unowned cats.‬

 ‭(7) Cat identification would help support public health and safety in the control of rabies.‬17

‭These same public purposes are advanced when dogs are required to wear identification.‬

‭Section 5-15‬

‭Section 5-15 as currently written prohibits at-large dogs. The proposed amendment‬
i‭ncludes cats in this prohibition. The Task Force recognizes that this recommendation falls‬
‭outside the scope of its mandate but considers the amendment necessary for the welfare‬
‭of cats, the protection of wildlife, and public safety. The American Veterinary Medical‬
‭Association (“AVMA”) provides a Model Dog and Cat Control Ordinance that requires all‬
‭dogs and cats “be kept under restraint” for these very reasons.‬18 ‭A number of municipalities‬

‭16‬
 ‭R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-22-1.‬
‭17‬
 ‭Id‬‭.‬
‭18‬
 ‭American Veterinary Medical Association, “Model Dog and Cat Control Ordinance,” sec. V(a),‬
 ‭https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/resources/Model-Dog-Cat-Control-Ord-Policy.pdf‬‭;‬‭American Veterinary‬
  ‭Medical Association, “Free-roaming, owned cats,”‬
 ‭https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/free-roaming-owned-cats‬‭.‬



  ‭31‬
 Page 87 of 221
i‭n Vermont, for example South Burlington, Shelburne, and Stowe, have followed the AVMA’s‬
l‭ead and prohibit at-large cats and/or include at-large cats in the definition of “nuisance‬
‭animal,” and impose fines and/or permit their impoundment.‬19

‭The Welfare of Cats‬‭: As the AVMA and other authorities‬‭recognize, free-roaming cats are‬
l‭ikely to have a reduced life span and may be exposed to injury, suffering, and death from‬
‭vehicles, attacks from other animals, disease, cruel acts by humans, poisons, traps, and‬
‭weather extremes.‬20 ‭Burlington’s resident cats have not escaped these harms.‬21

‭The Protection of Wildlife‬‭: The American Bird Conservancy succinctly summarizes the‬
‭detrimental and deadly impact of free-roaming cats on native species of wildlife:‬

 ‭Outdoor domestic cats are a recognized threat to global biodiversity. Cats have contributed‬
 ‭to the extinction of 63 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles in the wild and continue to‬
 ‭adversely impact a wide variety of other species, including those at risk of extinction, such as‬
 ‭Piping Plover …The ecological dangers are so critical that the International Union for‬
 ‭Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists domestic cats as one of the world’s worst non-native‬
 i‭nvasive species.‬22

‭In the United States, it is estimated that outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds‬
‭every year, earning the distinction of the number-one direct, human-caused threat to birds.‬
23
 ‭Between 6.9 to 20.7 billion small mammals are killed by cats each year, and researchers‬



‭19‬
 ‭South Burlington, Vermont, “Care & Control of Dogs & Cats Ordinance,” Town Ordinance, Vol. 1, pg. 159-165, sec.‬
‭3,‬
 ‭https://cms6.revize.com/revize/southburlington/document_center/city%20regulations/Care_and_Control_of_Dogs‬
  ‭_and_Cats_Ordinance.pdf‬‭; Town of Shelburne, “An Ordinance‬‭for the Care and Control of Animals,” Town‬
 ‭Ordinance, Vol. 1, pg. 3-32, sec. 2(g) and sec. 4(a),‬
 ‭https://www.shelburnevt.org/DocumentCenter/View/103/Animal-Control-Ordinance‬‭;‬
 ‭Town of Stowe, Vermont, “Animal Control Ordinance,” Municipal Code, Chapter 2, Article III,‬
 ‭https://www.townofstowevt.org/vertical/Sites/%7B97FA91EA-60A3-4AC6-8466-F386C5AE9012%7D/uploads/Anim‬
 ‭al_Control_Ordinance_Final_2015_SIGNED.pdf‬‭.‬
 ‭20‬
 ‭E.g.‬‭AVMA, “Free-roaming, owned cats,”‬‭supra‬‭, n.‬‭1.‬
 ‭21‬
 ‭E.g‬‭., New England Cable News, “Boy Cited After Allegedly‬‭Hanging Cat From Tree in Burlington, Vermont,” Nov.‬
 ‭17, 2016,‬
 ‭https://www.necn.com/news/local/vermont/boy-cited-after-allegedly-hanging-cat-from-tree-in-burlington-vermon‬
 ‭t/41056/‬‭; Burlington Vermont Police Department Incident‬‭Reports document an instance in which a cat was injured‬
 ‭in a leghold trap and left to stagger off and suffer after their release.‬

‭22‬
 ‭American Bird Conservancy, “Indoor Cats,”‬‭https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/cats-and-birds/‬‭(also‬
‭providing links to scientific literature on the issue);‬‭see also‬‭, Wildlife Center of Virginia, “Untamed -‬‭The Case for‬
 ‭Indoor Cats.‬
  ‭https://vermont.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/case-for-indoor-cats-video/untamed-the-wildlife-center-of-virgini‬
 ‭a/‬‭(also addressing the welfare of cats, zoonotic‬‭diseases, and ways to transition free-roaming cats to the indoors).‬
 ‭23‬
 ‭Id‬‭., American Bird Conservatory.‬



  ‭32‬
 Page 88 of 221
‭believe that between 258 to 822 million reptiles and 95 to 299 million amphibians may‬
‭suffer the same fate.‬24

‭Burlington is an environmentally conscious community, and the Task Force suggests that a‬
‭prohibition on free-roaming cats is simply good environmental stewardship.‬

‭Public Safety‬‭: The scientific literature documents‬‭that free-roaming cats pose a significant‬
‭threat to public health because they can carry and transmit a number of zoonotic viruses,‬
‭bacteria, and parasites, such as rabies and toxoplasmosis.‬25 ‭Notably, according to Peter‬
‭Marra, a professor of biology and the environment at Georgetown University, “[d]ogs used‬
‭to be the primary way humans picked up rabies from domestic animals … [b]ut we started‬
l‭icensing dogs and requiring leash laws and rabies vaccines. Now, dogs are not the problem‬
‭at all—it’s primarily cats.”‬26

‭The Task Force recommends that the city prohibit free-roaming cats for the reasons stated‬
‭herein.‬

‭Section 5-16‬

‭Section 5-16 extends the requirement for a license to cats. Such requirements have been‬
‭shown to improve the welfare of cats, increase public safety, and enhance the quality of life‬
i‭n their communities, much like the identification requirements discussed above.‬
‭Municipalities across the country have implemented cat-licensing requirements, including‬
j‭urisdictions in Vermont such as South Burlington and Shelburne.‬27

‭The Task Force recommends that the city require licenses for cats for the reasons stated‬
‭herein.‬

‭Section 5-17‬

‭24‬
 ‭Smithsonian Magazine, “Feral Cats Kill Billions of Small Critters Each Year,” Jan. 29, 2013,‬
‭https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/feral-cats-kill-billions-of-small-critters-each-year-7814590/#:~:t‬
 ‭ext=Based%20upon%20data%20taken%20from,needed%20to%20verify%20those%20extrapolations‬
  ‭25‬
 ‭E.g‬‭., R. W. Gerhold and D. A. Jessup, “Zoonotic Diseases‬‭Associated with Free-Roaming Cats,” Zoonosis and Pubic‬
 ‭Health, 2012,‬
 ‭https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Gerhold-and-Jessup-2012-Zoonotic-diseases-and-free-roaming-‬
 ‭cats.pdf‬‭.‬
 ‭26‬
 ‭Kristine Liao, “Outdoor cats are deadly—and not just for birds and squirrels,” Popular Science, May 31, 2022,‬
 ‭https://www.popsci.com/environment/outdoor-cats-spread-diseases/‬‭.‬

‭27‬
 ‭South Burlington Town Ordinance,‬‭supra‬‭n. 4, sec.‬‭4(A); Town of Shelburne Ordinance,‬‭supra‬‭n. 4, sec.‬‭12(a).‬



  ‭33‬
 Page 89 of 221
‭Section 5-17 requires fees for dog and cat licenses to be reviewed no less frequently than‬
‭every five years, and for the revenue to be used for education and other services pertinent‬
‭to the improved welfare of dogs and cats who reside in the city. Anecdotal evidence‬
‭suggests that more residents will comply with the licensing requirement if the fees are used‬
‭to provide companion animal-related services.‬

‭Adequate low-cost spay/neuter options‬

‭There is consensus among those knowledgeable about companion animal overpopulation‬
‭that communities must take the important step to provide adequate safe, affordable,‬
‭voluntary spay/neuter programs that are readily accessible to the community, and that‬
‭focus on education and incentives to encourage participation by those sectors of the‬
‭community most in need of the service.‬28

‭The Humane Society of Chittenden County’s (HSCC) Community Pet Clinic provides a‬
l‭ow-cost spay and neuter service and administers a fund to assist residents who cannot‬
‭afford the service.‬29 ‭Task Force member Nina Hurley, who serves on the HSCC’s Board of‬
‭Directors, advises that the clinic is at capacity. The Task Force recommends that the City‬
‭consult with the HSCC to assess whether the City should provide support to the clinic‬
‭and/or establish an additional, independent spay/neuter program.‬




‭28‬
 ‭See, e.g.‬‭, American Society for the Prevention of‬‭Cruelty to Animals, “Position Statement on Mandatory‬
‭Spay/Neuter Laws,”‬
 ‭https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-mandatory-spayneuter‬
  ‭-laws#:~:text=ASPCA%20Position,means%20to%20reduce%20shelter%20intake‬‭.‬


‭29‬
 ‭Humane Society of Chittenden County, “Spay-Neuter at the Community Pet Clinic,”‬
‭https://www.hsccvt.org/SNClinic‬‭.‬




  ‭34‬
 Page 90 of 221
‭Proposed Amendments to Article III of Chapter 5‬
‭The Task Force’s recommended amendments are inserted and underlined, and text that‬
‭would be eliminated is indicated by strikethroughs.‬


 ‭ARTICLE III. ENFORCEMENT AND IMPOUNDMENT‬
‭5-24 Penalties.‬
‭An offense of any provision of this chapter by any person shall be deemed a civil ordinance‬
 ‭violation and shall be punishable by the following penalties:‬

 ‭(1) ‬‭First offense.‬‭A first offense of any provision‬‭of this chapter in any twelve-month‬
 ‭period shall be punishable by a fine of no less than‬‭one‬‭two‬‭hundred dollars ($‬‭1‬‭2‭‬00.00)‬
 ‭and no more than‬‭one‬‭two‬‭hundred fifty dollars ($‬‭1‭‬2‭‬50.00).‬‭The waiver fine shall be‬‭one‬
 ‭two‬‭hundred dollars ($‬‭1‬‭2‬‭00.00).‬

 ‭(2) ‬‭Second offense.‬‭A second offense of any provision‬‭of this chapter in any twelve-month‬
 ‭period shall be punishable by a fine of no less than‬‭one‬‭two‬‭hundred fifty dollars‬
 ‭($‬‭1‬‭2‬‭50.00) and no more than‬‭two‬‭three‬‭hundred fifty‬‭dollars ($‬‭2‭‬3‬‭50.00). The waiver fine‬
 ‭shall be‬‭one‬‭two‬‭hundred fifty dollars ($‬‭1‬‭2‭‬50.00).‬

 ‭(3) ‬‭Third and subsequent offenses.‬‭A third or subsequent‬‭offense of any provision of this‬
 ‭chapter in any twelve-month period shall be punishable by a fine of no less than‬‭two‬
 ‭three‬‭hundred fifty dollars ($‬‭2‭‬3‭‬50.00) and no more‬‭than‬‭five‬‭six‬‭hundred dollars‬
 ‭($‬‭5‬‭6‬‭00.00). The waiver fine shall be‬‭two‬‭three‬‭hundred‬‭fifty dollars ($‬‭2‭‬5‭‬0.00).‬

‭In addition to the penalties provided in this section‬,‭‬‭:‬

 ‭(1)‬ ‭Any person found in violation of this chapter may be subject to a restorative justice‬
 ‭process with the Burlington Community Justice Center at the discretion of the animal‬
 ‭control committee.‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭a‬‭Any‬‭animal found in violation of this chapter may‬‭be impounded as provided in‬
 ‭section ‭‬5-25‬‭of this chapter.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 6-4-07, eff. 7-4-07)‬


‭5-25 Impoundment.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Authority to impound.‬‭‬‭Dogs‬‭Any animal‬‭in violation‬‭of any provision of this chapter‬‭or‬
 ‭suspected of being diseased or injured‬‭may be taken‬‭by the enforcement officer and‬
  i‭mpounded in the city‬‭pound‬‭animal shelter‬‭and there‬‭confined in a humane manner‬,‭ except‬
 ‭that any animal suspected of being a stray shall be impounded‬‭.‬‭The enforcement officer may, in‬
 l‭ieu of boarding and when in the public interest and consistent with the public safety, allow an‬
 i‭mpounded dog to remain confined in the custody of its owner on the owner’s recognizance‬
 ‭that the dog shall remain confined to the owner’s property, follow the terms of impoundment‬
 ‭set by the enforcement officer and shall not be in violation of any provision of this chapter.‬



‭35‬
 Page 91 of 221
‭Confinement in lieu of boarding shall continue until such time as the violation or condition‬
 ‭authorizing impoundment has been abated‬‭.‬

‭(b) ‬‭Impoundment fees.‬‭Any‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭impounded‬‭under the provisions of this chapter shall‬
 ‭be released only on payment of a‬‭seventy-five‬‭one‬‭hundred‬‭dollar‬‭s‬‭($‬‭75‬‭100‬‭.00) impoundment‬
  ‭fee.‬

‭(c) ‬‭Boarding fee.‬‭In addition to the impoundment‬‭fee charged herein there shall be an‬
 ‭additional charge of‬‭ten dollars ($10.00)‬‭actual expenses‬‭per day‬‭for board for‬‭each day‬‭the‬
  ‭period that the‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭is impounded‬,‭‬‭.‬‭except that‬‭if an animal is claimed up to three (3)‬
 ‭hours after impoundment, the owner will be responsible for one-half (1/2) day’s boarding fee. If‬
 ‭an animal is claimed within two (2) hours of opening business hours on the following business‬
 ‭day, the owner will not be charged for that day’s boarding fee.‬

‭(d) ‬‭City clerk to collect fees before releasing‬‭dog‬‭animal‬.‭‭‬It shall be the duty of the city clerk‬‭to‬
 ‭collect all‬‭im‬‭pound and board‬i‭ng‬‭fees before releasing‬‭a‬‭n‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭.‬

‭(e) ‬‭Unlicensed dogs‬‭and cats‬‭to be licensed before‬‭release.‬‭If an impounded dog‬‭or cat‬‭is‬
 ‭unlicensed, in addition to the impound‬i‭ng‬‭ment‬‭and‬‭boarding fees set forth herein, the dog‬‭or‬
  ‭cat‬‭shall not be released without the payment of the‬‭license fee required by section ‬‭5-17‬,‭‬
 ‭except that if the impounded dog‬‭or cat‬‭has not had‬‭its proper vaccinations to be registered a‬
 ‭forty-five‬‭one hundred‬‭dollar ($‬‭45‬‭100‬‭.00) cash deposit‬‭shall be posted with the city clerk or‬‭his‬
 ‭or her‬‭their‬‭designated agent(s) until proof of registration‬‭is presented. A dog‬‭or cat‬‭released‬
 ‭under cash deposit shall be registered within two (2) working days after‬‭its‬‭release. If the dog‬‭or‬
 ‭cat‬‭is not registered within the time period set forth‬‭herein, the cash deposit shall be forfeited‬
 ‭and the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭of the animal shall be subject‬‭to additional penalties under the‬
 ‭provisions of ‭‬20‬‭V.S.A. Chapter ‬‭193‬

‭(f) ‬‭Disposition of unredeemed‬‭dogs‬‭animals‬.‭‭‬If‬‭any impounded‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭with a current and‬
 ‭effective license established by proof of a dog license tag,‬‭is not redeemed within (7) days of‬‭its‬
  i‭mpoundment,‬‭it‬‭the animal‬‭shall be‬‭sold or given‬‭away‬‭offered for adoption at the city animal‬
 ‭shelter or transferred to a cooperating animal shelter as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 3901‬‭.‬‭If any‬
 i‭mpounded dog without a current and effective license established by proof of a dog license‬
 ‭tag, is not redeemed within (5) days of its impoundment, it shall be sold or given away. Any‬
 ‭proceeds from the sale of any impounded dog shall first be allocated to taxes, fees and other‬
 ‭charges related to the impoundment. Any balance then remaining shall be paid to the owner if‬
 ‭any is found. If proceeds from the sale of the unredeemed dog do not cover the costs‬
 ‭associated with the impoundment, the balance of sums owed under this chapter may be‬
 ‭collected in a civil action brought under this section.‬‭If any unredeemed‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭is not‬‭sold‬
 ‭or given away‬‭adopted‬‭because of disease, temperament‬‭or other cause, it shall be‬‭destroyed‬
 i‭n a humane way‬‭euthanized‬‭. The impoundment period‬‭may be waived by the‬‭poundkeeper‬
 ‭director of the animal shelter‬‭in‬‭the‬‭case of a severely‬‭injured animal whose‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬
 ‭cannot be located or is unwilling to claim the animal.‬

‭(g) ‬‭Interference with impoundment.‬‭Any person who‬‭interferes with the impounding of a‬‭n‬‭dog‬
 ‭animal‬‭under provisions of this article or releases,‬‭or who attempts to release‬,‭‬‭an impounded‬
  ‭dog‬ ‭animal‬‭contrary to this article shall be in violation‬‭of this chapter.‬




‭36‬
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‭(h) ‬‭Notice of impoundment.‬‭Within twenty-four (24) hours of the impoundment of any‬‭dog‬
 ‭animal‬‭under this chapter, the enforcement officer shall make every reasonable attempt to‬
  ‭notify the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭of the impounded‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭of such impoundment. Such notice‬
 ‭shall include either personal contact with the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭or a written notice posted at the‬
 ‭dwelling house of the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 6-4-07, eff. 7-4-07)‬


‭State law reference—Notice by impounder, ‬‭20‬‭V.S.A.‬‭§ ‬‭3413‬‭.‬

‭5-26 Cruelty.‬
‭Any person who shall torture, torment or cruelly neglect to provide with necessary sustenance‬
 ‭or shelter, or shall cruelly beat or needlessly mutilate or illegally kill any animal, or any person‬
  ‭who shall cause any animal to be tortured, tormented, or fight with other animals, or deprived‬
 ‭of necessary sustenance or to be cruelly beaten or needlessly mutilated or illegally killed shall‬
 ‭be guilty of a misdemeanor offense and shall be punishable by a fine of from‬‭one‬‭three‬
 ‭hundred dollars ($‬‭1‭‬3‬‭00.00) to‬‭five‬‭six‬‭hundred dollars‬‭($‬‭5‭‬600‬‭.00).‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97)‬


‭5-27 Animal control committee.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Animal control committee established.‬‭For purposes‬‭of this section, an animal control‬
 ‭committee is established. The animal control committee will be a subcommittee of the‬
  ‭Burlington Police Commission and shall consist of three (3) commission members‬,‭ one (1)‬
 l‭icensed veterinarian, and (1) certified animal behavior professional‬‭to be appointed on an as‬
 ‭needed basis by the chair of the Burlington Police Commission. The designated animal control‬
 ‭officer shall be the prosecuting officer for any violation brought before the committee.‬

‭(b) ‬‭Vicious‬‭Dangerous‬‭dogs.‬‭Upon written complaint‬‭by a city resident that a dog is alleged to‬
 ‭be‬‭vicious‬‭dangerous‬‭as defined in section ‭‬5-13‬‭(e)‬,‭‬‭the animal control committee may hold a‬
  ‭hearing on the facts of the complaint and, if the dog is found to be‬‭vicious‬‭dangerous‬,‭ make‬
 ‭such order as necessary to protect the public. Such order may include, but is not limited to, any‬
 ‭of the following: confinement in a secure enclosure or other similar restriction, muzzling‬
 ‭adoption, or‬‭destruction in a humane manner‬‭euthanasia‬‭.‬‭In addition, the animal control‬
 ‭committee may revoke the privilege of any‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭to keep, harbor or have custody of‬
 ‭any animals while in the city and that no new privileges be granted.‬

‭(c) ‬‭Repeated impoundment.‬‭In the event that any‬‭dog shall be impounded three (3) or more‬
 ‭times in a twelve-month period, the animal control committee may, at the request of an‬
  ‭enforcement officer, or in their discretion, hold a hearing after which they may make such‬
 ‭order as is necessary to protect the public. Such order may include, but is not limited to, any of‬
 ‭the following: confinement in a secure enclosure or other similar restriction, muzzling adoption,‬
 ‭or‬‭destruction in a humane manner‬‭euthanasia‬‭. In addition,‬‭the animal control committee may‬
 ‭revoke the privilege of any‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭to keep,‬‭harbor or have custody of any animals‬
 ‭while in the city and that no new privileges be granted.‬




 ‭37‬
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‭(d) ‬‭Penalty for violation of orders.‬‭Any person who violates any provision of any order of the‬
 ‭animal control committee shall be guilty of a misdemeanor offense and shall be punishable by‬
  ‭a fine of from‬‭one‬‭three‬‭hundred dollars ($‬‭1‭‬300‬‭.00)‬‭to‬‭five‬‭six‬‭hundred dollars ($‬‭5‭‬6‬‭00.00).‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 8-14-00)‬


‭5-28 Confinement of animals in vehicles.‬
‭(a) A person shall not leave an animal unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in a‬
 ‭manner that would endanger the health or safety of the animal.‬

‭(b) Any‬‭humane‬‭animal control‬‭officer, law enforcement‬‭officer, or member of a fire and‬
 ‭rescue service may use reasonable force to remove any such animal from a motor vehicle. The‬
  ‭officer may not be subject to criminal or civil liability for any damage resulting from actions‬
 ‭taken under subsection (a) of this section.‬‭If the‬‭aforementioned officers are unavailable, a‬
 ‭person who forcibly enters a motor vehicle for actions taken under subsection (a) of this section‬
 ‭shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability for damage resulting from the forcible entry if the‬
 ‭person: (1) determines the motor vehicle is locked or there is otherwise no reasonable method‬
 ‭for the animal to exit the vehicle; (2) reasonably and in good faith believes that forcible entry‬
 i‭nto the motor vehicle is necessary because the animal is in imminent danger of harm; (3)‬
 ‭notifies a humane officer, law enforcement officer, or member of a fire and rescue service prior‬
 ‭to forcibly entering the vehicle; (4) remains with the animal in a safe location reasonably close‬
 ‭to the motor vehicle until a humane officer, law enforcement officer, or member of a fire and‬
 ‭rescue service arrives; (5) places a notice on the vehicle that the authorities have been notified‬
 ‭and specifying the location of the animal; and (6) uses no more force to enter the vehicle and‬
 ‭remove the animal than necessary under the circumstances.‬‭The‬‭An‬‭officer shall deliver the‬
 ‭animal to a humane society, veterinarian or‬‭the city‬‭town or municipal pound‬‭animal shelter‬‭. If‬
 ‭the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭of the animal cannot be found,‬‭the officer shall place a written notice in the‬
 ‭vehicle, bearing the name of the officer and the‬‭department‬‭and‬‭address where the animal may‬
 ‭be claimed. The‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭shall be liable for‬‭reasonable expenses associated with the‬
 ‭removal, delivery, boarding and disposition of the animal and a lien may be placed on the‬
 ‭animal for these expenses.‬‭(c) A violation of this‬‭section shall be a civil violation subject to the‬
 ‭penalties imposed by Section ‬‭5-24‬‭.‬


‭5-29 Abandonment of injured animal‬
‭(a) A person shall not leave the scene of an accident in which such person has reason to‬
 ‭believe that they have caused the injury or death of a domestic animal. Such person shall‬
  i‭mmediately contact an enforcement officer, and make a reasonable effort to immediately‬
 ‭contact the guardian of the animal. If the animal is injured wildlife, the person shall contact a‬
 ‭humane officer or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.‬

‭(b) A violation of this section shall be a civil violation subject to the penalties imposed by‬
 ‭Section 5-24.‬

‭Discussion‬

‭Section 5-24‬



‭38‬
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‭Section 5-24 increases penalties for civil violations of the Chapter 5 and adds restorative‬
j‭ustice measures as permissible additional penalties.‬

‭Section 5-25‬

‭Section 5-25(a) extends the authority to impound to any animal in violation of the chapter‬
‭or suspected of being diseased or injured, and requires impoundment of any animal‬
‭suspected of being a stray.‬

‭Section 5-25(b) increases the impoundment fee.‬

‭Section 5-25(c) replaces the specified boarding fee with the requirement that the fee reflect‬
‭actual expenses.‬

‭Section 5-25(d) extends the city clerk’s authority to collect impoundment and boarding fees‬
‭regardless of the species involved.‬

‭Section 5-25(e) requires unlicensed cats, as well as dogs, to be licensed before release.‬

‭Section 5-25(f) removes the authority to sell or give away unredeemed animals and‬
‭replaces it with the authority to offer these animals for adoption through a shelter.‬

‭Sections 5-25(g) and (h) extend the prohibition on interference with impoundment and the‬
‭requirement for notice of impoundment to all animals regardless of species.‬

‭Section 5-26‬

‭Section 5-26 increases the fines for cruelty to animals.‬

‭Section 5-27‬

‭Section 5-27(a) adds a licensed veterinarian and a certified animal behavior professional to‬
‭the animal control committee to be appointed to serve on an as-needed basis. This will‬
‭ensure that the committee has access to the expertise needed to properly resolve the‬
‭cases that come before it, such as dangerous dog hearings.‬

‭Section 5-27(d) increases the penalty for violations of an order of the animal control‬
‭committee.‬




‭39‬
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‭Section 5-28‬

‭Section 5-28 authorizes any person to use reasonable force to remove an animal from a‬
‭vehicle when the health and safety of the animal is at risk, but only when a humane officer,‬
l‭aw enforcement officer, or member of a fire and rescue service is unavailable. The Task‬
‭Force views this amendment as necessary to address situations in which the animal may be‬
i‭n distress and officials are not immediately available. The language of the amendment‬
‭tracks the language of the similar state law.‬

‭Section 5-29‬

‭Section 5-29 is a new section that requires a person who has injured or caused the death of‬
‭an animal to remain at the scene and to contact an enforcement officer. It further requires‬
‭such person to make a reasonable effort to contact the animal’s guardian should it appear‬
‭that the animal has a guardian, and to contact a humane officer or wildlife rehabilitator if‬
‭the animal is injured wildlife.‬




‭40‬
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‭Proposed Amendments to Section 22-13 of Chapter 22‬
‭The Task Force’s recommended amendments are inserted and underlined, and text that‬
‭would be eliminated is indicated by strikethroughs.‬




‭Chapter 22 - Sec. 22-13. - Animals prohibited; exception‬
‭No domestic animals, except dogs‬‭and cat‬‭s,‭‬ shall be‬‭permitted in any park.‬‭Dogs shall be‬
 l‭eashed or controlled by other similar means of physical restraint at all times, except in‬
  ‭off-leash areas designated in the Off-Leash Dog Policy. Cats shall be leashed or confined in a‬
 ‭carrier at all times.‬




‭Discussion‬

‭Section 22-13‬

‭If Chapter 5, Article II, section 5-15 is amended to prohibit at-large cats, as recommended,‬
‭section 22-13 would provide an alternative means for guardians to provide an outdoor‬
‭experience for the cats under their care.‬




‭41‬
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‭Appendix D: Detailed Licensing Information‬

‭Licensing Program:‬ ‭The Task Force performed a detailed‬‭review of licensing data and trends‬
‭and found that licensing rates in Burlington are low compared to neighboring cities with‬
‭smaller populations. In 2022, for example, Shelburne was estimated to have a population‬
‭of 7871, with 763 licensed dogs (9.68%) in FY2022. Burlington, by comparison, was‬
‭estimated to have a population of 44,595 and 912 licensed dogs (2.04%) — a difference of‬
‭7.64%.‬

‭The Task Force also compared licensing trends over time in Burlington. In 2012, Burlington‬
‭had 1255 dogs licensed, while in 2022 it was only 826 despite the fact that the population in‬
‭Burlington has increased over that time, from 42671 to 44595‬30‭.‬

‭The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) tracks dog guardianship trends‬31 ‭and‬
‭estimates that 45% of US households have at least 1 dog, and the percentage owning at‬
l‭east one dog increased from 38% to 45% between 2016 and 2020 (and leveled off by 2022).‬
‭Home ownership and household income impact the rate of dog guardianship and dog‬
‭populations are essentially being influenced by the overall economy. With 17,174‬
‭households in Burlington between 2017-2021‬32,‭ the number of dogs in Burlington may be‬
‭estimated at 7728 using the national rate of 45%. This is likely to be a conservative‬
‭estimate, as many Burlington homes have more than one dog.‬

‭The AVMA also indicates that cat guardianship is on the rise as well: “The percentage of‬
‭households that own at least one cat increased slightly between 2016 and 2020, from 25%‬
‭to 26%, and then increased to 29% in 2022.” Based on this, we estimate that there may be‬
‭at least 4980 companion cats in Burlington (not including feral cat colonies).‬

‭If all estimated cats and dogs in Burlington were licensed, the revenues at current licensing‬
‭fee of $27 per dog would be $276,996.51 per fiscal year. Assuming 100% is unattainable, we‬
l‭ooked at how much could be raised if we made an effort to increase licensing numbers‬
‭similar to area communities such as South Burlington.‬




‭30‬
 ‭2012 and 2022 population estimates for the City of‬‭Burlington, VT came from census.gov‬
‭31‬
 ‭https://www.avma.org/news/pet-ownership-rate-stabilizes-spending-increases‬
‭32‬
 ‭https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/burlingtoncityvermont/HSD410221#HSD410221‬



  ‭42‬
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‭Table 2. Comparison of FY2022 Actual Licensing Revenues in Burlington to Projected increased revenues‬
‭from increasing licensing numbers, based on the estimated numbers of dogs and cats in Burlington‬‭.‬

 ‭Projected revenues from‬ ‭Projected revenues‬ ‭FY 2022 Revenues‬ ‭Projected Revenue‬
 ‭successfully licensing‬  ‭from licensing 35%‬ ‭from Dog Licenses‬ i‭ncrease‬
 ‭100% dogs and cats‬ ‭dogs 15% cats‬ ‭(11.8% dogs and‬ ‭(“realistic”)‬
 ‭(“realistic”)*‬ ‭0% cats)‬

 ‭Dogs (7728)‬ ‭$ 208,664.10‬ ‭$ 74,180.09‬ ‭$ 24,624.00‬ ‭$ 49,556.09‬

 ‭Cats (3927)‬ ‭$ 68,332.41‬ ‭$ 20,614.62‬ ‭$ 0.00‬ ‭$ 20,614.6‬

 ‭Total $‬ ‭$ 276,996.51‬ ‭$ 94,794.71‬ ‭$ 24,624.00‬ ‭$ 70,170.71‬

‭*South Burlington has an estimated 35% licensing rate for dogs and 15% licensing rate for cats‬

‭Below is more detailed information on licensing trends in neighboring cities from FY2018 –‬
‭FY2022, showing how Burlington’s numbers have decreased compared to those of‬
‭neighboring cities. We also show licensing numbers in comparison to population estimates‬
‭and estimated numbers of dogs and cats, as well as detailed information on neighboring‬
‭communities’ efforts to increase education/outreach concerning dog and cat licensing.‬




‭Fig. 2 Burlington’s licensing numbers have fallen while its population has increased.‬




 ‭43‬
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‭Fig. 3 Comparison of Licensing Numbers to Town Size. In FY 2022 Burlington had the lowest proportion of‬
‭licenses (912) to its population (44,595), compared to neighboring towns. Shelburne had the highest (9.69%),‬
‭followed by South Burlington (6.83%) and Colchester (5.48%).‬




 ‭44‬
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‭Appendix E: Compliance, Reporting, and Enforcement Challenges‬

‭The Task Force recommends the City appoint a dedicated, certified animal control officer,‬
‭or officers, within the Burlington Police Department (“BPD”). Burlington has not had an‬
‭Animal Control Officer since 2008‬33‭. Currently, limited animal control functions are‬
‭performed by the community service officers (CSOs) at the BPD. CSOs are not required to‬
‭have experience or training specific to animal control functions, such as animal handling,‬
‭care, and welfare.‬34 ‭They are not tasked with handling cat-related incidents (except for‬
‭removing deceased cats and checking for rabies vectors), and are not adequately able to‬
‭address the increasing number of dog incidents. For example, residents who are bitten by‬
‭an unfamiliar dog bear the burden of identifying the guardian of that dog in order to get‬
‭any action from the police, even if that person fled the scene. Without investigative‬
‭resources and training, CSOs are not positioned to be a resource to help those residents.‬

‭Another issue the Task Force found was in both a lack of accessibility to effective reporting,‬
‭and an understanding of how and what to report:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Inaccessibility of reporting.‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Phone limitation for in-progress incidents.‬‭Reports‬‭are typically called into the‬
 ‭Police Department. If any other means of reporting is used (contacting CSO‬
 ‭email address (‬‭cso@bpdvt.org‬‭), See Click Fix, Burlington‬‭Police website’s‬
 ‭online incident report form), the CSOs might not see these as quickly as they‬
 ‭would if they are managed by Dispatch responding to a phone call. Thus‬
 ‭reporting an emergent animal issue or incident is inaccessible to anyone who‬
 ‭cannot use a phone (hearing impaired, Deaf, doesn’t have a phone, etc).‬
 ‭○‬ ‭No clear category for animal-related incidents exists on the BPD website‬
 ‭○‬ ‭No clear category for animal-related incidents exists on See Click Fix, which is‬
 ‭commonly used by residents to enable other city departments to quickly‬
 ‭resolve issues.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Reports not made by residents because‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Fear of getting neighbors in trouble‬


‭33‬
 ‭Source:‬‭Shannon Trammell, executive manager, Burlington‬‭Police Dept‬
‭34‬
 ‭See‬‭City of Burlington, Community Service Officer‬‭Job Description,‬
‭https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/burlingtonvt/jobs/3045625/community-service-officer‬‭..‬



  ‭45‬
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 ‭○‬ ‭Distrust that the police can help or can be a resource to help‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Lack of awareness of where to complain‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Knowledge that currently BPD is not fully empowered to address these‬
 ‭problems to residents’ satisfaction (for example, incidents involving‬
 ‭free-roaming cats are not currently addressed by BPD).‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Hindrances to enforcement responsiveness.‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Other (higher) priorities.‬‭Other issues are prioritized‬‭for CSOs (e.g., car‬
 ‭accidents), so even if the report is called in to be dispatched, they are still not‬
 ‭always able to respond quickly. 62 reports were reported resolved with the‬
 ‭response “gone on arrival”‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Not enough information.‬‭Residents who do report issues‬‭don’t always provide‬
 ‭enough information or details for CSOs to be able to follow through and‬
 ‭resolve the problem.‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Lack of investigative resources.‬‭Residents who are‬‭bitten by an unfamiliar dog‬
 ‭or cat bear the burden of identifying the guardian of that dog in order to get‬
 ‭any action from the police, even if that person, cat or dog fled the scene. The‬
 ‭Task Force learned from its BPD representative that BPD is not empowered‬
 ‭to take the time and resources to find the guardian if the name and address‬
 ‭are not known to the victim.‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Legal limitations.‬‭Some problems or incidents that‬‭are reported by residents‬
 ‭cannot be addressed by CSOs because the issue being reported (e.g., a‬
 ‭welfare issue) may not actually comprise an ordinance violation, or because‬
 ‭the individual responsible doesn’t answer the door to respond to the CSO.‬

‭The Task Force recommends that the city retain an officer, or officers, whose sole duty is to‬
‭respond to animal-related issues so that the city’s animals and citizens are better served.‬
‭The Task Force recommends that City animal control officers obtain certification in animal‬
‭control and be required to participate in continuing education courses, through a national‬
‭professional training program. In looking at available literature, Burlington is now of the‬
‭size that it merits a full time animal control officer. The Task Force notes that some‬
‭residents do not contact the Burlington Police Department as they may not be aware this is‬
‭where complaints go, free-roaming cats are not addressed, and that people may not be‬




‭46‬
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‭comfortable with calling the police with concerns about their neighbors or may be reluctant‬
‭to report incidents. Please see additional‬‭discussion‬‭under the ordinance for Section 5-2a‬

‭In addition to the recommendation of a full-time animal control officer or officers, at times‬
‭the City is not in compliance with the requirement to house stray companion animals due‬
‭to space issues. Currently companion animals except birds, reptiles, and dogs are taken to‬
‭the Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSCC). It is unclear if the City’s current‬
‭contractor for dogs, Lucky Puppies, will provide services in the future or have enough space‬
i‭n the future for the City’s stray dogs. Because the HSCC and Lucky Puppies take in‬
‭companion animals from other cities as well, space is an issue. The Task Force‬
‭recommends that an animal shelter be within Burlington or close so that the shelter may‬
‭be easily monitored and inspected by the Animal Control Officer.‬

‭The Task Force also recommends that the animal shelter follows the standards of care‬35 ‭set‬
‭forth by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. These standards include provisions of‬
‭adequate shelter, population management, standards for animal handling, sanitation,‬
‭prevention of pathogen spread, and attention to medical and behavioral health. Given that‬
‭the City would be responsible for animals in its care, if the City does not have its own‬
‭shelter it should still ensure that contracted providers follow these guidelines.‬




‭35‬
 ‭The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines‬‭for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters - Second Edition -‬
‭December 2022‬‭: https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/issue/view/2‬



  ‭47‬
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‭Appendix F: Proposed Off-Leash Dog Ordinance and Off-Leash Dog Policy‬
‭Proposed Addition of Section 7 to City Ordinance Appendix D‬
‭In 2000 the City established a pilot program pertaining to off-leash dog areas that expired‬
i‭n 2003 with no apparent further action by the City.‬36 ‭The Task Force recommends that a‬
‭new Section 7 of Appendix D be enacted to reflect current practices:‬



 ‭Appendix D‬

‭Sec. 7. - Off-leash dog opportunities‬
 ‭(A)‬ ‭Off-Leash Dog Policy.‬ ‭The Parks, Recreation and Waterfront‬‭Department (PRW) shall‬
 ‭maintain an Off-Leash Dog Policy (OLDP) as approved by the Parks Commission. The‬
 ‭policy may be modified by PRW with the approval of the Parks Commission. The OLDP‬
 ‭shall govern the establishment of off-leash dog opportunities, except that permanent‬
 ‭fenced dog parks shall be established by ordinance. The OLDP shall govern operations‬
 ‭of off-leash dog opportunities and share enforcement authority with the animal control‬
 ‭officer(s) as enumerated in this section.‬
 ‭(B)‬ ‭Designation of Areas.‬ ‭Areas shall be designated for‬‭the purpose of allowing dogs to be‬
 ‭under control of the guardian or guardian’s agent by means other than physical‬
 ‭restraint. Opportunities shall include: fenced dog parks, water access, and field use on‬
 ‭an hourly, seasonal, or year-round basis within reasonable walking distance of‬
 ‭neighborhoods. Opportunities, where possible, shall be dispersed across the city. .‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭Permanent off-leash fenced dog parks shall be located at:‬
 ‭(a)‬ ‭Oakledge Park‬
 ‭(b)‬ ‭Starr Farm Dog Park‬
 ‭(c)‬ ‭Urban Reserve‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭Off-leash dogs are prohibited at the following parks. Dogs in these parks must be‬
 l‭eashed at all times:‬
 ‭(a)‬ ‭Appletree Park‬
 ‭(b)‬ ‭Arms Park‬
 ‭(c)‬ ‭Baird Park‬
 ‭(d)‬ ‭Battery Park‬
 ‭(e)‬ ‭Bike path‬
 ‭(f)‬ ‭Champlain Street Park‬
 ‭(g)‬ ‭City Hall Park‬
 ‭(h)‬ ‭Dewey Park‬
 ‭(i)‬ ‭Ethan Allen Park‬

‭36‬
 ‭City of Burlington, Vermont, Ord. of 9-23-02‬
‭https://www.codepublishing.com/VT/Burlington/#!/BurlingtonAxD/BurlingtonAxD.html‬‭(Pilot program. The rules of‬
 ‭this section shall be in full force and effect for eighteen (18) months. The director of parks and recreation shall‬
  ‭review the impacts of the designated off-leash areas and shall make a report to the city council after twelve (12)‬
 ‭months of operation. Unless directed otherwise by the city council, these rules shall expire upon the end of the‬
 ‭18th month in which the rules were in effect.)‬



  ‭48‬
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 ‭(j)‬ ‭Kieslich Park except for the portion known as “Texaco Beach”‬
 ‭(k)‬ ‭Lakeside Park‬
 ‭(l)‬ ‭Little Park‬
 ‭(m)‬‭MacKenzie Park‬
 ‭(n)‬ ‭North Beach‬
 ‭(o)‬ ‭Pomeroy Park‬
 ‭(p)‬ ‭Potvin Park‬
 ‭(q)‬ ‭Roosevelt Park‬
 ‭(r)‬ ‭Schifilliti Park‬
 ‭(s)‬ ‭Starr Farm Park except for the portion known as “Starr Farm Dog Park”‬
 ‭(t)‬ ‭Water Works Park‬
 ‭(u)‬ ‭Waterfront Park‬
 ‭(C)‬ ‭Public Information.‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭PRW shall provide information about off-leash dog opportunities to include‬
 ‭maps, hours, and references to rules & policies with onsite signage and through‬
 i‭ts website.‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭PRW shall annually‬‭conduct a targeted campaign to‬‭educate the community about‬
 ‭the City ordinances that pertain to off-leash dogs in general, and the the off-leash‬
 ‭dog opportunities and associated rules and policies.‬‭.‬
 ‭(3)‬ ‭Funds to implement Section C shall be made available to PRW from the fees‬
 ‭collected pursuant to Article II Section 5-17.‬
 ‭(D)‬ ‭General Rules for All Areas Designated as Off-Leash Dog Areas.‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭A person taking a dog into an off-leash area shall have the dog held on leash‬
 ‭when entering and exiting the off-leash area.‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭A person taking a dog into an off-leash area shall maintain voice, hand, or leash‬
 ‭control over the dog at all times while the dog is in the off-leash area. Such‬
 ‭person shall have in their possession a leash at all times.‬
 ‭(3)‬ ‭A person taking a dog into an off-leash area is responsible for all actions of the‬
 ‭dog, shall keep the dog within their vision at all times, and shall remove the dog‬
 ‭when their behavior‬‭is in violation of the City of‬‭Burlington Code of Ordinances,‬
 i‭ncluding but not limited to Appendix D Secion 7, or the PRW OLDP.‬
 ‭(4)‬ ‭The following are prohibited in off-leash dog areas:‬
 ‭(a)‬ ‭Glass containers.‬
 ‭(b)‬ ‭Female dogs in heat.‬
 ‭(c)‬ ‭Excessive barking, howling, or other noise.‬
 ‭(d)‬ ‭Bullying of other dogs.‬
 ‭(e)‬ ‭Failure to remove feces; All feces shall be removed from the off-leash‬
 ‭area and placed in the appropriate receptacle.‬
 ‭(f)‬ ‭Unlicensed dogs; All dogs shall be licensed and display valid license tags.‬
 ‭(g)‬ ‭Dangerous dogs as defined by Burlington Code of Ordinances, Article II,‬
 ‭Section 5-13.‬
 ‭(h)‬ ‭More than 3 dogs per person.‬
 ‭(i)‬ ‭Children under 12 years of age unaccompanied by an adult.‬

 ‭(E)‬ ‭Enforcement.‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭In addition to the penalties provided for by ordinance, a person or dog that‬
 ‭violates the rules of this section is subject to ejection from the off-leash area as‬
 ‭defined in the OLDP.‬




‭49‬
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 ‭(2)‬ ‭In addition to the penalties provided for by ordinance, a duly authorized‬
 ‭enforcement officer may impound a dog for a violation of the rules of this‬
 ‭section or for activities determined to be a nuisance.‬
 ‭(3)‬ ‭In addition to the penalties provided for by ordinance, all violations of Appendix‬
 ‭D and the OLDP include a restorative justice process with the Burlington‬
 ‭Community Justice Center.‬
 ‭(F)‬ ‭Administration.‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭Commercial Use of Parks. The PRW may issue a permit and charge a fee to allow‬
 ‭for commercial use of off-leash dog areas by professional trainers, and for-profit‬
 ‭and not-for-profit animal organizations. Portions of the off-leash dog areas shall‬
 ‭remain available for unencumbered use by the public as off-leash areas during‬
 ‭these events. Fees collected by PRW for commercial use shall be used for the‬
 ‭establishment, operations, or improvements of designated off-leash dog areas.‬
 ‭Commercial use of off-leash dog areas without a permit shall result in a fine as‬
 ‭set for in Chapter 22 section 23 of the Burlington Code of Ordinances.‬
 ‭Commercial use of off-leash dog areas may be further defined or modified by‬
 ‭the OLDP.‬

‭Proposed Off-Leash Dog Policy (OLDP)‬

‭The following text has been drafted by the Dog Task Force as a proposed Off-Leash Dog‬
‭Policy to be reviewed by the Parks Commission, and once an official OLDP is established, to‬
‭be revised by the Parks Commission as needed.‬


 ‭OFF-LEASH DOG POLICY‬
‭Purpose:‬

‭This policy incorporates by reference all rules set forth in Appendix D of the‬‭Burlington Code of‬
 ‭Ordinances‬‭.‬

‭Areas of Policy:‬

 ‭1)‬ ‭Designation of Areas and Times of Operations‬
 ‭2)‬ ‭Additional Rules for Use of Off-Leash Fenced Dog Areas‬
 ‭3)‬ ‭Rules for Commercial Use of Off-Leash Dog Areas‬
 ‭4)‬ ‭Signage‬
 ‭5)‬ ‭Public Outreach & Enforcement‬
 ‭6)‬ ‭Operations‬

 ‭1)‬ ‭Designation of Areas and Times of Operations.‬‭‬
 ‭The following areas are off-leash areas, as designated herein or on site:‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭Fenced Dog Parks‬
 i‭)‬ ‭Starr Farm Park (year-round).‬‭‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area may be used year-round‬‭from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.‬
 ‭or sunset, whichever is earlier.‬
 i‭i)‬ ‭Urban Reserve (year-round).‬‭‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭at any time.‬




‭50‬
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 i‭ii)‬ ‭Oakledge‬‭Park (year-round)‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭during the hours the parking‬
 l‭ot is open for vehicle parking.‬

 ‭b)‬ ‭Off-Leash areas (not fenced)‬

 i‭)‬ ‭North End of Leddy Beach (year-round).‬‭The area north‬‭of the northernmost‬
 ‭entrance to Leddy Beach‬
 ‭Times.‬ ‭The designated area is open for off-leash‬‭use at any time.‬
 i‭i)‬ ‭Oakledge Cove (year-round).‬ ‭The area of Oakledge‬‭Park known as Oakledge Cove‬
 ‭Times.‬ ‭The designated area is open for off-leash‬‭use at any time‬
 i‭ii)‬ ‭Northshore Natural Area (year-round)‬‭.‬
 ‭Times. The designated is open for off-leash use at any time‬
 i‭v)‬ ‭Blanchard Beach (seasonal)‬‭. The area of Oakledge Park‬‭known as Blanchard‬
 ‭Beach‬
 ‭Times‬‭. The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭at any time between‬
 ‭November - March‬
 ‭v)‬ ‭Texaco Beach (year-round)‬‭. The beach area of Kieslich‬‭Park known as “Texaco”‬
 ‭Beach.‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭at any time‬
 ‭vi)‬ ‭Lower Calahan Park (year-round).‬ ‭The area of Calahan‬‭Park that is bounded on‬
 ‭the east by the sledding hill, north by Locust Street, west by Pine Street, and‬
 ‭south by the park/neighborhood boundary excluding programmed areas such as‬
 ‭baseball fields, roads/walks, etc.‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.‬
 ‭vii)‬ ‭Open Area of Schmanska Park (year-round).‬‭The multipurpose‬‭field of Schmanska‬
 ‭Park extending from the basketball court to the tennis court.‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.‬
 ‭viii)‬ ‭Open Area of Smalley Park (year-round)‬‭. The multipurpose‬‭field excluding the‬
 ‭programmed softball field.‬
 ‭Times‬‭. The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.‬
 i‭x)‬ ‭Gravel Path of the Urban Reserve‬‭The area of the Urban‬‭Reserve that is the‬
 ‭maintenance access running parallel to the train tracks between the designated‬
 ‭off-leash area signs on the northern and southern ends.‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬ ‭at any time.‬

 ‭2)‬ ‭Community Expectations for Use of Off-Leash Fenced Areas‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭In addition to the rules set forth in Appendix D, please observe the following‬
 ‭guidelines:‬
 ‭(a)‬ ‭Do not allow dogs to dig holes, except in an area designated for digging‬
 ‭by the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department (PRW). The person‬
 ‭accompanying the dog shall fill in any hole created by the dog prior to‬
 ‭exiting the area.‬
 ‭(b)‬ ‭Do not consume human food.‬
 ‭(c)‬ ‭Do not feed other people’s dogs.‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭All gates to the dog park must be closed after entering and exiting.‬
 ‭(3)‬ ‭The priority use for off-leash dog parks is off-leash dogs. Please ensure that‬
 ‭children do not interfere with the activities of dogs in the park.‬




‭51‬
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 ‭3)‬ ‭Community Expectations for Use of Unfenced Off-Leash Areas‬

 ‭In addition to the rules specified in Appendix D, please observe the following guidelines:‬

 ‭(1)‬ ‭Ensure your dog is placed back on leash after leaving an off-leash dog area.‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭Dog guardians should be respectful of other users using the space. This is a‬
 ‭shared space, even during the times where dogs are allowed off-leash. The‬
 ‭priority use for these areas is not necessarily dogs.‬
 ‭(3)‬ ‭Non-dog guardians should expect dogs may be running free in designated‬
 ‭off-leash areas.‬

 ‭4)‬ ‭Rules for Commercial Use of Off-Leash Fenced areas‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭Commercial users are required to be a‬‭Park Program‬‭participant.‬
 ‭b)‬ ‭Commercial users are responsible for creating any boundaries, with temporary‬
 ‭fencing or by other temporary means, required to meet their needs and that of the‬
 ‭other users.‬
 ‭c)‬ ‭Commercial users are limited to twelve days per year exclusive of commercial uses‬
 ‭that do not restrict other uses of the area.‬
 ‭d)‬ ‭No more than one commercial user may use the same dog park concurrently.‬
 ‭e)‬ ‭Off-leash dogs will be permitted to access any areas of the off-leash area that are‬
 ‭not separated by temporary or permanent fencing.‬
 ‭f)‬ ‭With the exception of extraordinary circumstances, no more than 33% of an‬
 ‭off-leash dog area shall be permitted to be restricted for commercial use.‬
 ‭g)‬ ‭Commercial use shall not interfere with standard entrances and exits from the‬
 ‭off-leash dog area.‬
 ‭h)‬ ‭If any PRW staff time is required for the event, commercial users of the park are‬
 ‭responsible for all costs related to the staff time. PRW staff will only be made‬
 ‭available with the approval of the PRW Director‬
 i‭)‬ ‭Commercial users will be responsible for all costs related to set-up, operations,‬
 ‭security, and cleanup for all events.‬
 j‭)‬ ‭Standard PRW Department requirements for reserving parks apply.‬


 ‭5)‬ ‭Public Outreach & Enforcement.‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭The PRW and the Police Department shall collaborate to educate and enforce the‬
 ‭rules and policies applicable to off-leash dog areas,A person who violates any rules‬
 ‭or policies applicable to off-leash dog areas on two (2) occasions within a‬
 ‭twelve-month period shall be barred from taking any dog into the off-leash areas‬
 ‭during the six (6) months subsequent to the second violation.‬

 ‭6)‬ ‭Operations‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭The PRW shall maintain a volunteer group that provides guidance and support‬
 ‭for off-leash areas‬
 b)‬‭The PRW Director may, upon a finding of need at a particular off-leash area,‬
 ‭
 ‭close the area to off-leash use. The reopening of such area is at the discretion of‬
 ‭the Director. The Director shall post a notice indicating that the area has been‬
 ‭closed for off-leash use at the entrance to the area and at other locations in the‬
 ‭area if needed to give notice to the public of the closing.‬




‭52‬
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‭Appendix G: Off-Leash Detailed Findings & Recommendations‬

‭The Task Force reviewed work from previous committees (‬‭see Appendix K‬‭) as well as‬
‭current practices, ordinances and policies. The group also did a city-wide survey to solicit‬
‭public opinion on areas proposed by previous committees (‬‭see Appendix I‬‭). Prior efforts to‬
‭create off-leash areas were left uncompleted, as Section 7 of Appendix D in the City‬
‭Ordinances expired.‬37

‭Table 3. Current and Proposed Off-Leash Areas for Dogs‬

 ‭Current‬ ‭Proposed‬

  ‭Off-Leash‬ ‭3.5/520 acres‬ ‭Add:‬
 ‭Starr Farm Dog Park‬ ‭●‬ ‭Sections of Neighborhood Parks‬
 ‭Waterfront Dog Park‬ ‭(Smalley, Calahan, Schmanska)‬
 ‭Texaco Beach‬ ‭6-8am‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Sections of Natural Areas‬
 ‭(Northshore, Urban Reserve)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Beaches (Blanchard, North Beach‬
 ‭wintertime only; Oakledge Cove &‬
 ‭section of Leddy Beach all year)‬
 ‭Keep:‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Starr Farm Dog Park, Waterfront Dog‬
 ‭Park, Texaco Beach‬

  ‭On-Leash only (Neighborhood Park)‬ ‭All Neighborhood Parks‬ ‭Most Neighborhood Parks except for‬
 ‭designated areas in Calahan, Schmanska, &‬
 ‭Smalley Parks‬

  ‭On-Leash only (Conservation Area)‬ ‭All Natural Areas‬ ‭Same (all areas designated “Urban Wilds” -‬
 ‭such as Arms Forest, Crescent Woods, Arthur‬
 ‭Park, Ethan Allen Park, McKenzie Park, and‬
 ‭Mount Cavalry Red Maple)‬

  ‭No Dogs Allowed‬ ‭Cemeteries‬ ‭Same (at the wish of Cemetery Commission)‬


‭Interactive map showing proposed off-leash areas‬

‭There is a strong desire from dog owners to have easy access to off-leash areas. More‬
‭fenced in areas exclude non-dogs and their caretakers from spaces in our parks, and the‬
‭City also lacks funds to build fenced in dog parks. Many communities have turned to‬
‭unleashed dog areas to solve the issue of limited park spaces and the desire not to fence‬

‭37‬
 ‭City of Burlington, Vermont, Ord. of 9-23-02‬
‭https://www.codepublishing.com/VT/Burlington/#!/BurlingtonAxD/BurlingtonAxD.html‬‭(Pilot program. The rules of‬
 ‭this section shall be in full force and effect for eighteen (18) months. The director of parks and recreation shall‬
  ‭review the impacts of the designated off-leash areas and shall make a report to the city council after twelve (12)‬
 ‭months of operation. Unless directed otherwise by the city council, these rules shall expire upon the end of the‬
 ‭18th month in which the rules were in effect.)‬



  ‭53‬
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‭these spaces, while providing a mechanism to better regulate and manage where dogs are‬
‭off-leash and enforce regulations that they be on leash outside of off-leash areas. The‬
‭question of creating unfenced off-leash dog areas elicits strong opinions both for and‬
‭against.‬

‭Some neighboring cities have successfully created unfenced off-leash areas. South‬
‭Burlington allows dogs to be under voice control at all parks and only requires leashes on‬
‭South Burlington Recreation trails and at the following parks: Red Rocks, Vet Memorial, and‬
‭Jaycee Park. Colchester’s default policy is also off-leash, with dogs required on-leash only‬
‭on sidewalks and the bike path. Winooski’s policy is similar to Burlington’s, where the‬
‭default is on-leash only. But for similar reasons they are‬
‭exploring the possibility of establishing another location or two‬
‭where dogs can officially be allowed off-leash, then working to‬
‭tighten up enforcement where it isn’t allowed.‬

‭Some efforts were made to find alternative spaces to the park‬
‭spaces overseen by Burlington Parks & Recreation.‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Cemetery spaces.‬‭The Task Force discussed the fact‬‭that‬
 ‭some fenced in spaces in Burlington currently exist but‬
 ‭are not available for dogs. The idea of using cemetery‬
 ‭spaces as an urban solution is not new.‬38 ‭A proposal‬‭to work with the Cemetery‬
 ‭Commission to consider the option of on-leash or off-leash use for dogs was‬
 ‭unsuccessful. The Cemetery Commision heard the proposal, including the possibility‬
 ‭of additional revenue and volunteer hands to maintain the cemeteries, but chose‬
 ‭not to work with the Task Force to explore this concept.‬39

 ‭●‬ ‭Spaces outside Burlington.‬‭At the suggestion of City‬‭Councilmember Sarah Carpenter,‬
 40
 ‭the Task Force looked beyond Burlington to understand‬‭what off-leash spaces‬
 ‭were available (for those with cars who can drive). As noted above, our neighboring‬

‭38‬
 ‭For example, see the Cemetery Dogs program at the‬‭Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC - one quarter of‬
‭the cemetery’s operating income derives from donations by dog walking members and covers the costs of grounds‬
 ‭maintenance contracts. Source: https://congressionalcemetery.org/dog-walking/‬
  ‭39‬
 ‭See‬‭Burlington, VT Cemetery Commission meeting minutes‬‭from their April 20, 2023 meeting:‬
 ‭https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/5294/files/7035‬
 ‭40‬
 ‭See‬‭Burlington, VT City Council meeting minutes from‬‭their March 27, 2023 meeting:‬
 ‭https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2058/files/2159‬



  ‭54‬
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 ‭communities of South Burlington and Colchester have much less restrictive leash‬
 l‭aws, allowing off-leash use in their parks unless specifically restricted. In addition,‬
 ‭South Burlington, Essex, Milton and Shelburne have fenced dog parks.‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Former Landfill in the Old North End.‬‭The Task Force‬‭also discussed the former landfill‬
 ‭area at the top of Manhattan Ave. This area is currently being used by some‬
 ‭residents as an off-leash area for dogs, but due to continued monitoring of‬
 ‭environmental considerations cannot be officially set up for dogs at this time.‬



‭After reviewing the prior task force work, the results of the Spring 2023 survey, and‬
‭consulting with the Cemetery Commission and directors of parks in neighboring towns, the‬
‭Task Force recommends the following areas to the Parks Commission for piloting. More‬
‭specific details are in the drafted‬‭Off-Leash Dog‬‭Policy‬‭.‬

‭Table 4. Recommended areas to pilot unfenced off-leash dog sections‬

 ‭Park‬ ‭Time‬ ‭Rationale‬

 ‭Smalley‬ ‭6-8am‬ ‭Significant requests from survey; limited use by youth in the mornings‬

 ‭Leddy Beach‬ ‭All day‬ ‭Slight in favor from survey, significant current use‬
  ‭(north end)‬

 ‭Northshore‬ ‭All day‬ ‭Slight in favor from survey, significant current use‬

 ‭Calahan Park‬ ‭6-8am‬ ‭Slight in favor from survey, proposed area (lower field) is in a different‬
 l‭ocation from the playground; significant current use‬

 ‭Schmanska‬ ‭6-8am‬ ‭Slight in favor, Recommended by 2013 task force, adds an area in the‬
  ‭Park‬ ‭East end of Burlington, suggest morning only‬

 ‭Urban Reserve‬ ‭All day‬ ‭More in favor, off-leash connection to dog park and parking lot, will‬
 ‭separate from bike path w/ clear signage on start/stop of off-leash areas‬

 ‭Blanchard‬ ‭November‬ ‭Limited beach use in the winter.‬
  ‭Beach‬ ‭-March‬

 ‭North Beach‬ ‭November‬ ‭Limited beach use in the winter.‬
 ‭-March‬

 ‭Oakledge Cove‬ ‭All day‬ ‭South end water access, helps curb existing off-leash use at Blanchard‬
 i‭n the summer.‬




‭55‬
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‭In addition to the above areas, the proposed fenced-in dog park in Oakledge Park was by‬
‭far the most popular and most supported area with survey respondents. Future funding‬
‭and significant planning would be needed to make this a reality.‬




‭56‬
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‭Appendix H: Education Campaign‬

‭Part of the scope of the Task Force work mandated by the City Council resolution requested‬
‭that Task Force members conduct an educational campaign around the following issues:‬

 ‭1.‬ ‭Off leash dogs in city parks, natural areas or beaches‬
 ‭2.‬ ‭Dogs attacking people or other dogs‬
 ‭3.‬ ‭Dog feces not being picked up‬
 ‭4.‬ ‭Dog barking contributing to noise pollution‬

‭All materials and research were developed using volunteer time‬
‭and resources. Outreach was limited to available slots on the‬
‭Parks Recreation and Waterfront (PRW) Front Porch Forum and‬
‭social media accounts. The Task Force recommends some funding‬
‭be allocated to educational outreach and that multiple city‬
‭departments participate in the sharing of information on their‬
‭social media accounts. The campaigns comprised of the following:‬

 ‭1.‬ ‭Leash Your Dog PSA for conservation reasons (wildlife,‬
 ‭plants)‬41
 ‭2.‬ ‭Interview with Seven Days to address additional reasons‬
 ‭for leashing your dogs (including prevent of attacks)‬42
 ‭3.‬ ‭April Stools Day PSA to encourage residents to pick up their dogs’ feces‬43
 ‭4.‬ ‭Barking PSA to provide helpful tips to address barking and reduce noise pollution‬

‭The Task Force also explored the possibility of increasing licensing numbers through a‬
l‭imited social media drive,‬44 ‭and worked with the BPRW‬‭to create the Wag the Waterfront‬
‭event.‬

‭41‬
 ‭As seen in PRW’s Front Porch Forum post May 18, 2022:‬
‭https://frontporchforum.com/areas/22/issues/4452#post_2786297‬
 ‭42‬
 ‭Mullis, R. (Aug 9, 2023). One Burlingtonian’s Journey‬‭to On-Leash Dog Ownership. Published in print as “Going to‬
  ‭the Dogs | One Burlingtonian's journey to on-leash dog ownership” and online at‬
 ‭https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/one-burlingtonians-journey-to-on-leash-dog-ownership-38844346‬
 ‭43‬
 ‭As seen in PRW’s Front Porch Forum Post April 1,‬‭2022:‬
 ‭https://frontporchforum.com/areas/23/issues/5456#post_2747458‬
 ‭44‬
 ‭Instagram reel created by task force members on volunteer time, and shared on PRW’s Instagram account on‬
 ‭March 21, 2023 to encourage residents to license their dogs and explain how to get their dogs licensed.‬
 ‭https://www.facebook.com/reel/936523320687771‬



  ‭57‬
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‭Proposed Annual Education Calendar‬
‭A proposed calendar to continue providing education on various‬ ‭Legend:‬
‭topics was developed and is shown below, followed by details on the‬
 ‭PSA‬
‭various public service announcements as well as the Wag the‬ ‭Campaign/Drive‬
 ‭Event‬
‭Waterfront event.‬




 ‭JANUARY‬ ‭FEBRUARY‬ ‭MARCH‬

‭Barking PSA‬ ‭Repeat Spay/Neuter PSA‬ ‭Licensing Campaign‬
 ‭(February is S/N Awareness‬ ‭Continues‬
 ‭Month)‬

 ‭Campaign/Drive: Dog‬
 ‭Licenses Due April 1‬

 ‭APRIL‬ ‭MAY‬ ‭JUNE‬

‭Off-Leash PSA‬ ‭Don’t Leave Your Dog in the‬ ‭Keep Your Dog Cool PSA‬
 ‭(Conservation)‬ ‭Car PSA‬
 ‭Don’t Leave Your Dog in the‬
‭Picking up Poop PSA‬ ‭Off-Leash Dog PSA (to avoid‬ ‭Car PSA (repeat July/Aug)‬
 ‭conflicts attacks)‬

 ‭JULY‬ ‭AUGUST‬ ‭SEPTEMBER‬
‭Off-Leash Dog PSA (to avoid‬
 ‭conflicts attacks)‬ ‭Off-Leash Dog PSA (to avoid‬ ‭Wag the Waterfront Event‬
 ‭conflicts attacks)‬
‭Dog Days Event‬
‭Church Street tie-in for pet friendly‬
 ‭shopping areas or Burlington‬
  ‭Farmer’s Market on Pine St‬

 ‭OCTOBER‬ ‭NOVEMBER‬ ‭DECEMBER‬
 ‭(a week after leaf pick up)‬
‭Halloween Parade Event?‬ ‭Spay/Neuter PSA‬
‭Dog Costume Contest?‬
 ‭Poop Scoop PSA Even‬
 ‭through winter need to scoop‬
 ‭poop all year round‬




‭58‬
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‭Leash Your Dog Outreach (7 Days Article)‬
‭Taskforce members Maria Karunuñgan and Abbey Duke were interviewed by journalist‬
‭Rachel Mullis of Seven Days to weigh in on thoughts about off-leash dogs, resulting in the‬
‭following publication in Seven Days:‬45




‭The take-home message in the article was to encourage residents to leash their dogs for a‬
‭variety of reasons, including respect and consideration for others’ cultural and religious‬
‭preferences, prevention of unwanted conflict between unfamiliar dogs with unknown‬
‭sociability, and generally taking more responsibility for their dogs’ behavior around others.‬



‭Wag the Waterfront Event September 2023‬
 ‭●‬ ‭PRW hosted on September 9, 2023 1-4pm‬46
 ‭●‬ ‭Social media posts invited people to come‬47
 ‭●‬ ‭The event featured the following:‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Afternoon Yappy Hour in the dog park‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Free professional caricatures & free‬
 ‭professional photos‬



‭45‬
 ‭Mullis, R. (Aug 9, 2023). One Burlingtonian’s Journey‬‭to On-Leash Dog Ownership. Published in print as “Going to‬
‭the Dogs | One Burlingtonian's journey to on-leash dog ownership” and online at‬
 ‭https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/one-burlingtonians-journey-to-on-leash-dog-ownership-38844346‬
  ‭46‬
 ‭See‬‭https://enjoyburlington.com/event/wag-the-waterfront/‬
 ‭47‬
 ‭See‬‭for example https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw7iosEMae4/‬



  ‭59‬
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 ‭○‬ ‭Booths rented by local dog-related businesses (daycares, groomers, dog‬
 ‭trainers, dog treat bakeries, etc).‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Events such as dog training demos, Paws & Poses yoga, and weight-pulling‬



‭Public Service Announcements Developed by the Task Force‬
‭The following public service announcements were developed by the Task Force for several‬
‭educational campaigns. Most of these were shared on social media.‬

‭Excessive Barking PSA‬

‭The Task Force wrote a public service announcement to address the complaint of excessive‬
‭barking.‬48 ‭The main points of this campaign were to‬‭help raise awareness about why‬
‭excessive barking is bad (pointing to upset neighbors, welfare issues, & violation of city‬
‭code). Tips from a professional trainer were provided, including the recommendation to‬
‭consult with a veterinarian and professional trainer if struggles continued.‬




‭Fig. 4 Barking PSA Instagram slides‬




‭Leash Your Dog PSA‬

‭The Leash Your Dog PSA released in May 2022‬49 ‭contained‬‭the following text:‬

 ‭:: A MESSAGE FROM THE DOG TASK FORCE ::‬

 ‭Protect Nature - Leash Furry Companions in Vermont's Natural Areas‬

 ‭Spring is nature's time to restore and grow, and also nature's most fragile time. Burlington's‬
 ‭natural areas are still in recovery from forest clearing hundreds of years ago and use this‬

‭48‬
 ‭See for example the Facebook post on February 16,‬‭2023:‬
‭https://www.facebook.com/BTVParks/posts/pfbid04CsSzqckLeKfr2BHiVhVsYssx3KDYdthXt4CysmTxeATD2FNqeig9Sh‬
 ‭eDXinqKhpl‬
  ‭49‬
 ‭PRW’s Front Porch Forum post May 18, 2022:‬
 ‭https://frontporchforum.com/areas/22/issues/4452#post_2786297‬



  ‭60‬
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 ‭time to replace and regain strength. Spring flowers have delicate stems and depend on small‬
 ‭ground insects, like ants, to help them expand their population.‬

 ‭Larger, similarly tender mammals like foxes are born now through August! For these‬
 ‭animals, reproduction takes a lot of energy and kits, pups and their parents are weaker and‬
 ‭especially vulnerable throughout this season.‬

 ‭Off-leash dogs (and their owners) unknowingly break tender wildflower stems and chase or‬
 ‭even fatally maim baby animals, setting back the tiny steps that ecosystems take each spring‬
 ‭towards restoration.‬

 ‭Please walk your dog on a leash on all trails and paths throughout City and Vermont parks.‬
 ‭Obey on-leash postings to allow Vermont's forests to regain their species diversity and to‬
 ‭save our wildlife. To learn more about spring wildflowers and to see the cutest red fox kit‬
 ‭photo, please see our facebook page‬‭https://www.facebook.com/BTVParks‬‭.‬




‭Scoop the Poop PSA‬

‭The Scoop the Poop PSA (“April Stools Day”) released in April 2022‬50 ‭contained the following‬
‭text:‬

 ‭On behalf of the Burlington Dog Task Force Team, we'd like to remind everyone: Scoop Your‬
 ‭Poop!‬

 ‭Pet waste should be picked up promptly because it…‬
 ‭-> is harmful for kids playing in the dirt‬
 ‭-> contaminates locally grown food‬
 ‭-> contaminates drinking water and swimming areas‬
 ‭…. is gross!!!!‬

 ‭With the weather warming and snow finally melted, we want to encourage all dog owners to‬
 ‭pick up their dog's poop! (and any poop you see from other dogs, even if they are not your‬
 ‭own).‬

 ‭Pet waste is harmful for children playing in your local neighborhood as parasites from fecal‬
 ‭matter can remain in the soil for years. Picking up poop can also go a long way to protecting‬
 l‭ocal gardens especially if you are growing food for yourselves, and protect anyone working‬
 ‭or playing in the dirt. In addition, please keep in mind our drinking water is affected as well!‬
 ‭According to the Lake Champlain Committee, pet waste contributes up to one-third of‬
 ‭bacterial pollution in waterways near developed areas. (source:‬
 ‭https://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org/learn/news/item/2200-stool-piles-and-counting/‬‭)‬
 ‭Bacteria from pet waste adds e-coli that can result in the closing of recreational swimming‬
 ‭areas.‬

 ‭Help us protect our children's play areas, neighborhood gardens, and local swimming spots‬
 ‭by picking up your dog's poop!‬




‭50‬
 ‭PRW’s Front Porch Forum Post April 1, 2022: https://frontporchforum.com/areas/23/issues/5456#post_2747458‬



  ‭61‬
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‭Recommended Additional Areas of Educational Outreach‬
‭The Task Force recommends the following additional areas of education:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Education on preventing dog attacks & conflicts with other dogs & people‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Resource for new arrivals (either new residents of Burlington who have dogs, or‬
 ‭current residents who get a new dog)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭How/when to report incidents & what information is helpful‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Guidelines for behavior of dogs in designated off-leash areas‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Education/information that can be distributed on the cards that accompany dog‬
 l‭icense tags‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Curriculum for community justice center, should a restorative justice approach be‬
 ‭adopted for resolving violations of dog policies & ordinances.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Low-cost spay/neuter outreach‬




‭62‬
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‭Appendix I: Data Summaries (Police Incident Reports, Off-Leash Survey)‬

‭The Task Force analyzed animal incident reports provided by the Burlington Police‬
‭Department (BPD) and results of an off-leash survey conducted by the Department of Parks‬
‭Recreation Waterfront (PRW).‬



‭2019 Dog and Cat Incident Reports Analysis‬
‭The Task Force analyzed data from 467 incidents involving companion animals (cats and‬
‭dogs) that were reported in the calendar year 2019. The effort to summarize the data and‬
‭analyze it was time-consuming, as the data were presented to the task force as individual‬
‭PDF files with written details of each incident. To make sense of these written reports, a‬
‭dataset was created by pulling the following variables from each report: date, time, incident‬
‭number, origin of call, animal type, location of incident, incident details, and resolution.‬
‭Incident details consisted of a summary of what was reported by the caller to dispatch.‬
‭Resolution consisted of the responding officer’s response and/or a more detailed‬
‭description of the incident. The “Incident Type” variable in the data set was then broken‬
‭down into dog-related or cat-related incidents, and assigned a category.‬




‭63‬
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‭Dog-Related Incidents‬

‭Reported dog incidents were categorized as follows (in order by the number of incidents‬
‭reported in 2019):‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Dog in Vehicle:‬‭Vehicle was gone on arrival (GOA),‬‭Dog did not appear to be in‬
 ‭distress (guardian of vehicle not present or mentioned in the incident report), Dog‬
 ‭did not appear to be in distress and the guardian returned to their vehicle and the‬
 ‭officer was able to speak to the guardian about the dangers of leaving a dog in a car;‬
 ‭or Dog was in distress. (109)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Loose Dog / Dog At Large:‬‭(89)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Found Dog:‬‭(65)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Dog Bite:‬‭Dog bite to another dog, Dog bite to a person,‬‭Dog bite to both a‬
 ‭dog/person, Dog bite to a cat, Dog bite to unknown person or animal. (57)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Excessive Noise:‬‭Barking, whining, and/or howling‬‭(46)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Welfare Concern:‬‭Issues related to an animal's well-being‬‭and safety including but not‬
 l‭imited to possible animal neglect, animal abuse, and injured animals. (34)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Miscellaneous:‬‭Examples are guardianship disputes,‬‭how to surrender an animal,‬
 ‭requests for behavioral training assistance, and how to obtain care for an animal‬
 ‭while the guardian is hospitalized. (14)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Nuisance:‬‭(11)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Lost Dog:‬‭(4)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Dog Aggression Concern:‬‭(3)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Deceased Animal:‬‭(2)‬




‭64‬
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‭Cat-Related Incidents‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Deceased Animal:‬‭(15)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Welfare Concern:‬‭(7) Issues related to an animal's‬‭well-being and safety including but‬
 ‭not limited to possible animal neglect, animal abuse, and injured animals‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Loose Cat / At Large:‬‭(4)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Cat Bite:‬‭(3)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Found Cat:‬‭(2)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Miscellaneous:‬‭Example: Request for behavioral training‬‭assistance. (1)‬



‭Cat Incident Reports.‬‭Almost half of police incident‬‭reports concerning domesticated cats‬
i‭nvolved the reporting of a deceased cat (45.7%). People reporting these incidents were‬
‭concerned about cats and other cat related incidents included welfare concerns (20%),‬
l‭oose cats (11.4%), and found cats (5.7%). Cat bites made up 8.6% of all cat related incident‬
‭reports. Because residents know that general issues with cats (cat welfare, lost cats, etc) are‬
‭not handled by CSOs, the number of cat incidents is likely to be grossly underreported.‬




‭65‬
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‭Spring 2023 Off-Leash Survey Analysis‬
‭Based on the work of the previous task force & work groups (‬‭see Appendix K‬‭), areas‬
‭recommended for off-leash usage were reviewed by the committee based on current‬
‭usage, and a proposal for areas to pilot was derived. This proposal was included in a survey‬
‭to get feedback from the community. Based on feedback and information about current‬
‭off-leash use by residents, the pilot areas were further revised. For example, Roosevelt and‬
‭Schmanska were removed from consideration, based on quantitative survey opinions and‬
‭written comments. Leddy Park Trails was also removed from consideration, in spite of‬
‭quantitative results in favor of, due to important written considerations brought up by‬
‭community members in the open comments portion.‬




‭Quantitative Survey Results‬




‭Fig. 5. Community members’ opinions about proposed off-leash areas.‬




 ‭66‬
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‭Table 4. Community members’ opinions about proposed off-leash areas‬

 ‭LOCATION‬ ‭IN FAVOR‬ ‭AGAINST‬ ‭NEUTRAL‬

 ‭Baird Park‬ ‭353 (37.04%)‬ ‭368 (38.61%)‬ ‭232 (24.34%)‬

 ‭Calahan Park‬ ‭422 (43.11%)‬ ‭392 (40.04%)‬ ‭165 (16.85%)‬

 ‭Leddy Park Trails‬ ‭467 (46.93%)‬ ‭433 (43.52%)‬ ‭95 (9.55%)‬

 ‭Roosevelt Park‬ ‭352 (36.9%)‬ ‭405 (42.45%)‬ ‭197 (20.65%)‬

 ‭Schmanska Park‬ ‭369 (39.13%)‬ ‭349 (37.01%)‬ ‭225 (23.86%)‬

 ‭Leddy Beach (north end)‬ ‭445 (46.99%)‬ ‭429 (45.30%)‬ ‭73 (7.71%)‬

 ‭Northshore Natural Area (south end)‬ ‭414 (45.25%)‬ ‭387 (42.30%)‬ ‭114 (12.46%)‬

 ‭Oakledge Dog Park (new fenced area)‬ ‭542 (57.48%)‬ ‭303 (32.13%)‬ ‭98 (10.39%)‬

 ‭Urban Reserve (near rail tracks)‬ ‭433 (47.22%)‬ ‭375 (40.89%)‬ ‭109 (11.89%)‬




‭Qualitative Survey Results (Analysis/Coding of Written Comments)‬

‭In addition to the quantitative survey collected, the Task Force compiled 631 written‬
‭comments from respondents providing additional opinions and suggestions regarding‬
‭off-leash areas and dog parks (61% of respondents left one or more comments). Many‬
‭comments focused on specific proposed locations, or suggested additional locations not‬
i‭ncluded in the survey. Comments fell into the following categories or theme (in order by‬
‭the number of comments received in the categories):‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Appreciate off-leash areas as option:‬‭Commenters felt‬‭there were not enough‬
 ‭off-leash areas or appreciated the city was investigating additional off-leash spaces‬
 ‭for dogs. (202)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Dog parks only:‬‭Commenters felt off-leash areas should‬‭only be provided strictly in‬
 ‭fenced-in dog parks designated for dogs, and that there should not be designated‬
 ‭unfenced areas. (143)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Nuisance behavior / Environmental impact‬‭. Commenters‬‭expressed concern over the‬
 ‭negative impact of dogs in general - contributing to noise, annoying people, or‬
 ‭trampling local plants/killing wildlife especially in conservation areas. (122)‬



‭67‬
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 ‭●‬ ‭Enforcement & Reporting:‬‭Commenters asked for more accessible complaint forms,‬
 ‭stronger consequences for existing ordinance infractions, or complained that they‬
 ‭never saw enforcement happen, and this made them leery of offering off-leash‬
 ‭areas. (121)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Park-specific.‬‭Commenters made a comment about a specific‬‭park, such as‬
 ‭requesting we consider Smalley Park for off-leash. (100)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Safety‬‭. Commenters were concerned about aggressive‬‭dogs, or dogs jumping‬
 ‭on/injuring people (small children were often mentioned). (67)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Time/season complexity:‬‭Commenters felt the initial‬‭survey’s multiple sets of‬
 ‭disparate times per individual park would lead to a lot of confusion and possibly be‬
 ‭difficult to enforce. (39)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Comments for other public land-owners‬‭. Commenters‬‭suggested offering areas not‬
 ‭governed by the city of Burlington as possibilities for off-leash. (38)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Education:‬‭Commenters asked for increased education‬‭around rules, requested‬
 ‭more signage and clarity so that community members knew which rules applied in‬
 ‭which parks and where. (25)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Cultural impact‬‭. Commenters expressed concern for‬‭individuals whose cultural or‬
 ‭religious practices may be adversely affected by allowing off-leash dogs in unfenced‬
 ‭spaces (this was especially common in reference to Roosevelt Park) (17)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Neighborhood park concerns.‬‭Commenters made suggestions‬‭for specific parks. (17)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Tag / Permit Concept‬‭. Commenters thought that some‬‭off-leash areas should be‬
 ‭provided on a tag or permit basis. (16)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Accessibility‬‭. Commenters were concerned about more‬‭off-leash spaces being‬
 ‭accessible to people who don’t have cars and need to walk their dogs to an available‬
 ‭off-leash area. (10)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Comparison to other cities‬‭. Commenters made positive‬‭or negative comparisons of‬
 ‭Burlington to other cities (usually to complain that Burlington was not dog-friendly‬
 ‭enough, but sometimes to complain that it was too dog-friendly). (8)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭No off-leash‬‭. Commenters felt dogs should not be allowed‬‭off-leash anywhere in‬
 ‭Burlington. (6)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭No additional comment‬‭. 39% of respondents did not‬‭leave a comment‬




‭68‬
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‭After reviewing the written comments and quantitative data, decisions were made to‬
‭remove the following proposed off-leash areas from consideration by the Parks‬
‭Commission as a pilot, for the reasons stated below:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Leddy Trails (concerns about wildlife disruption)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Roosevelt Park (concerns about aversive effect on neighborhood cultural practices)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Baird Park (concerns about how close the proposed dog play area would be to the‬
 ‭children’s playground)‬

‭The survey also collected feedback from respondents on areas that had not been included,‬
‭to see if there should be additional areas considered.‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Smalley Park came up frequently and as a result, Smalley was added to the list of‬
 ‭pilot areas.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Many commenters requested additional locations not under the purview of PRW to‬
 ‭be made off-leash (for example, Red Rocks or Ethan Allan Homestead, both of which‬
 ‭require dogs to be on-leash and are not part of PRW).‬




‭69‬
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‭Appendix J: Task Force Progress Reports to City Council PACC Committee‬

‭The Task Force submitted progress reports to the‬‭City‬‭Council PACC Committee‬‭on the‬
‭following dates.‬

‭2022-03-01‬

‭2023-02-23‬

‭2023-08-23‬




‭Appendix K: History of Prior Task Force Work‬

‭In 1998, the City chose to pilot five locations for off-leash areas. They included Starr Farm‬
‭Park, Urban Reserve, Intervale, Schmanska and Oakledge Park. Two areas, Starr Farm and‬
‭Urban Reserve, exist today as off-leash fenced parks. The language for the program still‬
‭exists in the City Ordinances under Appendix D, section 7, Rules and Regulations of the‬
‭Burlington Parks and Recreation Park. The section became no longer enforceable in‬
‭approximately 2002 as the pilot ran out without any information that indicates that the City‬
‭Council took action.‬

‭In 2011, the City Council created a work group to revise and formalize the pilot program‬
‭started in 1998. After two years, the workgroup recommended that the South, Center and‬
‭North end of the City all have options for dogs off-leash. They also specified four parks‬
‭off-leash areas would not be permitted including Burlington Greenway, Battery Park, City‬
‭Hall Park and Champlain Street Park. They suggested that Starr Farm and Urban Reserve‬
‭fenced dog parks be listed in the ordinance and that the non-fenced areas be listed in a‬
‭new off-leash dog policy rather than an ordinance. The off-leash dog policy would be‬
‭approved by the Parks Commission and not through City Council.‬

‭The suggested off-leash areas from the 2011-2013 report included Leddy Park, Oakledge‬
‭Park, Calahan Park, Schmanska Park, Waterfront Park (in addition to the fenced area), and‬
‭Roosevelt Park. It was a mix of year-round and seasonal and any time of day to specified‬
‭times of day. The Parks, Recreation & Waterfront (BPRW) department started a Parks‬




‭70‬
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‭Comprehensive Plan process around the time of the final report. With that process starting,‬
‭the decision was made to pause the off-leash work to see what came out of the‬
‭comprehensive plan. It did not get picked back up again following the release of the 2015‬
‭Comprehensive Plan.‬

‭In 2019, the current BPRW Director started to move forward with the work from 2011-2013‬
‭meeting with PACC and the Parks Commission. The suggestion was made by the Parks‬
‭Commission to survey the community as quite a bit of time had passed from the 2011-2013‬
‭work. Before sending out the survey, the pandemic hit and once again, the project stalled.‬




‭71‬
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‭12/13/23‬

 ‭City of Burlington, VT‬
‭2021-2023 Dog Task Force‬


‭Executive Summary‬



‭The Dog Task Force was created in 2021 by a‬
‭City Council resolution to address the‬
‭growing number of dogs in Burlington and a‬
‭perceived increase in conflicts. The Task‬
‭Force included a broad representation of‬
‭stakeholders. It met from 2022-2023 to carry out the tasks outlined in the resolution. This‬
‭report includes details of the work of the Task Force, recommendations and rationale.‬

‭Key recommendations:‬

 ‭1)‬ ‭Modernize and update the city ordinances that relate to animals.‬
 ‭2)‬ ‭Improve the licensing process and dramatically increase the number of animals‬
 l‭icensed in the city. Allocate a portion of the license revenues for programs and‬
 ‭activities that support healthy and happy dogs and cats within the City.‬
 ‭3)‬ ‭Require cats to be licensed and prohibit at-large cats, with certain exceptions‬
 ‭4)‬ ‭Improve the reporting, compliance and enforcement of animal-related ordinances‬
 ‭by creating the position of Animal Control Officer at the Police Department and‬
 ‭adding professional experts to the Animal Control Committee.‬
 ‭5)‬ ‭Establish a policy for off-leash dogs that includes the management and creation of‬
 ‭fenced and unfenced off-leash dog areas at a limited number of locations; and‬
 ‭recommend BPRW conduct a pilot project to test unfenced off-leash areas for dogs.‬




 Page 128 of 221
 ‭6)‬ ‭Create and expand an annual calendar of education outreach, activities and‬
 ‭parks-based events to reduce issues and conflicts around domestic animals while‬
 ‭celebrating the joy they bring to Burlington’s residents.‬




‭Table of Contents:‬

‭Executive Summary‬ ‭1‬
‭Findings and Recommendations‬ ‭4‬
 ‭Ordinance Updates‬ ‭4‬
 ‭Licensing Programs and Policy Updates‬ ‭5‬
 ‭Cats: Licensing and Prohibition of At-Large Cats‬ ‭7‬
 ‭Reporting, Enforcement & Compliance‬ ‭8‬
 ‭Off Leash Areas‬ ‭10‬
 ‭Education Campaign‬ ‭11‬
‭Appendices‬ ‭14‬
 ‭Appendix A: Council Resolution‬ ‭14‬
 ‭Appendix B: Committee Members & Staff Participants‬ ‭19‬
 ‭Appendix C: Proposed Amendments to City Ordinances‬ ‭20‬
 ‭Appendix D: Detailed Licensing Information‬ ‭42‬
 ‭Appendix E: Compliance, Reporting, and Enforcement Challenges‬ ‭45‬
 ‭Appendix F: Proposed Off-Leash Dog Ordinance and Off-Leash Dog Policy‬ ‭48‬
 ‭Appendix G: Off-Leash Detailed Findings & Recommendations‬ ‭53‬
 ‭Appendix H: Education Campaign‬ ‭57‬
 ‭Appendix I: Data Summaries (Police Incident Reports, Off-Leash Survey)‬ ‭63‬
 ‭Appendix J: Task Force Progress Reports to City Council PACC Committee‬ ‭70‬
 ‭Appendix K: History of Prior Task Force Work‬ ‭70‬




‭2‬
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  ‭Fig. 1. A map showing that dog registrations appear to be evenly spread across the city, indicating both that‬
‭dogs are located all over the city and that the low licensing numbers are pervasive and not restricted to any‬
 ‭specific areas.‬




 ‭3‬
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‭Findings and Recommendations‬



‭Ordinance Updates‬

‭Recommendation:‬ ‭Modernize and update the city ordinances‬‭that relate to animals‬

‭The City of Burlington ordinances related to animals (Chapter 5 “Animals and Fowl”) have‬
 ‭not been updated on a regular basis, in some cases for 26 years. As a result, many of the‬
  ‭ordinances are outdated with regard to current terminology and regulatory practices. The‬
 ‭Task Force ordinance subcommittee conducted a comprehensive review of the ordinances‬
 ‭and compiled a list of recommendations.‬

‭The recommendations, as follow, fall primarily into four categories: updates to language,‬
 i‭mprovements to animal shelter policy, licenses and other recommendations to improve‬
  ‭the welfare of dogs and cats, and measures to strengthen enforcement. Please note that in‬
 ‭the course of the review of Chapter 5, the Task Force has made recommendations that fall‬
 ‭outside the four corners of the Resolution, such as revisions to the regulation of exotic‬
 ‭animals, and these recommendations, while not noted below, are included in Appendix C.‬
 ‭The Task Force requests that the City consider these additional recommendations as well in‬
 ‭order to ensure that the ordinances better reflect current societal views of animals.‬

‭Language:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Retitle Chapter 5 “Animals”‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Retitle Article II “Dogs and Cats”‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Replace the term “pound” with “animal shelter” throughout‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Replace the term “owner” with “guardian” throughout‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Replace the term “pet” with “companion animal” throughout‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Replace the term “vicious” with “dangerous” throughout‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Replace “it” with “they” when used in reference to an animal throughout‬

‭Animal shelter:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Provide an animal shelter for all species of companion animals in need‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Remove option for animal shelter to sell or give away unredeemed animals, and‬
 ‭restrict options to offer for adoption or transfer to cooperating animal shelter‬




‭4‬
 Page 131 of 221
‭Dogs and cats:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Require that dogs and cats wear identification‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require that cats be licensed‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Increase license fees and review the fee structure at least every 5 years‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Dedicate license fees to education and other services pertinent to improved welfare‬
 ‭of resident dogs and cats‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Prohibit at-large cats‬

‭Enforcement:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Provide a dedicated, certified animal control officer with investigative resources‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Increase fine for violations of Chapter 5 and include restorative justice as a‬
 ‭supplemental option for offenders‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require impoundment of any animal suspected of being a stray‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Increase impoundment fee‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require boarding fee to reflect actual expenses‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Increase fine for cruelty to animals‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Add a licensed veterinarian and a certified animal behavior professional to the‬
 ‭animal control committee‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Allow any person to use reasonable force to remove an animal whose health or‬
 ‭safety is at risk from a motor vehicle if designated officials are unavailable‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Prohibit any person from leaving the scene of an accident for which they have‬
 ‭reason to believe that they have caused the injury or death of an animal‬

‭Appendix C includes a copy of Articles I, II, and III of Chapter 5 and Section 22-13 of Chapter‬
‭22 as well as a detailed discussion of the bases for the recommendations.‬




‭Licensing Programs and Policy Updates‬

‭Recommendation: Improve the licensing process and dramatically increase the number‬
‭of animals licensed in the city. Allocate a portion of the license revenues for programs‬
‭and activities that support healthy and happy dogs and cats within the City.‬




‭5‬
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‭The Task Force found that Burlington was under licensing dogs compared to neighboring‬
‭communities. Licensing is an important means of monitoring the overall health of the City’s‬
‭dogs with respect to rabies, and thus reducing transmission of this virus. Rabies, once‬
‭symptoms appear, is fatal to humans and animals. In addition, treatment is expensive,‬
‭painful and occurs over multiple visits. Further, licensing facilitates returning animals to‬
‭their guardians quickly and efficiently, which reduces stress on the animals and saves City‬
‭resources for other needs.‬

‭The Task Force performed a detailed review of licensing data and trends and found that‬
l‭icensing rates in Burlington are very low compared to neighboring cities with smaller‬
‭populations. The 2022 rate of licensing in Burlington is estimated at 11%. The practices of‬
‭the neighboring community of South Burlington, which has an estimated 35% licensing rate‬
‭for dogs, were compared with Burlington’s practices.‬

‭In the course of the Task Forces research, it was apparent that there are no dedicated‬
‭funds for the development of parks resources for animals and their guardians. With some‬
‭effort to improve licensing numbers, revenue increases for the city could be significant‬
‭enough to fund additional programs and activities that support healthy and happy dogs‬
‭and cats within the City. Examples of these programs are listed below.‬

‭The Task Force overwhelmingly recognized the importance of improving and expanding‬
l‭icensing within Burlington. The Task Force recommends that the City’s licensing programs‬
‭be strengthened and expanded as follows:‬

I‭mprove licensing compliance‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Expand outreach and awareness to increase the number of animals licensed‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Educate the community about how the licensing funds are used, and the benefits of‬
 l‭icensing (e.g. community health - rabies vaccination ensured)‬
 ‭○‬ ‭This information should be provided when an animal is licensed‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require cats to be licensed (see next recommendation)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Expand the consequences for not licensing dogs and cats‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Increase penalties (see Appendix C, Chapter 5 Article III )‬




‭6‬
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 ‭○‬ ‭Work with landlords and housing associations to encourage licensing‬
 ‭requirements in lease/HOA agreements. Less funding for resident‬
 ‭companion animal programs‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require at-large animals be licensed before they are returned to their guardian‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Require animal control officers to verify licenses when responding to incidents and‬
 ‭record that information in the incident report‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Grant the police real-time access to licensing information to increase the ease of‬
 ‭rabies verification in the event of a bite.‬


‭Use the resulting increase in licensing revenues to create a special fund‬
‭The fund would support:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Annual licensing efforts‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Development of a streamlined process to share licensing data‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Improved incident reporting and data tracking and improved responsiveness from‬
 ‭police‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Additional companion animal programs and education‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Low-cost spay/neuter services‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Additional park facilities for animals‬

‭Appendix D includes detailed research and discussion of the bases for these‬
‭recommendations.‬




‭Cats: Licensing and Prohibition of At-Large Cats‬

‭Recommendation: Require cats to be licensed and prohibit at-large cats.‬

‭The Task Force recommends that the City of Burlington require cats be licensed for their‬
‭own welfare and that of other animals, to aid in identification for animal control purposes,‬
‭and to better ensure public safety.‬

‭Burlington would not be the first to do so, as both South Burlington and Shelburne require‬
‭cats to be licensed. The many benefits of licensing are enumerated in Appendix C under‬
‭the‬‭discussion of Article II, sections 5-16 and 5-14‬,‭‬‭and‬‭include improving the health of cats‬



‭7‬
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‭and reducing the number of cats who are lost with no way to identify the guardian.‬
‭Increased revenues from licensing could also help support better responsiveness to‬
‭cat-related incidents, as well as support affordable spay/neuter options for low-income‬
‭residents.‬

‭The Task Force also recommends that the City prohibit at-large cats, that is cats that are‬
‭off-premise and not restrained by their guardian. Free roaming cats are more likely to‬
‭experience disease and both accidental and intentional injuries as well as fatalities, and‬
‭thus have shorter life spans (this is reflected in City data where 50 percent of reports about‬
‭cats pertained to cats who had been found deceased, and of those, 75% were found in‬
‭roadways). Cats permitted to roam off-premises can easily become nuisances on both‬
‭public and private property and are classified as such in some neighboring municipal‬
‭ordinances. Further, free-roaming cats are well documented in the scientific literature as‬
i‭mmensely destructive to wildlife, particularly birds.‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Implement ordinance recommendation regarding licensing cats and prohibiting‬
 ‭at-large cats as per the Ordinance Update recommendation‬

‭For a more detailed discussion, see Appendix C, Article II, Discussion.‬




‭Reporting, Enforcement & Compliance‬

‭Recommendation: Improve the reporting, compliance and enforcement of animal-related‬
‭ordinances by creating the position of Animal Control Officer at the Police Department‬
‭and adding professional experts to the Animal Control Committee.‬

‭The Task Force reviewed reporting, compliance and enforcement of dog related‬
‭ordinances.‬

‭This included reviewing reporting mechanisms, social media, Front Porch Forum, and police‬
‭department data for incidents such as off-leash dogs, aggressive dogs, attacks by dogs, as‬
‭well as responses by the Burlington Police Department (BPD). Data obtained from the BPD‬
l‭ikely reflects only a small portion of the actual incidents that involve animals in the‬
‭community. Because residents may be aware of the narrow scope of the Department's‬




 ‭8‬
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‭work on these issues, as detailed below, it can be assumed that many residents do not‬
‭bother to report animal incidents and thus there is no record created.‬

‭Currently the City’s Community Service Officers (CSO) respond to dog and rabies vector‬
‭related calls for service. Incidents that are called in are responded to and are documented‬
i‭n incident reports. Depending upon the follow-up required, incidents may be responded to‬
‭over several shifts. CSOs have many other responsibilities besides responding to animal‬
i‭ncidents. If there is a higher priority incident such as a car accident, their attention may be‬
‭focused on those. Additionally CSOs’ responsibilities are limited to responding to‬
‭dog-related reports and to reports about rabies vectors. Therefore concerns about cats or‬
‭other animal types besides dogs are referred to other organizations such as the Humane‬
‭Society of Chittenden County or to a wildlife removal service.‬

‭The Task Force recognizes the work that the CSOs perform everyday, but strongly‬
‭recommends that a part- to full time animal control officer be hired by the City.‬

‭An animal control officer (ACO) also responds to incidents, but in addition proactively‬
‭enforces ordinances (such as leash laws) and oversees the overall health and safety of‬
‭animals within the City. An ACO would have specific and ongoing training and certification‬
i‭n the handling and welfare of animals, be able to perform inspections on and monitor‬
‭facilities that shelter animals, educate the public on how to care for animals, and‬
i‭nvestigate trends and repeat problems or animals, conduct in-depth investigations and‬
‭overall be a point person and resource for the Burlington community.‬

‭To improve compliance and enforcement of ordinances, the Task Force recommends the‬
‭following:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Create a position at the Police Department of Animal Control Officer‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Ensure personnel that are involved in animal welfare & enforcement of the Animals‬
 ‭Ordinances have proper training and access to updated licensing information‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Increase education to improve community awareness on how to report incidents‬
 ‭effectively‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Expand online incident reporting categories to include animal issues and ensure‬
 i‭ssues are assigned to responsive entities within City operations‬




‭9‬
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 ‭●‬ ‭Recommend adding licensed veterinarian and certified animal behavior professional‬
 ‭to animal control committee‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Improve organization and categorization of data as it relates to incident‬
 ‭reporting/tracking‬

‭See‬‭Appendix I‬‭for a summary of animal incidents reported‬‭to police and how they were‬
‭typically addressed/resolved, per the report data available.‬




‭Off Leash Areas‬

‭Recommendation: Establish a policy for off-leash dogs that includes the management and‬
‭creation of fenced and unfenced off-leash dog areas at a limited number of locations; and‬
‭recommend BPRW conduct a pilot project to test unfenced off-leash areas for dogs.‬

‭Currently, it is against City ordinances to allow a dog off leash anywhere in the city, except‬
i‭n two fenced-in dog parks and one unfenced beach area. Areas in which dogs may be‬
‭off-leash comprise a total of 3.5 out of the 520 acres of City Parks (less than 1% of all park‬
l‭and). Many Burlington dog guardians allow their dogs off leash indiscriminately on‬
‭Burlington’s trails and in parks and the City’s enforcement of current leash laws is weak to‬
‭non-existent. The committee researched potential locations, looked at programs in‬
j‭urisdictions throughout the US for best practices and conducted a City-wide survey. There‬
i‭s a strong desire from dog guardians to have easy access to off-leash areas.‬

‭Our parks are a limited resource, and while more areas could be fenced in for dogs, this‬
‭would exclude regular park goers from this valuable space.‬

‭The Off-Leash Areas recommendations, as follow, satisfy the need to create space in our‬
‭urban environments where dogs may play freely and the desire not to fence off all of our‬
‭parks for dogs, while providing a mechanism to better regulate and manage spaces where‬
‭dogs are off-leash. By providing sufficient sanctioned off-leash spaces for dogs to play,‬
‭explore, and run, the City may focus on the enforcement of regulations requiring dogs be‬
‭on a leash otherwise within the City’s system of parks and recreation paths, protecting all‬
‭users and our urban wildlife.‬




‭10‬
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‭The Task Force recommends increasing designated off-leash spaces while simultaneously‬
i‭ncreasing the enforcement of leash laws in the rest of the city. The goal is to ensure‬
‭healthy and safe access to appropriate outdoor space for dogs across the City and to‬
‭support enforcement of inappropriate spaces where dogs should not be off leash.‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Update the City ordinances with a new‬‭Section 7 of‬‭Appendix D‬‭which will add one‬
 ‭fenced off-leash dog area to Oakledge, formalize the two existing off-leash fenced‬
 ‭dog areas, and provide the parks department with regulations and the ability to‬
 ‭enforce these regulations.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Establish an‬‭Off-Leash Dog Policy‬‭with oversight by‬‭the Parks Commission‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Create a pilot program of off-leash dog areas, as drafted in the‬‭Off-Leash Dog Policy‬
 i‭n Appendix F‬

‭The list of pilot areas in the‬‭Off-Leash Dog Policy‬ ‭came from a review of prior committee‬
‭work (see Appendix K), current parks programming and usage, and survey results‬
‭(Appendix I). Considerable thought was given to how to avoid clashes, including the‬
‭following:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Clear signage indicating designated off-leash areas & rules for using these spaces.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭A landing page on Burlington Parks Recreation Waterfront (BPRW) website showing‬
 ‭where dogs can and can’t go, and where they must be kept on-leash.‬




‭Education Campaign‬

‭Recommendation: Create and expand an annual calendar of education outreach,‬
‭activities and parks-based events to reduce issues and conflicts around domestic animals‬
‭while celebrating the joy they bring to Burlington’s residents.‬

‭The Burlington Dog Task Force worked with the Parks & Recreation Department to support‬
‭the education campaigns and events, including:‬

 ‭❖‬ ‭Barking contribution to noise pollution, and solutions to unwanted barking, posted‬
 ‭on 2/16/2023‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭On leash in natural areas, posted on 5/18/22‬




‭11‬
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 ‭❖‬ ‭Scoop the Poop campaign, posted on 4/1/22‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭Dog License education, posted 3/22/23‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭Wag the Waterfront event‬

‭The Burlington Dog Task Force has created a draft‬
‭calendar with suggested educational posts for social‬
‭media and Front Porch Forum, as well as sample‬
‭campaigns, as included in‬‭Appendix H‬‭. Additional‬
‭educational ideas included the following:‬

 ‭❖‬ ‭“Having a dog in Burlington” literature‬
 ‭handed out when a license is first issued‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭More signage similar to what BPRW posted‬
 ‭on the bike path during the summer of 2023‬
 ‭(see image on the right).‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭Recommend that a web page on the city’s‬
 ‭website is developed that goes over‬
 ‭everything to do with dogs and cats: rules,‬
 ‭how and why to license, off leash rules, off‬
 l‭eash areas. Then this site can be referenced‬
 ‭and linked to. (signs have QR codes leading‬
 ‭to this page)‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭How/when to report issues‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭Impact of outdoor cats on wildlife‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭Low cost spay/neuter options‬

‭The Task Force recommends the following‬
‭educational steps be taken by the City:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Follow an annual calendar of automatic‬
 ‭social media posts/news releases (see‬
 ‭appendix for content subjects)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Hold annual programs in parks such as the‬
 ‭recent “Wag the Waterfront”.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Provide behavioral learning opportunities to animals and their companions‬



‭12‬
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 ‭●‬ ‭Provide resources for new arrivals (either new residents of Burlington who have‬
 ‭dogs, or current residents who get a new dog) on on and off leash areas,‬
 ‭regulations, general “good neighbor” guidelines and wellness resources‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Install signage on guidelines for behavior of dogs in designated off-leash areas‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Distribute education/information/tips annually on the cards that accompany dog‬
 l‭icense tags‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Develop a curriculum for the community justice center, should a restorative justice‬
 ‭approach be adopted for resolving violations of dog policies & ordinances‬




‭13‬
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‭Appendices‬



‭Appendix A: Council Resolution‬

‭On March 30, 2021 the New North End City Councilors (Barlow, Carpenter, and Dieng),‬
‭South End City Councilor Shannon, and Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Director Wight‬
‭hosted an informative and constructive meeting with city residents to better understand‬
‭pet issues beyond complaints shared on social media. This led to a Burlington City Council‬
‭resolution on June 28 to create a Burlington Dog Task Force to address these issues. Dog‬
‭Task Force members were officially appointed on November 17, 2021 by the PAC and the‬
‭first meeting of the Task Force convened on January 27, 2022. The original resolution is‬
‭copied below.‬

‭The scope of work included a mix of actions for implementation and policy‬
‭recommendations.‬


‭HRB/Resolutions 2021/BURLINGTON PARKS ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE TO CREATE A‬
‭DOG TASK FORCE 7/8/2021‬

‭CITY OF BURLINGTON‬

‭In the year Two Thousand Twenty-one‬

‭Resolved by the City Council of the City of Burlington, as follows:‬

‭BURLINGTON PARKS ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE TO CREATE A DOG TASK FORCE‬

‭That WHEREAS, According to the City Charter, a dog is defined as the following: Dogs shall‬
i‭nclude both male and female of the canine species. Dog shall also mean any animal which‬
i‭s considered to be a wolf-hybrid as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 3541(6).‬

‭WHEREAS, Dogs are considered an integral part of our society, playing different roles and‬
‭providing services in the daily lives of humans, such as for accessibility, companionship,‬
‭exercise, security and more.‬




‭14‬
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‭WHEREAS, Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is a dog that‬
‭has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability,‬
i‭ncluding a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.‬

‭WHEREAS, According to the American Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty (ASPCA),‬
‭dog adoptions are up 700% nationally during the pandemic.‬

‭WHEREAS, According to the City of Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront website,‬
‭“The State of Vermont has one of the highest rates of pet ownership around the nation, the‬
‭City of Burlington has made possible for community members to share their experiences in‬
‭many different locations in the greater Burlington Area.”‬

‭WHEREAS, The City of Burlington issued 755 dog licenses and collected over $23,000 in dog‬
l‭icense revenue for the 2020 fiscal year.‬

‭WHEREAS, The City of Burlington via the Department of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront‬
‭has made a substantial investment in the renovation of the Starr Farm Dog Park located in‬
‭the New North End.‬

‭WHEREAS, Over the past few months, residents of the New North End alongside other‬
‭residents of the city have shared via social media (Front Porch Forum, Facebook) a growing‬
‭number of incidents involving dogs or dog owners. The incidents were reported by both‬
‭dog owners, former dog owners or nondog owners.‬

‭WHEREAS, Most of those incidents are similar in nature; some are unique incidents that‬
‭resulted in a decreased quality of life and have caused tensions between neighbors. Those‬
i‭ncidents include but are not limited to the following:‬

 ‭● Off leash dogs in city parks, natural areas or beaches‬

 ‭● Dogs attacking people or other dogs‬

 ‭● Dog feces not being picked up‬

 ‭● Policies not being enforced‬

 ‭● Unlicensed dogs‬

 ‭● Dog barking contributing to noise pollution‬




‭15‬
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‭WHEREAS, Several other issues involving other types of pets in the city were also shared by‬
‭community members.‬

‭WHEREAS, On Tuesday, March 30th the New North End City Councilors, Barlow, Carpenter‬
‭and Dieng, hosted an informative and constructive community meeting alongside South‬
‭End District City Councilor Shannon and Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Director Wight in‬
‭order to better understand the pet issue beyond the complaints shared on social media.‬

‭WHEREAS, The Community meeting was well attended and received by the community. The‬
‭attendance ranged from people of the South End, Old North End and New North End. Most‬
‭attendees were dog owners or former dog owners as well as non-dog owners, nature‬
l‭overs, dog park volunteers and professionals working with pets.‬

‭WHEREAS, Residents who attended the community meeting brainstormed ideas and best‬
‭practices related to these issues and are willing to formally help the city in an ongoing way.‬

‭WHEREAS, The Burlington City Council, via a resolution, respectfully tasked the Parks, Arts‬
‭and Culture Committee to make a recommendation via a resolution by June 28th to the‬
‭Council regarding the creation of a Burlington Dog Task Force to address the issues raised‬
i‭n this resolution and possibly other issues.‬

‭WHEREAS, The Parks, Arts and Culture Committee, in consultation with the Director of‬
‭Parks, Recreation and Waterfront and the Starr Farm Dog Park Volunteer Coordinator,‬
‭developed the following recommendations for a nine (9) member task force and their‬
‭scope of work.‬

‭NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, The nine-member Dog Task Force shall be composed of‬
‭the following members:‬

 ‭1)‬ ‭Starr Farm Dog Park Volunteer Coordinator‬
 ‭2)‬ ‭Representative of a dog shelter, dog rescue group or other dog group to be‬
 ‭appointed by PACC‬
 ‭3)‬ ‭Dog trainer to be appointed by PACC‬
 ‭4)‬ ‭Veterinarian or animal health professional to be appointed by PACC‬




‭16‬
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 ‭5)‬ ‭Burlington Police Department Community Resource Office representative to be‬
 ‭designated by the Chief of Police‬
 ‭6)‬ ‭Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront representative (staff with land use or‬
 ‭event planning expertise) to be designated by the BPRW director‬
 ‭7)‬ ‭At large Burlington community member who is a non-dog owner to be appointed by‬
 ‭PACC‬
 ‭8)‬ ‭At large Burlington community member who is a dog owner to be appointed by‬
 ‭PACC‬
 ‭9)‬ ‭A representative of the Parks Commission to be appointed by the Parks Commission‬
 ‭Chair‬

‭BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Parks Director will create an application for task force‬
‭membership.‬

‭Applications will be received by the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office until August 31, 2021. PACC‬
‭appointed members shall be selected by the Parks, Arts and Culture Committee at their‬
‭September meeting‬

‭BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The Parks, Art and Culture Committee recommends the‬
‭following:‬

 ‭A.‬ ‭That the Dog Task Force members elect a Chair as their first order of business in‬
 ‭their first meeting; and the Director of Burlington Parks and Recreations and‬
 ‭Waterfront to identify an administrative staff to the taskforce‬
 ‭B.‬ ‭That the following be within the Dog Task Force’s scope of work:‬
 ‭1)‬ ‭Review current city programs and policies including other dog task force‬
 ‭work.‬
 ‭2)‬ ‭Conduct an Education Campaign:‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭Off leash dogs in city parks, natural areas or beaches‬
 ‭b)‬ ‭Dogs attacking people or other dogs‬
 ‭c)‬ ‭Dog feces not being picked up‬
 ‭d)‬ ‭Dog barking contributing to noise pollution‬
 ‭3)‬ ‭Review licensing rules and make recommendations‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭Review licensing fees and make recommendations‬
 ‭b)‬ ‭Explore modernizing license fee applications‬



 ‭17‬
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 ‭c)‬ ‭Consider the question of licensing of outdoor cats‬
 ‭4)‬ ‭Review compliance and policy enforcement and make recommendations‬
 ‭5)‬ ‭Plan Pet/Dog Events, Activities and Celebrations, i.e., National Pet Day or‬
 ‭National Dog Day Celebration‬
 ‭6)‬ ‭Review current funding allocated to our municipal dog/pet resources and‬
 ‭make recommendations‬
 ‭7)‬ ‭Provide quarterly updates to the Parks, Arts, and Culture Committee‬
 ‭8)‬ ‭Generate a final report to be presented to the City Council by April 29, 2022‬




‭18‬
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‭Appendix B: Committee Members & Staff Participants‬

‭The full Task Force met monthly, with subcommittees and working groups collaborating in‬
‭additional meetings as-needed.‬

‭Table 1. Appointed Members and City Staff‬


 ‭Appointed Members‬ ‭City Staff‬


  ‭Jake Schumann, Chair through 10/24/2022‬ ‭Cindi Wight, BPRW Director‬
 ‭(Position 1)‬


 ‭Lori Kettler (Position 2)‬ ‭Meghan O’Daniel, BPRW Staff‬


  ‭Maria Karunungan, Chair 10/24/2022‬
 ‭forward (Position 3)‬


 ‭Nina Hurley (Position 4)‬


 ‭Dominic Tenan (Position 5, Reassigned)‬

 ‭Yusuf Abdi (Position 5, Reassigned)‬

 ‭Thomas Young (Position 5)‬


 ‭Alec Kaeding (Position 6)‬


 ‭Ilona Blanchard (Position 7)‬


 ‭Ute Montensen (Resigned, Position 8)‬

 ‭Joanne Kalisz (Replaced, Position 8)‬


 ‭Abbey Duke (Position 9)‬




 ‭19‬
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‭Appendix C: Proposed Amendments to City Ordinances‬
‭Proposed Amendments to Article I of Chapter 5‬
‭The Task Force’s recommended amendments are inserted and underlined, and text that‬
‭would be eliminated is indicated by strikethroughs.‬




 ‭ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL‬
‭5-1 ‬‭Pound‬‭established‬‭Animal shelter provided‬‭.‬
‭There shall be‬‭established‬‭provided‬‭by the city council‬‭a pound‬‭an animal shelter‬‭for‬‭the‬
 i‭mpounding of all beasts‬‭all domestic and exotic animals‬‭in need‬‭liable to be impounded‬‭.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97)‬


‭5-2 Appointment of‬‭poundkeepers; compensation‬‭animal‬
 ‭shelter personnel‬‭.‬
‭It shall be the duty of the mayor to appoint such‬‭poundkeepers‬‭persons‬‭as may be required to‬
 ‭take care of and keep such pound as may be‬‭manage‬‭and maintain the animal shelter that is‬
  ‭established‬‭pursuant to section 5-1‬‭.‬‭Their compensation‬‭shall be the same as provided by the‬
 l‭aws of this state for poundkeepers in towns.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97)‬


‭Cross reference—Duties of officers of the city, § ‬‭2-4‬‭.‬

‭5-2a Appointment of animal control officer‬
‭It shall be the duty of the mayor to appoint an enforcement officer(s), in accordance with‬
 ‭section 122 of the city charter, who shall be a member of the Burlington Police Department.‬
  ‭Such enforcement officer(s) shall be a certified animal control officer.‬



‭5-3 Animal bites.‬
‭It shall be the duty of every person bitten, or his or her parent or guardian, and the attending‬
 ‭physicians to report to the‬‭city health officer‬‭animal‬‭control officer, who shall report to the city‬
  ‭health officer,‬‭within twenty-four (24) hours the‬‭name, address and telephone number of the‬
 ‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭or keeper of the animal‬‭which‬‭who‬‭bit‬‭the person and the complete‬
 ‭circumstances,‬‭to the extent known‬‭.‬




 ‭20‬
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‭(Ord. of 6-23-97)‬


‭5-4 Nuisance animals.‬
‭(a)‬‭No‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬,‭ keeper or other person having‬‭control shall permit an animal to be a‬
 ‭nuisance animal. For the purposes of this section, nuisance animal means any animal or‬
  ‭animals‬‭which‬‭who‬‭:‬

 ‭(1) ‬‭Molests‬‭Attacks‬‭or harasses passersby or passing‬‭vehicles, or otherwise creates a‬
 ‭public safety hazard;‬

 ‭(2) Attacks other animals‬,‭ including but not limited‬‭to wildlife‬‭;‬

 ‭(3) Damages property other than that of‬‭their‬ i‭ts owner‬‭guardian‬‭;‬

 ‭(4) Defecates off the premises of the animal’s‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬,‭ and the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬,‭‬
 ‭or other individual in control of the animal, fails to remove such deposit immediately;‬

 ‭(5) Roams off the premises of the guardian while not under control of the guardian, or‬
 ‭the guardian’s agent, by leash or other similar means of physical restraint at all times; or‬

 ‭(‭‬5‬‭6‬‭) Barks, whines, howls, cries, or makes a noise‬‭commonly made by such animals in‬
 ‭an excessive and continuous fashion so as to disturb the peace and quiet of any other‬
 ‭person.‬

‭(b) Any dog or cat found to be a nuisance animal by an animal control officer shall be‬
 i‭mpounded if the guardian, or the guardian’s agent, is not present and cannot be located‬
  i‭mmediately.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 10-23-06, eff. 11-22-06)‬


‭5-5 Exotic animals.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Purpose and findings:‬‭The purpose of this section‬‭is to enhance the public safety of persons‬
 ‭who are present on the district known as the Church Street Marketplace (the Marketplace) and‬
  i‭n the city’s parks by regulating the presence of "exotic" animals on the Marketplace and in the‬
 ‭city’s parks. The council finds that such pets can pose a threat to the public health, safety, and‬
 ‭welfare if present on the Marketplace and in city parks. Such pets are unlicensed and are not‬
 ‭typically leashed, as is required of domestic dogs.‬

‭(b) ‬‭Definitions:‬‭"Exotic pet" means all animals‬‭except domestic dogs, domestic cats and the‬
 ‭European ferret ‬‭(Mustela putorious furo).‬

‭(c) ‬‭General prohibition:‬‭No person shall have an‬‭exotic pet or permit their exotic pet to be on‬
 ‭or about the Marketplace or within a city park unless expressly approved by the Marketplace‬
  ‭Director or Parks Department respectively or exempted under the terms of this section.‬




 ‭21‬
 Page 148 of 221
‭(d) ‬‭Exemptions:‬‭A person may have or permit an exotic pet to be on or about the Marketplace‬
 ‭or within a city park when done to transport the pet directly from a pet store in the vicinity of‬
  ‭the Marketplace or city park after purchase of such pet or to return such pet to said pet store.‬
 ‭The person must retain a receipt for the purchase of such pet and shall display the receipt upon‬
 ‭demand from any animal control officer, law enforcement officer, or other person duly‬
 ‭authorized to enforce animal control ordinances.‬

‭(a)‬ ‭Purpose and findings‬‭: The city recognizes that‬‭the keeping of exotic animals raises animal‬
 ‭welfare concerns and public health and safety concerns not commonly associated with‬
  ‭domesticated animals. This section is intended to prevent mistreatment of exotic animals,‬
 ‭reduce the risk of harm to the public from contact with exotic animals as well as accidents and‬
 ‭other incidents involving such animals, and reduce the public health risk associated with‬
 ‭diseases and pathogens carried by such animals.‬

‭(b)‬ ‭Definitions‬‭: “Exotic animal” means all animals‬‭except domestic dogs, domestic cats,‬
 ‭domestic mice, domestic rats, domestic rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, the European‬
  ‭ferret, and livestock as defined by Title 6, section 791 of the Vermont Statutes.‬

‭(c)‬ ‭Prohibition‬‭: The offer for sale, sale, purchase,‬‭possession, or public display of any exotic‬
 ‭animal within the corporate limits of the city is prohibited.‬

‭(d)‬ ‭Exemptions‬‭: Any exotic animal possessed on the‬‭date of the enactment of this ordinance is‬
 ‭exempted from the prohibition on possession set forth in subsection (c) upon registration of‬
  ‭the animal with the Board of Health. The exemption applies only to the individual animal so‬
 ‭registered, and does not apply to any animal of the same species subsequently acquired. The‬
 ‭prohibition set forth in subsection (c) shall not apply to registered 501(c)(3) organizations whose‬
 ‭primary purpose is education, animal rescue, or animal rehabilitation.‬

‭(Ord. of 10-27-03, eff. 12-3-03)‬


‭5-6 Use of non-domesticated animals for public display‬
 ‭prohibited.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Purpose.‬‭This section is intended to assist‬‭in the prevention of the mistreatment of‬
 ‭non-domesticated animals used in any public display, to reduce risk of harm to the public from‬
  ‭accidents and incidents involving such animals, and to reduce the public health risk associated‬
 ‭with diseases and pathogens carried by such animals.‬

‭(b) ‬‭Definitions.‬

 ‭(1) ‬‭Non-domesticated animals‬‭are defined as ‬‭Felidae‬‭(all‬‭wild cats and hybrids‬
 ‭thereof), ‬‭Ursidae‬‭(all bears), ‬‭Proboscideae‬‭(all elephants),‬‭and Non-human Primates‬
 ‭and ‭‬Prosimians.‬

 ‭(2) ‬‭Public display‬‭shall mean the exhibition, presentation‬‭or showing of live‬
 ‭non-domesticated animals to the general public regardless of whether for profit, on a not‬
 ‭for profit basis or without charge.‬




 ‭22‬
 Page 149 of 221
‭(c) ‬‭Prohibition.‬‭The public display of live non-domesticated animals within the corporate limits‬
 ‭of the city is prohibited.‬

‭(Ord. of 9-7-04; eff. 10-13-04)‬


‭5-‬‭7‬‭6‬‭—5-12 Reserved.‬




‭Discussion‬
‭Section 5-1‬

‭The current language of section 5-1 requires the city to provide an animal shelter that‬
‭accepts “all beasts liable to be impounded.” It is the Task Force’s understanding that the city‬
‭has previously contracted only for the impoundment of dogs in need. The Task Force‬
‭recommends that the city provide a shelter for all domesticated and exotic animal‬
‭residents in need.‬

‭Section 5-2a‬

‭Section 5-2a is a new section that requires the appointment of a dedicated, certified animal‬
‭control officer, or officers, within the Burlington Police Department (“BPD”).‬

‭Currently, limited animal control functions are performed by the community service‬
‭officers at the BPD. Community service officers are not required to have experience or‬
‭training specific to animal control functions, such as animal handling, care, and welfare.‬1
‭The Task Force recommends that the city retain an officer, or officers, whose sole duty is to‬
‭respond to animal-related issues and to expand the program so that the city’s animals and‬
‭citizens are better served in this regard. To achieve that goal, the Task Force recommends‬
‭that animal control officers obtain certification in animal control and be required to‬
‭participate in continuing education courses, through a national professional training‬
‭program.‬




‭1‬
  ‭See‬‭City of Burlington, Community Service Officer‬‭Job Description,‬
‭https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/burlingtonvt/jobs/3045625/community-service-officer‬‭..‬



  ‭23‬
 Page 150 of 221
‭The National Animal Care and Control Association (“NACA”) recognizes the difficulty in‬
‭determining the optimum number of animal control officers for any particular locality.‬2 ‭The‬
‭calculation is affected by a number of factors such as the number of calls for service, officer‬
‭safety, citizen safety, types of services provided, population density and diversity, and‬
‭coverage area.‬3

‭Assessment of the number of officers required to address the animal control needs in‬
‭Burlington is further complicated by the fact that calls for service may not accurately reflect‬
‭the need for an animal control officer. For example, residents may be aware that the BPD‬
‭does not respond to calls regarding free-roaming cats and, as a result, they do not place‬
‭such calls for service.‬

‭Studies and other evidence suggest that most cities with a population similar to that of‬
‭Burlington (approximately 44,000 residents) employ or contract with at least one animal‬
‭control officer.‬4

‭In Vermont, an online search reveals that many smaller and less diverse municipalities have‬
‭at least one animal control officer who may be part- or full-time, employed, contracted, or‬
i‭n a few instances a volunteer. A partial list includes Barre, Bolton, Brattleboro, Castleton,‬
‭East Montpelier (2 officers), Fairfax, Guilford, Hartland, Highgate, Hyde Park (2 officers),‬
‭Newfane, Putney, Randolph, Readsboro, Rockingham, Sharon, Shelburne, Shaftsbury,‬
‭Waterbury, and Windham.‬

‭Section 5-4‬

‭Section 5-4 expands the definition of “nuisance animals” to include free-roaming animals. It‬
‭also authorizes law enforcement to impound a “nuisance animal” if the animal’s guardian,‬
‭or the guardian’s agent, is not present or readily located, and it requires impoundment of‬
‭free-roaming animals under such conditions.‬



‭2‬
 ‭National Animal Care and Control Association, “Determining Field Staffing Needs,”‬
‭https://www.nacanet.org/determining-field-staffing-needs/‬‭.‬
 ‭3‬
 ‭Id‬‭.‬
  ‭4‬
 ‭For example, a study conducted by NACA found the average ratio of field animal control officers to citizens was‬
 ‭one officer for every 16,000 to 18,000 persons.‬‭https://www.sheltertrak.com/downloads/kern/kcac_audit/4.pdf‬‭.‬
 ‭Private online discussion groups for animal control officers across the country suggest similar statistics. Printouts on‬
 ‭file with the author.‬



  ‭24‬
 Page 151 of 221
‭Section 5-5‬

‭Section 5-5 replaces the ban on exotic animals on Church Street Marketplace and in city‬
‭parks with a city-wide ban on the offer for sale, sale, purchase, possession, or public display‬
‭of exotic animals, with a grandfather clause for animals currently possessed, and‬
‭exceptions for certain 501(c)(3) organizations.‬

‭The Task Force recognizes that the proposed amendment falls outside the scope of its‬
‭mandate but wishes to take this opportunity to point out that societal views on the keeping‬
‭of exotic animals have changed markedly in the last decade as we have learned more about‬
‭these animals. It is now well accepted that the complex needs of exotic animals cannot be‬
‭met in captivity, even by the most well-meaning guardians,‬5 ‭and that the exotic animal‬
‭trade itself is a source of much suffering.‬6

‭The environmental impact of the exotic pet trade can be severe as well, often having a‬
‭devastating effect on wild populations of the species traded. For example, it is estimated‬
‭that every year 21% of the wild population of African Grey parrots, a popular “pet” and an‬
‭endangered species, are poached.‬7

‭Exotic pets released into the wild when their novelty wears off, or when they become too‬
‭expensive or too difficult to handle, can wreak havoc on native flora and fauna. Perhaps the‬
‭most well-known examples of this problem are the Burmese pythons and green iguanas in‬
‭Florida.‬8 ‭Vermont is not immune to invasive species, and it is projected that as the climate‬
‭continues to warm some invasive species, such as red-eared slider turtles commonly sold‬
i‭n local pet stores, will survive and establish breeding populations in the state.‬9



‭5‬
 ‭Exotic animals, even those bred in captivity, still possess innate social and physical needs, and require mental‬
‭stimulation that cannot be provided in private homes.‬‭See‬‭, Progressive Animal Welfare Society, “Exotic‬‭Pets,”‬
 ‭https://www.paws.org/resources/exotic-animals/‬‭.‬
  ‭6‬
 ‭E.g‬‭., World Animal Protection, “7 Reasons Why You‬‭Shouldn’t Keep Wild Animals as Exotic Pets,”‬
 ‭https://www.worldanimalprotection.ca/news/7-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-keep-wildlife-pets‬‭;‬‭Born Free U.S., “The‬
 ‭Dangers of Keeping Exotic Pets,”‬
 ‭https://www.bornfreeusa.org/campaigns/animals-in-captivity/the-dangers-of-keeping-exotic-pets/‬‭.‬
 ‭7‬
 ‭Id‬‭., World Animal Protection.‬
 ‭8‬
 ‭Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, “Burmese Python,”‬
 ‭https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/snakes/burmese-python/‬‭;‬‭Florida Fish and Wildlife‬
 ‭Commission, “Green Iguana,”‬‭https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/green-iguana/‬‭.‬
 ‭9‬
 ‭Vermont Reptile & Amphibian Atlas, “Pond Slider,”‬
 ‭https://www.vtherpatlas.org/herp-species-in-vermont/trachemys-scripta/‬‭.‬



  ‭25‬
 Page 152 of 221
‭Aside from the animal welfare and environmental concerns, many species of exotic animals‬
‭carry zoonotic diseases, and there are frequent reports of injuries and deaths from exotic‬
‭animals kept as “pets,” who can retain their wild instincts even after decades of captive‬
‭breeding.‬10

‭All states prohibit or restrict the possession of certain exotic animals, and the latter often‬
i‭nvolves a permit, license, or registration requirement.‬11 ‭Vermont allows unrestricted‬
‭possession of many exotic animals, such as certain species of pythons and boas, but‬
‭requires a permit to possess other species, such as anacondas and black widow spiders.‬12

‭As the private “ownership” of exotic animals has increased, a growing number of counties‬
‭and municipalities across the nation have enacted ordinances to prohibit or further restrict‬
‭the presence of exotic animals in their communities, for the safety of residents and the‬
‭welfare of the animals.‬13 ‭For example, Rainsville Alabama’s Responsible Pet Ownership‬
‭Ordinance prohibits the keeping of any non-domesticated, wild animal.‬14 ‭Richmond Virginia‬
‭has a comprehensive ban on the ownership, breeding, purchase, sale, offer for purchase or‬
‭sale, keeping or maintenance of all exotic or wild warm-blood animals, venomous reptiles‬
‭and amphibians, and members of the crocodilian family, with exceptions for a limited‬
‭number of identified species who are in captivity and have never seen the wild, or who‬
‭have been domestically bred or legally imported.‬15




‭9‬
 ‭E.g‬‭., Bruno B. Chomel, Albino Belotto, and François-Xavier‬‭Meslin, “Wildlife, Exotic Pets, and Emerging Zoonoses,”‬
‭Emerg Infect Dis, v.13(1); 2007 Jan., available at‬‭https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2725831/‬‭, last‬
 ‭accessed Sept. 23, 2023.‬
  ‭10‬
 ‭E.g‬‭., People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,‬‭“Reptile Incidents,”‬
 ‭https://www.peta.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/reptile-incidents-factsheet.pdf‬‭.‬
 ‭11‬
 ‭Findlaw, “Exotic Animal Laws by State,”‬
 ‭https://www.findlaw.com/injury/torts-and-personal-injuries/exotic-animal-laws-by-state.html‬‭.‬

‭12‬
 ‭Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, “Unrestricted Wild Animal List” and “Restricted Wild Animal List,”‬
‭https://vtfishandwildlife.com/sites/fishandwildlife/files/documents/Learn%20More/Living%20with%20Wildlife/Im‬
 ‭portation/Unrestricted_Wild_Animal_List.pdf‬‭.‬
  ‭13‬
 ‭See‬‭Humane Society of the United States, “Where the‬‭Wild Things Shouldn’t Be,”‬
 ‭https://humanepro.org/magazine/articles/where-wild-things-shouldnt-be‬‭.‬
 ‭14‬
 ‭City Of Rainsville, Alabama, “Non-Domesticated, Wild Animals,” Ord. No. 5-23-13-A, sec. 10,‬
 ‭http://www.rainsvillealabama.com/ordinances/Ordinance-5-23-13-A-amendment.pdf‬‭.‬
 ‭15‬
 ‭City of Richmond, Virginia, Ord. No. 2023-130 - Amended 20230626,‬
 ‭https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/ordinances/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=1228386‬‭.‬




  ‭26‬
 Page 153 of 221
‭The Task Force recommends that the city consider the proposed revisions to section 5-5 for‬
‭the reasons stated herein.‬

‭Section 5-6‬

‭Section 5-5, if adopted, makes the prohibition on public display of certain‬
‭non-domesticated animals in section 5-6 duplicative and thus unnecessary.‬




‭27‬
 Page 154 of 221
‭Proposed Amendments to Article II of Chapter 5‬
‭The Task Force’s recommended amendments are inserted and underlined, and text that‬
‭would be eliminated is indicated by strikethroughs.‬


 ‭ARTICLE II. DOGS‬‭AND CATS‬‭1‬

‭5-13 Definitions.‬
‭The following definitions shall apply to this article:‬

‭"At-large"‬‭shall mean not under the control of the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬,‭‬‭a member of the guardian’s‬
 i‭mmediate family, or the guardian’s agent‬‭or another‬‭individual either‬‭by leash‬,‭ cord, chain‬‭or‬
  ‭other similar means of physical restraint.‬

‭"Dog"‬‭shall include both male and female of the canine‬‭species. Dog shall also mean any animal‬
 ‭which‬‭who‬‭is considered to be a wolf-hybrid as defined‬‭in ‭‬20‬‭V.S.A. § ‭‬3541‬‭(6).‬

‭“Cat”‬‭shall include both male and female of the feline‬‭species.‬

‭"Enforcement official"‬‭when used herein shall mean‬‭any animal control officer, police officer,‬
 ‭poundkeeper‬‭shelter manager‬,‭ urban park ranger or‬‭other individual specifically designated by‬
  ‭the city council to enforce the provisions of this chapter.‬

‭"‭‬Owner‬‭Guardian" ‭‬shall include any person or persons,‬‭firm, association or corporation owning,‬
 ‭keeping or harboring a dog‬‭or cat‬‭.‬

‭"‭‬Vicious‬‭Dangerous dog"‬‭shall mean a dog‬‭which‬‭that‬‭attacks or bites a person or other‬‭domestic‬
 ‭pet‬‭companion animal‬‭while the dog is off the premises‬‭of the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭or keeper, and‬
  ‭the person or‬‭pet‬‭companion animal‬‭attacked or bitten‬‭requires medical attention.‬‭Vicious‬
 ‭Dangerous‬‭dog complaints shall be investigated pursuant‬‭to section ‭‬5-27‬‭(b).‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 4-17-00; Ord. of 4-17-23(1))‬


‭5-14 Identification required.‬
‭Identification that includes the name and contact information for the guardian of the dog or cat‬
 ‭shall be securely attached to a collar or harness and worn at all times.‬


‭5-‬‭14‬‭‬‭15‬‭At-large prohibited.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Prohibition.‬‭Except as exempted below, no person‬‭shall permit a dog‬‭or cat for whom they‬
 ‭are the guardian‬‭him or her‬‭or‬‭who is‬‭under‬‭his or‬‭her‬‭their‬‭control to be at-large as defined in‬
  ‭section ‬‭5-13‬‭or to trespass upon the property of another,‬‭public or private.‬




 ‭28‬
 Page 155 of 221
‭(b) ‬‭Public Safety.‬‭Should an at-large dog‬‭or cat‬‭be deemed to pose an imminent public safety‬
 ‭risk, said animal may be killed by the Police Department or their designee. Such an act shall‬
  ‭occur where other reasonable means to control the animal have been unsuccessful or deemed‬
 ‭not practicable under the circumstances.‬

‭(c) ‬‭Exemptions.‬‭A dog‬‭or cat‬‭may be‬‭is not‬‭at-large‬‭if‬‭it is‬‭they are‬‭:‬

 ‭(1) On the premises of the dog’s‬‭or cat’s‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭;‬

 ‭(2) On the premises of the person under whose control the dog‬‭or‬‭cat is under;‬‭or‬

 ‭(3) On the premises of another person as long as that person has given permission for‬
 ‭the dog‬‭or cat‬‭to be at-large‬‭;‭‬.‬

 ‭(4) ‬‭A dog is not at-large if they are‬‭Ii‭‬n‬‭a designated‬‭off-leash dog area managed and‬
 ‭regulated by the board of parks and recreation commissioners.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 4-17-00; Ord. of 9-10-12(1))‬


‭5-‬‭15‬‭16‬‭License and rabies vaccination required.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Licensing.‬‭Every‬‭owner or keeper‬‭guardian‬‭of‬‭a dog‬‭or cat‬‭more than six (6) months old‬‭who‬
 ‭has resided in the city for more than 90 days,‬‭shall‬‭be required to‬‭annually‬‭register and license‬
  ‭the animal‬,‭‬‭in the manner prescribed by the city‬,‭‬‭with the city clerk’s office‬‭and to do so‬
 ‭annually provided that no guardian shall be required to register a dog or cat more than once in‬
 ‭any calendar year‬‭. The license shall expire on the‬‭first day of April next after its issuance. Upon‬
 i‭ssuance of such license and payment of the license fee as required in section ‭‬5-17‬‭of this‬
 ‭chapter, each‬‭dog owner‬‭guardian‬‭shall receive a‬‭dog‬‭license tag.‬

‭(b) ‬‭Rabies vaccination.‬‭Proof of a current rabies‬‭vaccination, as required by state law, shall be‬
 ‭required for the licensing of any animal.‬

‭(c) ‬‭Fixture of tag.‬‭The‬‭dog‬‭license tag issued‬‭to any person as provided herein shall be securely‬
 ‭attached to a collar or harness on such licensed dog‬‭or cat‬‭and worn at all times.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 8-14-00; Ord. of 6-4-07, eff. 7-4-07)‬


‭State law reference—Control of rabies ‭‬20‬‭V.S.A. § ‭‬3801‬‭et‬‭seq.; immunization required, ‬‭20‬‭V.S.A. § 4003.‬


‭5-‬‭16‬‭17‬‭License fees.‬
‭(a) In addition to the license fee and any penalty fee required by state law, the municipal fee‬
 ‭for each license required by this article shall be‬‭twenty dollars ($20.00) for each‬
  ‭neutered/spayed dog and forty dollars ($40.00) for each non-neutered/non-spayed dog.‬
 ‭recommended by the city clerk’s office and approved by the city council, provided that the fee‬
 ‭for an intact dog or cat shall be greater than that for a neutered or spayed dog or cat. The fees‬
 ‭established under this section shall be reviewed not less than every five years.‬




 ‭29‬
 Page 156 of 221
‭(b) The municipal fees collected under this section shall be used for education and other‬
 ‭services pertinent to the improved welfare of dogs and cats who reside in the city.‬

‭(b)‬‭‬‭(c)‬‭ The‬‭owner or keeper‬‭guardian‬‭of a neutered/spayed‬‭dog that serves as the person’s‬
 ‭service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request waiver of the municipal‬
  l‭icense fee (but not the state fee) by providing to the city clerk’s office adequate responses to‬
 ‭the following questions in writing:‬

‭• Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?‬

‭• What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 6-25-01; Ord. of 6-4-07, eff. 7-4-07; Ord. of 2-16-21)‬


‭State law reference—Similar provisions, ‬‭20‬‭V.S.A.‬‭§ ‭‬3581‬‭.‬


‭5-‬‭17‬‭18‬‭Removal of dog waste required.‬
‭The‬‭owner, keeper‬‭guardian‬‭or person in control of‬‭any dog‬‭or cat‬‭shall be responsible for the‬
 ‭removal of any defecation deposited by such dog‬‭or‬‭cat‬‭on any public or private property.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97)‬


‭5-‬‭18‬‭19‬‭—5-23 Reserved.‬


‭Discussion‬
‭The title of Article II is revised to reflect the recommended addition of cats to specified‬
‭sections of the Article.‬

‭Section 5-13‬

‭Section 5-13 adds a definition of “cat” and updates the definition of “guardian” accordingly.‬

‭Section 5-14‬

‭Section 5-14 is a new section that requires dogs and cats to wear identification that‬
i‭ncludes the name and contact information for the guardian. This requirement serves to‬
‭protect companion animals, and benefits animal control efforts and public safety as well.‬




 ‭30‬
 Page 157 of 221
‭Rhode Island summarizes the benefits of such an ordinance in the preamble to a state law‬
‭that requires identification for cats.‬16 ‭Specifically, the Rhode Island legislature determined‬
‭that:‬

 ‭(1) Cat identification would provide cats protection under the law, equal to that afforded‬
 ‭dogs, by establishing ownership which, in turn, would encourage cat owners to take full‬
 ‭responsibility for their pets’ welfare.‬

 ‭(2) [Already required in Vermont] Cat identification would protect cats, as dogs are now‬
 ‭protected, by establishing minimum holding periods for cats released to and/or impounded‬
 ‭by municipal animal control facilities and private animal shelters.‬

 ‭(3) A program to require cat identification should facilitate the return of lost, owned cats.‬

 ‭(4) Cat identification would provide a method to help distinguish between owned and‬
 ‭unowned cat populations thus assisting animal control officers and animal shelters in‬
 ‭carrying out their mission.‬

 ‭(5) Cat identification would advance the reduction of the untold suffering of cats at-large in‬
 ‭our state by helping to insure the quick return of injured and sick animals to their owners.‬

 ‭(6) Passage of this bill would reduce the number of unowned cats and increase education to‬
 ‭owners as to the need for sterilization of cats, thereby reducing unwanted litters, eliminating‬
 ‭cat over-population problems, and reducing the costs to cities and towns for euthanizing‬
 ‭at-large or unowned cats.‬

 ‭(7) Cat identification would help support public health and safety in the control of rabies.‬17

‭These same public purposes are advanced when dogs are required to wear identification.‬

‭Section 5-15‬

‭Section 5-15 as currently written prohibits at-large dogs. The proposed amendment‬
i‭ncludes cats in this prohibition. The Task Force recognizes that this recommendation falls‬
‭outside the scope of its mandate but considers the amendment necessary for the welfare‬
‭of cats, the protection of wildlife, and public safety. The American Veterinary Medical‬
‭Association (“AVMA”) provides a Model Dog and Cat Control Ordinance that requires all‬
‭dogs and cats “be kept under restraint” for these very reasons.‬18 ‭A number of municipalities‬

‭16‬
 ‭R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-22-1.‬
‭17‬
 ‭Id‬‭.‬
‭18‬
 ‭American Veterinary Medical Association, “Model Dog and Cat Control Ordinance,” sec. V(a),‬
 ‭https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/resources/Model-Dog-Cat-Control-Ord-Policy.pdf‬‭;‬‭American Veterinary‬
  ‭Medical Association, “Free-roaming, owned cats,”‬
 ‭https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/free-roaming-owned-cats‬‭.‬



  ‭31‬
 Page 158 of 221
i‭n Vermont, for example South Burlington, Shelburne, and Stowe, have followed the AVMA’s‬
l‭ead and prohibit at-large cats and/or include at-large cats in the definition of “nuisance‬
‭animal,” and impose fines and/or permit their impoundment.‬19

‭The Welfare of Cats‬‭: As the AVMA and other authorities‬‭recognize, free-roaming cats are‬
l‭ikely to have a reduced life span and may be exposed to injury, suffering, and death from‬
‭vehicles, attacks from other animals, disease, cruel acts by humans, poisons, traps, and‬
‭weather extremes.‬20 ‭Burlington’s resident cats have not escaped these harms.‬21

‭The Protection of Wildlife‬‭: The American Bird Conservancy succinctly summarizes the‬
‭detrimental and deadly impact of free-roaming cats on native species of wildlife:‬

 ‭Outdoor domestic cats are a recognized threat to global biodiversity. Cats have contributed‬
 ‭to the extinction of 63 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles in the wild and continue to‬
 ‭adversely impact a wide variety of other species, including those at risk of extinction, such as‬
 ‭Piping Plover …The ecological dangers are so critical that the International Union for‬
 ‭Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists domestic cats as one of the world’s worst non-native‬
 i‭nvasive species.‬22

‭In the United States, it is estimated that outdoor cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds‬
‭every year, earning the distinction of the number-one direct, human-caused threat to birds.‬
23
 ‭Between 6.9 to 20.7 billion small mammals are killed by cats each year, and researchers‬



‭19‬
 ‭South Burlington, Vermont, “Care & Control of Dogs & Cats Ordinance,” Town Ordinance, Vol. 1, pg. 159-165, sec.‬
‭3,‬
 ‭https://cms6.revize.com/revize/southburlington/document_center/city%20regulations/Care_and_Control_of_Dogs‬
  ‭_and_Cats_Ordinance.pdf‬‭; Town of Shelburne, “An Ordinance‬‭for the Care and Control of Animals,” Town‬
 ‭Ordinance, Vol. 1, pg. 3-32, sec. 2(g) and sec. 4(a),‬
 ‭https://www.shelburnevt.org/DocumentCenter/View/103/Animal-Control-Ordinance‬‭;‬
 ‭Town of Stowe, Vermont, “Animal Control Ordinance,” Municipal Code, Chapter 2, Article III,‬
 ‭https://www.townofstowevt.org/vertical/Sites/%7B97FA91EA-60A3-4AC6-8466-F386C5AE9012%7D/uploads/Anim‬
 ‭al_Control_Ordinance_Final_2015_SIGNED.pdf‬‭.‬
 ‭20‬
 ‭E.g.‬‭AVMA, “Free-roaming, owned cats,”‬‭supra‬‭, n.‬‭1.‬
 ‭21‬
 ‭E.g‬‭., New England Cable News, “Boy Cited After Allegedly‬‭Hanging Cat From Tree in Burlington, Vermont,” Nov.‬
 ‭17, 2016,‬
 ‭https://www.necn.com/news/local/vermont/boy-cited-after-allegedly-hanging-cat-from-tree-in-burlington-vermon‬
 ‭t/41056/‬‭; Burlington Vermont Police Department Incident‬‭Reports document an instance in which a cat was injured‬
 ‭in a leghold trap and left to stagger off and suffer after their release.‬

‭22‬
 ‭American Bird Conservancy, “Indoor Cats,”‬‭https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/cats-and-birds/‬‭(also‬
‭providing links to scientific literature on the issue);‬‭see also‬‭, Wildlife Center of Virginia, “Untamed -‬‭The Case for‬
 ‭Indoor Cats.‬
  ‭https://vermont.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/case-for-indoor-cats-video/untamed-the-wildlife-center-of-virgini‬
 ‭a/‬‭(also addressing the welfare of cats, zoonotic‬‭diseases, and ways to transition free-roaming cats to the indoors).‬
 ‭23‬
 ‭Id‬‭., American Bird Conservatory.‬



  ‭32‬
 Page 159 of 221
‭believe that between 258 to 822 million reptiles and 95 to 299 million amphibians may‬
‭suffer the same fate.‬24

‭Burlington is an environmentally conscious community, and the Task Force suggests that a‬
‭prohibition on free-roaming cats is simply good environmental stewardship.‬

‭Public Safety‬‭: The scientific literature documents‬‭that free-roaming cats pose a significant‬
‭threat to public health because they can carry and transmit a number of zoonotic viruses,‬
‭bacteria, and parasites, such as rabies and toxoplasmosis.‬25 ‭Notably, according to Peter‬
‭Marra, a professor of biology and the environment at Georgetown University, “[d]ogs used‬
‭to be the primary way humans picked up rabies from domestic animals … [b]ut we started‬
l‭icensing dogs and requiring leash laws and rabies vaccines. Now, dogs are not the problem‬
‭at all—it’s primarily cats.”‬26

‭The Task Force recommends that the city prohibit free-roaming cats for the reasons stated‬
‭herein.‬

‭Section 5-16‬

‭Section 5-16 extends the requirement for a license to cats. Such requirements have been‬
‭shown to improve the welfare of cats, increase public safety, and enhance the quality of life‬
i‭n their communities, much like the identification requirements discussed above.‬
‭Municipalities across the country have implemented cat-licensing requirements, including‬
j‭urisdictions in Vermont such as South Burlington and Shelburne.‬27

‭The Task Force recommends that the city require licenses for cats for the reasons stated‬
‭herein.‬

‭Section 5-17‬

‭24‬
 ‭Smithsonian Magazine, “Feral Cats Kill Billions of Small Critters Each Year,” Jan. 29, 2013,‬
‭https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/feral-cats-kill-billions-of-small-critters-each-year-7814590/#:~:t‬
 ‭ext=Based%20upon%20data%20taken%20from,needed%20to%20verify%20those%20extrapolations‬
  ‭25‬
 ‭E.g‬‭., R. W. Gerhold and D. A. Jessup, “Zoonotic Diseases‬‭Associated with Free-Roaming Cats,” Zoonosis and Pubic‬
 ‭Health, 2012,‬
 ‭https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Gerhold-and-Jessup-2012-Zoonotic-diseases-and-free-roaming-‬
 ‭cats.pdf‬‭.‬
 ‭26‬
 ‭Kristine Liao, “Outdoor cats are deadly—and not just for birds and squirrels,” Popular Science, May 31, 2022,‬
 ‭https://www.popsci.com/environment/outdoor-cats-spread-diseases/‬‭.‬

‭27‬
 ‭South Burlington Town Ordinance,‬‭supra‬‭n. 4, sec.‬‭4(A); Town of Shelburne Ordinance,‬‭supra‬‭n. 4, sec.‬‭12(a).‬



  ‭33‬
 Page 160 of 221
‭Section 5-17 requires fees for dog and cat licenses to be reviewed no less frequently than‬
‭every five years, and for the revenue to be used for education and other services pertinent‬
‭to the improved welfare of dogs and cats who reside in the city. Anecdotal evidence‬
‭suggests that more residents will comply with the licensing requirement if the fees are used‬
‭to provide companion animal-related services.‬

‭Adequate low-cost spay/neuter options‬

‭There is consensus among those knowledgeable about companion animal overpopulation‬
‭that communities must take the important step to provide adequate safe, affordable,‬
‭voluntary spay/neuter programs that are readily accessible to the community, and that‬
‭focus on education and incentives to encourage participation by those sectors of the‬
‭community most in need of the service.‬28

‭The Humane Society of Chittenden County’s (HSCC) Community Pet Clinic provides a‬
l‭ow-cost spay and neuter service and administers a fund to assist residents who cannot‬
‭afford the service.‬29 ‭Task Force member Nina Hurley, who serves on the HSCC’s Board of‬
‭Directors, advises that the clinic is at capacity. The Task Force recommends that the City‬
‭consult with the HSCC to assess whether the City should provide support to the clinic‬
‭and/or establish an additional, independent spay/neuter program.‬




‭28‬
 ‭See, e.g.‬‭, American Society for the Prevention of‬‭Cruelty to Animals, “Position Statement on Mandatory‬
‭Spay/Neuter Laws,”‬
 ‭https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-mandatory-spayneuter‬
  ‭-laws#:~:text=ASPCA%20Position,means%20to%20reduce%20shelter%20intake‬‭.‬


‭29‬
 ‭Humane Society of Chittenden County, “Spay-Neuter at the Community Pet Clinic,”‬
‭https://www.hsccvt.org/SNClinic‬‭.‬




  ‭34‬
 Page 161 of 221
‭Proposed Amendments to Article III of Chapter 5‬
‭The Task Force’s recommended amendments are inserted and underlined, and text that‬
‭would be eliminated is indicated by strikethroughs.‬


 ‭ARTICLE III. ENFORCEMENT AND IMPOUNDMENT‬
‭5-24 Penalties.‬
‭An offense of any provision of this chapter by any person shall be deemed a civil ordinance‬
 ‭violation and shall be punishable by the following penalties:‬

 ‭(1) ‬‭First offense.‬‭A first offense of any provision‬‭of this chapter in any twelve-month‬
 ‭period shall be punishable by a fine of no less than‬‭one‬‭two‬‭hundred dollars ($‬‭1‬‭2‭‬00.00)‬
 ‭and no more than‬‭one‬‭two‬‭hundred fifty dollars ($‬‭1‭‬2‭‬50.00).‬‭The waiver fine shall be‬‭one‬
 ‭two‬‭hundred dollars ($‬‭1‬‭2‬‭00.00).‬

 ‭(2) ‬‭Second offense.‬‭A second offense of any provision‬‭of this chapter in any twelve-month‬
 ‭period shall be punishable by a fine of no less than‬‭one‬‭two‬‭hundred fifty dollars‬
 ‭($‬‭1‬‭2‬‭50.00) and no more than‬‭two‬‭three‬‭hundred fifty‬‭dollars ($‬‭2‭‬3‬‭50.00). The waiver fine‬
 ‭shall be‬‭one‬‭two‬‭hundred fifty dollars ($‬‭1‬‭2‭‬50.00).‬

 ‭(3) ‬‭Third and subsequent offenses.‬‭A third or subsequent‬‭offense of any provision of this‬
 ‭chapter in any twelve-month period shall be punishable by a fine of no less than‬‭two‬
 ‭three‬‭hundred fifty dollars ($‬‭2‭‬3‭‬50.00) and no more‬‭than‬‭five‬‭six‬‭hundred dollars‬
 ‭($‬‭5‬‭6‬‭00.00). The waiver fine shall be‬‭two‬‭three‬‭hundred‬‭fifty dollars ($‬‭2‭‬5‭‬0.00).‬

‭In addition to the penalties provided in this section‬,‭‬‭:‬

 ‭(1)‬ ‭Any person found in violation of this chapter may be subject to a restorative justice‬
 ‭process with the Burlington Community Justice Center at the discretion of the animal‬
 ‭control committee.‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭a‬‭Any‬‭animal found in violation of this chapter may‬‭be impounded as provided in‬
 ‭section ‭‬5-25‬‭of this chapter.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 6-4-07, eff. 7-4-07)‬


‭5-25 Impoundment.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Authority to impound.‬‭‬‭Dogs‬‭Any animal‬‭in violation‬‭of any provision of this chapter‬‭or‬
 ‭suspected of being diseased or injured‬‭may be taken‬‭by the enforcement officer and‬
  i‭mpounded in the city‬‭pound‬‭animal shelter‬‭and there‬‭confined in a humane manner‬,‭ except‬
 ‭that any animal suspected of being a stray shall be impounded‬‭.‬‭The enforcement officer may, in‬
 l‭ieu of boarding and when in the public interest and consistent with the public safety, allow an‬
 i‭mpounded dog to remain confined in the custody of its owner on the owner’s recognizance‬
 ‭that the dog shall remain confined to the owner’s property, follow the terms of impoundment‬
 ‭set by the enforcement officer and shall not be in violation of any provision of this chapter.‬



‭35‬
 Page 162 of 221
‭Confinement in lieu of boarding shall continue until such time as the violation or condition‬
 ‭authorizing impoundment has been abated‬‭.‬

‭(b) ‬‭Impoundment fees.‬‭Any‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭impounded‬‭under the provisions of this chapter shall‬
 ‭be released only on payment of a‬‭seventy-five‬‭one‬‭hundred‬‭dollar‬‭s‬‭($‬‭75‬‭100‬‭.00) impoundment‬
  ‭fee.‬

‭(c) ‬‭Boarding fee.‬‭In addition to the impoundment‬‭fee charged herein there shall be an‬
 ‭additional charge of‬‭ten dollars ($10.00)‬‭actual expenses‬‭per day‬‭for board for‬‭each day‬‭the‬
  ‭period that the‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭is impounded‬,‭‬‭.‬‭except that‬‭if an animal is claimed up to three (3)‬
 ‭hours after impoundment, the owner will be responsible for one-half (1/2) day’s boarding fee. If‬
 ‭an animal is claimed within two (2) hours of opening business hours on the following business‬
 ‭day, the owner will not be charged for that day’s boarding fee.‬

‭(d) ‬‭City clerk to collect fees before releasing‬‭dog‬‭animal‬.‭‭‬It shall be the duty of the city clerk‬‭to‬
 ‭collect all‬‭im‬‭pound and board‬i‭ng‬‭fees before releasing‬‭a‬‭n‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭.‬

‭(e) ‬‭Unlicensed dogs‬‭and cats‬‭to be licensed before‬‭release.‬‭If an impounded dog‬‭or cat‬‭is‬
 ‭unlicensed, in addition to the impound‬i‭ng‬‭ment‬‭and‬‭boarding fees set forth herein, the dog‬‭or‬
  ‭cat‬‭shall not be released without the payment of the‬‭license fee required by section ‬‭5-17‬,‭‬
 ‭except that if the impounded dog‬‭or cat‬‭has not had‬‭its proper vaccinations to be registered a‬
 ‭forty-five‬‭one hundred‬‭dollar ($‬‭45‬‭100‬‭.00) cash deposit‬‭shall be posted with the city clerk or‬‭his‬
 ‭or her‬‭their‬‭designated agent(s) until proof of registration‬‭is presented. A dog‬‭or cat‬‭released‬
 ‭under cash deposit shall be registered within two (2) working days after‬‭its‬‭release. If the dog‬‭or‬
 ‭cat‬‭is not registered within the time period set forth‬‭herein, the cash deposit shall be forfeited‬
 ‭and the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭of the animal shall be subject‬‭to additional penalties under the‬
 ‭provisions of ‭‬20‬‭V.S.A. Chapter ‬‭193‬

‭(f) ‬‭Disposition of unredeemed‬‭dogs‬‭animals‬.‭‭‬If‬‭any impounded‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭with a current and‬
 ‭effective license established by proof of a dog license tag,‬‭is not redeemed within (7) days of‬‭its‬
  i‭mpoundment,‬‭it‬‭the animal‬‭shall be‬‭sold or given‬‭away‬‭offered for adoption at the city animal‬
 ‭shelter or transferred to a cooperating animal shelter as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 3901‬‭.‬‭If any‬
 i‭mpounded dog without a current and effective license established by proof of a dog license‬
 ‭tag, is not redeemed within (5) days of its impoundment, it shall be sold or given away. Any‬
 ‭proceeds from the sale of any impounded dog shall first be allocated to taxes, fees and other‬
 ‭charges related to the impoundment. Any balance then remaining shall be paid to the owner if‬
 ‭any is found. If proceeds from the sale of the unredeemed dog do not cover the costs‬
 ‭associated with the impoundment, the balance of sums owed under this chapter may be‬
 ‭collected in a civil action brought under this section.‬‭If any unredeemed‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭is not‬‭sold‬
 ‭or given away‬‭adopted‬‭because of disease, temperament‬‭or other cause, it shall be‬‭destroyed‬
 i‭n a humane way‬‭euthanized‬‭. The impoundment period‬‭may be waived by the‬‭poundkeeper‬
 ‭director of the animal shelter‬‭in‬‭the‬‭case of a severely‬‭injured animal whose‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬
 ‭cannot be located or is unwilling to claim the animal.‬

‭(g) ‬‭Interference with impoundment.‬‭Any person who‬‭interferes with the impounding of a‬‭n‬‭dog‬
 ‭animal‬‭under provisions of this article or releases,‬‭or who attempts to release‬,‭‬‭an impounded‬
  ‭dog‬ ‭animal‬‭contrary to this article shall be in violation‬‭of this chapter.‬




‭36‬
 Page 163 of 221
‭(h) ‬‭Notice of impoundment.‬‭Within twenty-four (24) hours of the impoundment of any‬‭dog‬
 ‭animal‬‭under this chapter, the enforcement officer shall make every reasonable attempt to‬
  ‭notify the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭of the impounded‬‭dog‬‭animal‬‭of such impoundment. Such notice‬
 ‭shall include either personal contact with the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭or a written notice posted at the‬
 ‭dwelling house of the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭.‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 6-4-07, eff. 7-4-07)‬


‭State law reference—Notice by impounder, ‬‭20‬‭V.S.A.‬‭§ ‬‭3413‬‭.‬

‭5-26 Cruelty.‬
‭Any person who shall torture, torment or cruelly neglect to provide with necessary sustenance‬
 ‭or shelter, or shall cruelly beat or needlessly mutilate or illegally kill any animal, or any person‬
  ‭who shall cause any animal to be tortured, tormented, or fight with other animals, or deprived‬
 ‭of necessary sustenance or to be cruelly beaten or needlessly mutilated or illegally killed shall‬
 ‭be guilty of a misdemeanor offense and shall be punishable by a fine of from‬‭one‬‭three‬
 ‭hundred dollars ($‬‭1‭‬3‬‭00.00) to‬‭five‬‭six‬‭hundred dollars‬‭($‬‭5‭‬600‬‭.00).‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97)‬


‭5-27 Animal control committee.‬
‭(a) ‭‬Animal control committee established.‬‭For purposes‬‭of this section, an animal control‬
 ‭committee is established. The animal control committee will be a subcommittee of the‬
  ‭Burlington Police Commission and shall consist of three (3) commission members‬,‭ one (1)‬
 l‭icensed veterinarian, and (1) certified animal behavior professional‬‭to be appointed on an as‬
 ‭needed basis by the chair of the Burlington Police Commission. The designated animal control‬
 ‭officer shall be the prosecuting officer for any violation brought before the committee.‬

‭(b) ‬‭Vicious‬‭Dangerous‬‭dogs.‬‭Upon written complaint‬‭by a city resident that a dog is alleged to‬
 ‭be‬‭vicious‬‭dangerous‬‭as defined in section ‭‬5-13‬‭(e)‬,‭‬‭the animal control committee may hold a‬
  ‭hearing on the facts of the complaint and, if the dog is found to be‬‭vicious‬‭dangerous‬,‭ make‬
 ‭such order as necessary to protect the public. Such order may include, but is not limited to, any‬
 ‭of the following: confinement in a secure enclosure or other similar restriction, muzzling‬
 ‭adoption, or‬‭destruction in a humane manner‬‭euthanasia‬‭.‬‭In addition, the animal control‬
 ‭committee may revoke the privilege of any‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭to keep, harbor or have custody of‬
 ‭any animals while in the city and that no new privileges be granted.‬

‭(c) ‬‭Repeated impoundment.‬‭In the event that any‬‭dog shall be impounded three (3) or more‬
 ‭times in a twelve-month period, the animal control committee may, at the request of an‬
  ‭enforcement officer, or in their discretion, hold a hearing after which they may make such‬
 ‭order as is necessary to protect the public. Such order may include, but is not limited to, any of‬
 ‭the following: confinement in a secure enclosure or other similar restriction, muzzling adoption,‬
 ‭or‬‭destruction in a humane manner‬‭euthanasia‬‭. In addition,‬‭the animal control committee may‬
 ‭revoke the privilege of any‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭to keep,‬‭harbor or have custody of any animals‬
 ‭while in the city and that no new privileges be granted.‬




 ‭37‬
 Page 164 of 221
‭(d) ‬‭Penalty for violation of orders.‬‭Any person who violates any provision of any order of the‬
 ‭animal control committee shall be guilty of a misdemeanor offense and shall be punishable by‬
  ‭a fine of from‬‭one‬‭three‬‭hundred dollars ($‬‭1‭‬300‬‭.00)‬‭to‬‭five‬‭six‬‭hundred dollars ($‬‭5‭‬6‬‭00.00).‬

‭(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 8-14-00)‬


‭5-28 Confinement of animals in vehicles.‬
‭(a) A person shall not leave an animal unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in a‬
 ‭manner that would endanger the health or safety of the animal.‬

‭(b) Any‬‭humane‬‭animal control‬‭officer, law enforcement‬‭officer, or member of a fire and‬
 ‭rescue service may use reasonable force to remove any such animal from a motor vehicle. The‬
  ‭officer may not be subject to criminal or civil liability for any damage resulting from actions‬
 ‭taken under subsection (a) of this section.‬‭If the‬‭aforementioned officers are unavailable, a‬
 ‭person who forcibly enters a motor vehicle for actions taken under subsection (a) of this section‬
 ‭shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability for damage resulting from the forcible entry if the‬
 ‭person: (1) determines the motor vehicle is locked or there is otherwise no reasonable method‬
 ‭for the animal to exit the vehicle; (2) reasonably and in good faith believes that forcible entry‬
 i‭nto the motor vehicle is necessary because the animal is in imminent danger of harm; (3)‬
 ‭notifies a humane officer, law enforcement officer, or member of a fire and rescue service prior‬
 ‭to forcibly entering the vehicle; (4) remains with the animal in a safe location reasonably close‬
 ‭to the motor vehicle until a humane officer, law enforcement officer, or member of a fire and‬
 ‭rescue service arrives; (5) places a notice on the vehicle that the authorities have been notified‬
 ‭and specifying the location of the animal; and (6) uses no more force to enter the vehicle and‬
 ‭remove the animal than necessary under the circumstances.‬‭The‬‭An‬‭officer shall deliver the‬
 ‭animal to a humane society, veterinarian or‬‭the city‬‭town or municipal pound‬‭animal shelter‬‭. If‬
 ‭the‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭of the animal cannot be found,‬‭the officer shall place a written notice in the‬
 ‭vehicle, bearing the name of the officer and the‬‭department‬‭and‬‭address where the animal may‬
 ‭be claimed. The‬‭owner‬‭guardian‬‭shall be liable for‬‭reasonable expenses associated with the‬
 ‭removal, delivery, boarding and disposition of the animal and a lien may be placed on the‬
 ‭animal for these expenses.‬‭(c) A violation of this‬‭section shall be a civil violation subject to the‬
 ‭penalties imposed by Section ‬‭5-24‬‭.‬


‭5-29 Abandonment of injured animal‬
‭(a) A person shall not leave the scene of an accident in which such person has reason to‬
 ‭believe that they have caused the injury or death of a domestic animal. Such person shall‬
  i‭mmediately contact an enforcement officer, and make a reasonable effort to immediately‬
 ‭contact the guardian of the animal. If the animal is injured wildlife, the person shall contact a‬
 ‭humane officer or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for assistance.‬

‭(b) A violation of this section shall be a civil violation subject to the penalties imposed by‬
 ‭Section 5-24.‬

‭Discussion‬

‭Section 5-24‬



‭38‬
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‭Section 5-24 increases penalties for civil violations of the Chapter 5 and adds restorative‬
j‭ustice measures as permissible additional penalties.‬

‭Section 5-25‬

‭Section 5-25(a) extends the authority to impound to any animal in violation of the chapter‬
‭or suspected of being diseased or injured, and requires impoundment of any animal‬
‭suspected of being a stray.‬

‭Section 5-25(b) increases the impoundment fee.‬

‭Section 5-25(c) replaces the specified boarding fee with the requirement that the fee reflect‬
‭actual expenses.‬

‭Section 5-25(d) extends the city clerk’s authority to collect impoundment and boarding fees‬
‭regardless of the species involved.‬

‭Section 5-25(e) requires unlicensed cats, as well as dogs, to be licensed before release.‬

‭Section 5-25(f) removes the authority to sell or give away unredeemed animals and‬
‭replaces it with the authority to offer these animals for adoption through a shelter.‬

‭Sections 5-25(g) and (h) extend the prohibition on interference with impoundment and the‬
‭requirement for notice of impoundment to all animals regardless of species.‬

‭Section 5-26‬

‭Section 5-26 increases the fines for cruelty to animals.‬

‭Section 5-27‬

‭Section 5-27(a) adds a licensed veterinarian and a certified animal behavior professional to‬
‭the animal control committee to be appointed to serve on an as-needed basis. This will‬
‭ensure that the committee has access to the expertise needed to properly resolve the‬
‭cases that come before it, such as dangerous dog hearings.‬

‭Section 5-27(d) increases the penalty for violations of an order of the animal control‬
‭committee.‬




‭39‬
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‭Section 5-28‬

‭Section 5-28 authorizes any person to use reasonable force to remove an animal from a‬
‭vehicle when the health and safety of the animal is at risk, but only when a humane officer,‬
l‭aw enforcement officer, or member of a fire and rescue service is unavailable. The Task‬
‭Force views this amendment as necessary to address situations in which the animal may be‬
i‭n distress and officials are not immediately available. The language of the amendment‬
‭tracks the language of the similar state law.‬

‭Section 5-29‬

‭Section 5-29 is a new section that requires a person who has injured or caused the death of‬
‭an animal to remain at the scene and to contact an enforcement officer. It further requires‬
‭such person to make a reasonable effort to contact the animal’s guardian should it appear‬
‭that the animal has a guardian, and to contact a humane officer or wildlife rehabilitator if‬
‭the animal is injured wildlife.‬




‭40‬
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‭Proposed Amendments to Section 22-13 of Chapter 22‬
‭The Task Force’s recommended amendments are inserted and underlined, and text that‬
‭would be eliminated is indicated by strikethroughs.‬




‭Chapter 22 - Sec. 22-13. - Animals prohibited; exception‬
‭No domestic animals, except dogs‬‭and cat‬‭s,‭‬ shall be‬‭permitted in any park.‬‭Dogs shall be‬
 l‭eashed or controlled by other similar means of physical restraint at all times, except in‬
  ‭off-leash areas designated in the Off-Leash Dog Policy. Cats shall be leashed or confined in a‬
 ‭carrier at all times.‬




‭Discussion‬

‭Section 22-13‬

‭If Chapter 5, Article II, section 5-15 is amended to prohibit at-large cats, as recommended,‬
‭section 22-13 would provide an alternative means for guardians to provide an outdoor‬
‭experience for the cats under their care.‬




‭41‬
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‭Appendix D: Detailed Licensing Information‬

‭Licensing Program:‬ ‭The Task Force performed a detailed‬‭review of licensing data and trends‬
‭and found that licensing rates in Burlington are low compared to neighboring cities with‬
‭smaller populations. In 2022, for example, Shelburne was estimated to have a population‬
‭of 7871, with 763 licensed dogs (9.68%) in FY2022. Burlington, by comparison, was‬
‭estimated to have a population of 44,595 and 912 licensed dogs (2.04%) — a difference of‬
‭7.64%.‬

‭The Task Force also compared licensing trends over time in Burlington. In 2012, Burlington‬
‭had 1255 dogs licensed, while in 2022 it was only 826 despite the fact that the population in‬
‭Burlington has increased over that time, from 42671 to 44595‬30‭.‬

‭The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) tracks dog guardianship trends‬31 ‭and‬
‭estimates that 45% of US households have at least 1 dog, and the percentage owning at‬
l‭east one dog increased from 38% to 45% between 2016 and 2020 (and leveled off by 2022).‬
‭Home ownership and household income impact the rate of dog guardianship and dog‬
‭populations are essentially being influenced by the overall economy. With 17,174‬
‭households in Burlington between 2017-2021‬32,‭ the number of dogs in Burlington may be‬
‭estimated at 7728 using the national rate of 45%. This is likely to be a conservative‬
‭estimate, as many Burlington homes have more than one dog.‬

‭The AVMA also indicates that cat guardianship is on the rise as well: “The percentage of‬
‭households that own at least one cat increased slightly between 2016 and 2020, from 25%‬
‭to 26%, and then increased to 29% in 2022.” Based on this, we estimate that there may be‬
‭at least 4980 companion cats in Burlington (not including feral cat colonies).‬

‭If all estimated cats and dogs in Burlington were licensed, the revenues at current licensing‬
‭fee of $27 per dog would be $276,996.51 per fiscal year. Assuming 100% is unattainable, we‬
l‭ooked at how much could be raised if we made an effort to increase licensing numbers‬
‭similar to area communities such as South Burlington.‬




‭30‬
 ‭2012 and 2022 population estimates for the City of‬‭Burlington, VT came from census.gov‬
‭31‬
 ‭https://www.avma.org/news/pet-ownership-rate-stabilizes-spending-increases‬
‭32‬
 ‭https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/burlingtoncityvermont/HSD410221#HSD410221‬



  ‭42‬
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‭Table 2. Comparison of FY2022 Actual Licensing Revenues in Burlington to Projected increased revenues‬
‭from increasing licensing numbers, based on the estimated numbers of dogs and cats in Burlington‬‭.‬

 ‭Projected revenues from‬ ‭Projected revenues‬ ‭FY 2022 Revenues‬ ‭Projected Revenue‬
 ‭successfully licensing‬  ‭from licensing 35%‬ ‭from Dog Licenses‬ i‭ncrease‬
 ‭100% dogs and cats‬ ‭dogs 15% cats‬ ‭(11.8% dogs and‬ ‭(“realistic”)‬
 ‭(“realistic”)*‬ ‭0% cats)‬

 ‭Dogs (7728)‬ ‭$ 208,664.10‬ ‭$ 74,180.09‬ ‭$ 24,624.00‬ ‭$ 49,556.09‬

 ‭Cats (3927)‬ ‭$ 68,332.41‬ ‭$ 20,614.62‬ ‭$ 0.00‬ ‭$ 20,614.6‬

 ‭Total $‬ ‭$ 276,996.51‬ ‭$ 94,794.71‬ ‭$ 24,624.00‬ ‭$ 70,170.71‬

‭*South Burlington has an estimated 35% licensing rate for dogs and 15% licensing rate for cats‬

‭Below is more detailed information on licensing trends in neighboring cities from FY2018 –‬
‭FY2022, showing how Burlington’s numbers have decreased compared to those of‬
‭neighboring cities. We also show licensing numbers in comparison to population estimates‬
‭and estimated numbers of dogs and cats, as well as detailed information on neighboring‬
‭communities’ efforts to increase education/outreach concerning dog and cat licensing.‬




‭Fig. 2 Burlington’s licensing numbers have fallen while its population has increased.‬




 ‭43‬
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‭Fig. 3 Comparison of Licensing Numbers to Town Size. In FY 2022 Burlington had the lowest proportion of‬
‭licenses (912) to its population (44,595), compared to neighboring towns. Shelburne had the highest (9.69%),‬
‭followed by South Burlington (6.83%) and Colchester (5.48%).‬




 ‭44‬
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‭Appendix E: Compliance, Reporting, and Enforcement Challenges‬

‭The Task Force recommends the City appoint a dedicated, certified animal control officer,‬
‭or officers, within the Burlington Police Department (“BPD”). Burlington has not had an‬
‭Animal Control Officer since 2008‬33‭. Currently, limited animal control functions are‬
‭performed by the community service officers (CSOs) at the BPD. CSOs are not required to‬
‭have experience or training specific to animal control functions, such as animal handling,‬
‭care, and welfare.‬34 ‭They are not tasked with handling cat-related incidents (except for‬
‭removing deceased cats and checking for rabies vectors), and are not adequately able to‬
‭address the increasing number of dog incidents. For example, residents who are bitten by‬
‭an unfamiliar dog bear the burden of identifying the guardian of that dog in order to get‬
‭any action from the police, even if that person fled the scene. Without investigative‬
‭resources and training, CSOs are not positioned to be a resource to help those residents.‬

‭Another issue the Task Force found was in both a lack of accessibility to effective reporting,‬
‭and an understanding of how and what to report:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Inaccessibility of reporting.‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Phone limitation for in-progress incidents.‬‭Reports‬‭are typically called into the‬
 ‭Police Department. If any other means of reporting is used (contacting CSO‬
 ‭email address (‬‭cso@bpdvt.org‬‭), See Click Fix, Burlington‬‭Police website’s‬
 ‭online incident report form), the CSOs might not see these as quickly as they‬
 ‭would if they are managed by Dispatch responding to a phone call. Thus‬
 ‭reporting an emergent animal issue or incident is inaccessible to anyone who‬
 ‭cannot use a phone (hearing impaired, Deaf, doesn’t have a phone, etc).‬
 ‭○‬ ‭No clear category for animal-related incidents exists on the BPD website‬
 ‭○‬ ‭No clear category for animal-related incidents exists on See Click Fix, which is‬
 ‭commonly used by residents to enable other city departments to quickly‬
 ‭resolve issues.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Reports not made by residents because‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Fear of getting neighbors in trouble‬


‭33‬
 ‭Source:‬‭Shannon Trammell, executive manager, Burlington‬‭Police Dept‬
‭34‬
 ‭See‬‭City of Burlington, Community Service Officer‬‭Job Description,‬
‭https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/burlingtonvt/jobs/3045625/community-service-officer‬‭..‬



  ‭45‬
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 ‭○‬ ‭Distrust that the police can help or can be a resource to help‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Lack of awareness of where to complain‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Knowledge that currently BPD is not fully empowered to address these‬
 ‭problems to residents’ satisfaction (for example, incidents involving‬
 ‭free-roaming cats are not currently addressed by BPD).‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Hindrances to enforcement responsiveness.‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Other (higher) priorities.‬‭Other issues are prioritized‬‭for CSOs (e.g., car‬
 ‭accidents), so even if the report is called in to be dispatched, they are still not‬
 ‭always able to respond quickly. 62 reports were reported resolved with the‬
 ‭response “gone on arrival”‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Not enough information.‬‭Residents who do report issues‬‭don’t always provide‬
 ‭enough information or details for CSOs to be able to follow through and‬
 ‭resolve the problem.‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Lack of investigative resources.‬‭Residents who are‬‭bitten by an unfamiliar dog‬
 ‭or cat bear the burden of identifying the guardian of that dog in order to get‬
 ‭any action from the police, even if that person, cat or dog fled the scene. The‬
 ‭Task Force learned from its BPD representative that BPD is not empowered‬
 ‭to take the time and resources to find the guardian if the name and address‬
 ‭are not known to the victim.‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Legal limitations.‬‭Some problems or incidents that‬‭are reported by residents‬
 ‭cannot be addressed by CSOs because the issue being reported (e.g., a‬
 ‭welfare issue) may not actually comprise an ordinance violation, or because‬
 ‭the individual responsible doesn’t answer the door to respond to the CSO.‬

‭The Task Force recommends that the city retain an officer, or officers, whose sole duty is to‬
‭respond to animal-related issues so that the city’s animals and citizens are better served.‬
‭The Task Force recommends that City animal control officers obtain certification in animal‬
‭control and be required to participate in continuing education courses, through a national‬
‭professional training program. In looking at available literature, Burlington is now of the‬
‭size that it merits a full time animal control officer. The Task Force notes that some‬
‭residents do not contact the Burlington Police Department as they may not be aware this is‬
‭where complaints go, free-roaming cats are not addressed, and that people may not be‬




‭46‬
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‭comfortable with calling the police with concerns about their neighbors or may be reluctant‬
‭to report incidents. Please see additional‬‭discussion‬‭under the ordinance for Section 5-2a‬

‭In addition to the recommendation of a full-time animal control officer or officers, at times‬
‭the City is not in compliance with the requirement to house stray companion animals due‬
‭to space issues. Currently companion animals except birds, reptiles, and dogs are taken to‬
‭the Humane Society of Chittenden County (HSCC). It is unclear if the City’s current‬
‭contractor for dogs, Lucky Puppies, will provide services in the future or have enough space‬
i‭n the future for the City’s stray dogs. Because the HSCC and Lucky Puppies take in‬
‭companion animals from other cities as well, space is an issue. The Task Force‬
‭recommends that an animal shelter be within Burlington or close so that the shelter may‬
‭be easily monitored and inspected by the Animal Control Officer.‬

‭The Task Force also recommends that the animal shelter follows the standards of care‬35 ‭set‬
‭forth by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. These standards include provisions of‬
‭adequate shelter, population management, standards for animal handling, sanitation,‬
‭prevention of pathogen spread, and attention to medical and behavioral health. Given that‬
‭the City would be responsible for animals in its care, if the City does not have its own‬
‭shelter it should still ensure that contracted providers follow these guidelines.‬




‭35‬
 ‭The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines‬‭for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters - Second Edition -‬
‭December 2022‬‭: https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/issue/view/2‬



  ‭47‬
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‭Appendix F: Proposed Off-Leash Dog Ordinance and Off-Leash Dog Policy‬
‭Proposed Addition of Section 7 to City Ordinance Appendix D‬
‭In 2000 the City established a pilot program pertaining to off-leash dog areas that expired‬
i‭n 2003 with no apparent further action by the City.‬36 ‭The Task Force recommends that a‬
‭new Section 7 of Appendix D be enacted to reflect current practices:‬



 ‭Appendix D‬

‭Sec. 7. - Off-leash dog opportunities‬
 ‭(A)‬ ‭Off-Leash Dog Policy.‬ ‭The Parks, Recreation and Waterfront‬‭Department (PRW) shall‬
 ‭maintain an Off-Leash Dog Policy (OLDP) as approved by the Parks Commission. The‬
 ‭policy may be modified by PRW with the approval of the Parks Commission. The OLDP‬
 ‭shall govern the establishment of off-leash dog opportunities, except that permanent‬
 ‭fenced dog parks shall be established by ordinance. The OLDP shall govern operations‬
 ‭of off-leash dog opportunities and share enforcement authority with the animal control‬
 ‭officer(s) as enumerated in this section.‬
 ‭(B)‬ ‭Designation of Areas.‬ ‭Areas shall be designated for‬‭the purpose of allowing dogs to be‬
 ‭under control of the guardian or guardian’s agent by means other than physical‬
 ‭restraint. Opportunities shall include: fenced dog parks, water access, and field use on‬
 ‭an hourly, seasonal, or year-round basis within reasonable walking distance of‬
 ‭neighborhoods. Opportunities, where possible, shall be dispersed across the city. .‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭Permanent off-leash fenced dog parks shall be located at:‬
 ‭(a)‬ ‭Oakledge Park‬
 ‭(b)‬ ‭Starr Farm Dog Park‬
 ‭(c)‬ ‭Urban Reserve‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭Off-leash dogs are prohibited at the following parks. Dogs in these parks must be‬
 l‭eashed at all times:‬
 ‭(a)‬ ‭Appletree Park‬
 ‭(b)‬ ‭Arms Park‬
 ‭(c)‬ ‭Baird Park‬
 ‭(d)‬ ‭Battery Park‬
 ‭(e)‬ ‭Bike path‬
 ‭(f)‬ ‭Champlain Street Park‬
 ‭(g)‬ ‭City Hall Park‬
 ‭(h)‬ ‭Dewey Park‬
 ‭(i)‬ ‭Ethan Allen Park‬

‭36‬
 ‭City of Burlington, Vermont, Ord. of 9-23-02‬
‭https://www.codepublishing.com/VT/Burlington/#!/BurlingtonAxD/BurlingtonAxD.html‬‭(Pilot program. The rules of‬
 ‭this section shall be in full force and effect for eighteen (18) months. The director of parks and recreation shall‬
  ‭review the impacts of the designated off-leash areas and shall make a report to the city council after twelve (12)‬
 ‭months of operation. Unless directed otherwise by the city council, these rules shall expire upon the end of the‬
 ‭18th month in which the rules were in effect.)‬



  ‭48‬
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 ‭(j)‬ ‭Kieslich Park except for the portion known as “Texaco Beach”‬
 ‭(k)‬ ‭Lakeside Park‬
 ‭(l)‬ ‭Little Park‬
 ‭(m)‬‭MacKenzie Park‬
 ‭(n)‬ ‭North Beach‬
 ‭(o)‬ ‭Pomeroy Park‬
 ‭(p)‬ ‭Potvin Park‬
 ‭(q)‬ ‭Roosevelt Park‬
 ‭(r)‬ ‭Schifilliti Park‬
 ‭(s)‬ ‭Starr Farm Park except for the portion known as “Starr Farm Dog Park”‬
 ‭(t)‬ ‭Water Works Park‬
 ‭(u)‬ ‭Waterfront Park‬
 ‭(C)‬ ‭Public Information.‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭PRW shall provide information about off-leash dog opportunities to include‬
 ‭maps, hours, and references to rules & policies with onsite signage and through‬
 i‭ts website.‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭PRW shall annually‬‭conduct a targeted campaign to‬‭educate the community about‬
 ‭the City ordinances that pertain to off-leash dogs in general, and the the off-leash‬
 ‭dog opportunities and associated rules and policies.‬‭.‬
 ‭(3)‬ ‭Funds to implement Section C shall be made available to PRW from the fees‬
 ‭collected pursuant to Article II Section 5-17.‬
 ‭(D)‬ ‭General Rules for All Areas Designated as Off-Leash Dog Areas.‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭A person taking a dog into an off-leash area shall have the dog held on leash‬
 ‭when entering and exiting the off-leash area.‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭A person taking a dog into an off-leash area shall maintain voice, hand, or leash‬
 ‭control over the dog at all times while the dog is in the off-leash area. Such‬
 ‭person shall have in their possession a leash at all times.‬
 ‭(3)‬ ‭A person taking a dog into an off-leash area is responsible for all actions of the‬
 ‭dog, shall keep the dog within their vision at all times, and shall remove the dog‬
 ‭when their behavior‬‭is in violation of the City of‬‭Burlington Code of Ordinances,‬
 i‭ncluding but not limited to Appendix D Secion 7, or the PRW OLDP.‬
 ‭(4)‬ ‭The following are prohibited in off-leash dog areas:‬
 ‭(a)‬ ‭Glass containers.‬
 ‭(b)‬ ‭Female dogs in heat.‬
 ‭(c)‬ ‭Excessive barking, howling, or other noise.‬
 ‭(d)‬ ‭Bullying of other dogs.‬
 ‭(e)‬ ‭Failure to remove feces; All feces shall be removed from the off-leash‬
 ‭area and placed in the appropriate receptacle.‬
 ‭(f)‬ ‭Unlicensed dogs; All dogs shall be licensed and display valid license tags.‬
 ‭(g)‬ ‭Dangerous dogs as defined by Burlington Code of Ordinances, Article II,‬
 ‭Section 5-13.‬
 ‭(h)‬ ‭More than 3 dogs per person.‬
 ‭(i)‬ ‭Children under 12 years of age unaccompanied by an adult.‬

 ‭(E)‬ ‭Enforcement.‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭In addition to the penalties provided for by ordinance, a person or dog that‬
 ‭violates the rules of this section is subject to ejection from the off-leash area as‬
 ‭defined in the OLDP.‬




‭49‬
 Page 176 of 221
 ‭(2)‬ ‭In addition to the penalties provided for by ordinance, a duly authorized‬
 ‭enforcement officer may impound a dog for a violation of the rules of this‬
 ‭section or for activities determined to be a nuisance.‬
 ‭(3)‬ ‭In addition to the penalties provided for by ordinance, all violations of Appendix‬
 ‭D and the OLDP include a restorative justice process with the Burlington‬
 ‭Community Justice Center.‬
 ‭(F)‬ ‭Administration.‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭Commercial Use of Parks. The PRW may issue a permit and charge a fee to allow‬
 ‭for commercial use of off-leash dog areas by professional trainers, and for-profit‬
 ‭and not-for-profit animal organizations. Portions of the off-leash dog areas shall‬
 ‭remain available for unencumbered use by the public as off-leash areas during‬
 ‭these events. Fees collected by PRW for commercial use shall be used for the‬
 ‭establishment, operations, or improvements of designated off-leash dog areas.‬
 ‭Commercial use of off-leash dog areas without a permit shall result in a fine as‬
 ‭set for in Chapter 22 section 23 of the Burlington Code of Ordinances.‬
 ‭Commercial use of off-leash dog areas may be further defined or modified by‬
 ‭the OLDP.‬

‭Proposed Off-Leash Dog Policy (OLDP)‬

‭The following text has been drafted by the Dog Task Force as a proposed Off-Leash Dog‬
‭Policy to be reviewed by the Parks Commission, and once an official OLDP is established, to‬
‭be revised by the Parks Commission as needed.‬


 ‭OFF-LEASH DOG POLICY‬
‭Purpose:‬

‭This policy incorporates by reference all rules set forth in Appendix D of the‬‭Burlington Code of‬
 ‭Ordinances‬‭.‬

‭Areas of Policy:‬

 ‭1)‬ ‭Designation of Areas and Times of Operations‬
 ‭2)‬ ‭Additional Rules for Use of Off-Leash Fenced Dog Areas‬
 ‭3)‬ ‭Rules for Commercial Use of Off-Leash Dog Areas‬
 ‭4)‬ ‭Signage‬
 ‭5)‬ ‭Public Outreach & Enforcement‬
 ‭6)‬ ‭Operations‬

 ‭1)‬ ‭Designation of Areas and Times of Operations.‬‭‬
 ‭The following areas are off-leash areas, as designated herein or on site:‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭Fenced Dog Parks‬
 i‭)‬ ‭Starr Farm Park (year-round).‬‭‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area may be used year-round‬‭from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.‬
 ‭or sunset, whichever is earlier.‬
 i‭i)‬ ‭Urban Reserve (year-round).‬‭‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭at any time.‬




‭50‬
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 i‭ii)‬ ‭Oakledge‬‭Park (year-round)‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭during the hours the parking‬
 l‭ot is open for vehicle parking.‬

 ‭b)‬ ‭Off-Leash areas (not fenced)‬

 i‭)‬ ‭North End of Leddy Beach (year-round).‬‭The area north‬‭of the northernmost‬
 ‭entrance to Leddy Beach‬
 ‭Times.‬ ‭The designated area is open for off-leash‬‭use at any time.‬
 i‭i)‬ ‭Oakledge Cove (year-round).‬ ‭The area of Oakledge‬‭Park known as Oakledge Cove‬
 ‭Times.‬ ‭The designated area is open for off-leash‬‭use at any time‬
 i‭ii)‬ ‭Northshore Natural Area (year-round)‬‭.‬
 ‭Times. The designated is open for off-leash use at any time‬
 i‭v)‬ ‭Blanchard Beach (seasonal)‬‭. The area of Oakledge Park‬‭known as Blanchard‬
 ‭Beach‬
 ‭Times‬‭. The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭at any time between‬
 ‭November - March‬
 ‭v)‬ ‭Texaco Beach (year-round)‬‭. The beach area of Kieslich‬‭Park known as “Texaco”‬
 ‭Beach.‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭at any time‬
 ‭vi)‬ ‭Lower Calahan Park (year-round).‬ ‭The area of Calahan‬‭Park that is bounded on‬
 ‭the east by the sledding hill, north by Locust Street, west by Pine Street, and‬
 ‭south by the park/neighborhood boundary excluding programmed areas such as‬
 ‭baseball fields, roads/walks, etc.‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.‬
 ‭vii)‬ ‭Open Area of Schmanska Park (year-round).‬‭The multipurpose‬‭field of Schmanska‬
 ‭Park extending from the basketball court to the tennis court.‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.‬
 ‭viii)‬ ‭Open Area of Smalley Park (year-round)‬‭. The multipurpose‬‭field excluding the‬
 ‭programmed softball field.‬
 ‭Times‬‭. The designated area is open for off-leash use‬‭from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.‬
 i‭x)‬ ‭Gravel Path of the Urban Reserve‬‭The area of the Urban‬‭Reserve that is the‬
 ‭maintenance access running parallel to the train tracks between the designated‬
 ‭off-leash area signs on the northern and southern ends.‬
 ‭Times.‬‭The designated area is open for off-leash use‬ ‭at any time.‬

 ‭2)‬ ‭Community Expectations for Use of Off-Leash Fenced Areas‬
 ‭(1)‬ ‭In addition to the rules set forth in Appendix D, please observe the following‬
 ‭guidelines:‬
 ‭(a)‬ ‭Do not allow dogs to dig holes, except in an area designated for digging‬
 ‭by the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department (PRW). The person‬
 ‭accompanying the dog shall fill in any hole created by the dog prior to‬
 ‭exiting the area.‬
 ‭(b)‬ ‭Do not consume human food.‬
 ‭(c)‬ ‭Do not feed other people’s dogs.‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭All gates to the dog park must be closed after entering and exiting.‬
 ‭(3)‬ ‭The priority use for off-leash dog parks is off-leash dogs. Please ensure that‬
 ‭children do not interfere with the activities of dogs in the park.‬




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 ‭3)‬ ‭Community Expectations for Use of Unfenced Off-Leash Areas‬

 ‭In addition to the rules specified in Appendix D, please observe the following guidelines:‬

 ‭(1)‬ ‭Ensure your dog is placed back on leash after leaving an off-leash dog area.‬
 ‭(2)‬ ‭Dog guardians should be respectful of other users using the space. This is a‬
 ‭shared space, even during the times where dogs are allowed off-leash. The‬
 ‭priority use for these areas is not necessarily dogs.‬
 ‭(3)‬ ‭Non-dog guardians should expect dogs may be running free in designated‬
 ‭off-leash areas.‬

 ‭4)‬ ‭Rules for Commercial Use of Off-Leash Fenced areas‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭Commercial users are required to be a‬‭Park Program‬‭participant.‬
 ‭b)‬ ‭Commercial users are responsible for creating any boundaries, with temporary‬
 ‭fencing or by other temporary means, required to meet their needs and that of the‬
 ‭other users.‬
 ‭c)‬ ‭Commercial users are limited to twelve days per year exclusive of commercial uses‬
 ‭that do not restrict other uses of the area.‬
 ‭d)‬ ‭No more than one commercial user may use the same dog park concurrently.‬
 ‭e)‬ ‭Off-leash dogs will be permitted to access any areas of the off-leash area that are‬
 ‭not separated by temporary or permanent fencing.‬
 ‭f)‬ ‭With the exception of extraordinary circumstances, no more than 33% of an‬
 ‭off-leash dog area shall be permitted to be restricted for commercial use.‬
 ‭g)‬ ‭Commercial use shall not interfere with standard entrances and exits from the‬
 ‭off-leash dog area.‬
 ‭h)‬ ‭If any PRW staff time is required for the event, commercial users of the park are‬
 ‭responsible for all costs related to the staff time. PRW staff will only be made‬
 ‭available with the approval of the PRW Director‬
 i‭)‬ ‭Commercial users will be responsible for all costs related to set-up, operations,‬
 ‭security, and cleanup for all events.‬
 j‭)‬ ‭Standard PRW Department requirements for reserving parks apply.‬


 ‭5)‬ ‭Public Outreach & Enforcement.‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭The PRW and the Police Department shall collaborate to educate and enforce the‬
 ‭rules and policies applicable to off-leash dog areas,A person who violates any rules‬
 ‭or policies applicable to off-leash dog areas on two (2) occasions within a‬
 ‭twelve-month period shall be barred from taking any dog into the off-leash areas‬
 ‭during the six (6) months subsequent to the second violation.‬

 ‭6)‬ ‭Operations‬
 ‭a)‬ ‭The PRW shall maintain a volunteer group that provides guidance and support‬
 ‭for off-leash areas‬
 b)‬‭The PRW Director may, upon a finding of need at a particular off-leash area,‬
 ‭
 ‭close the area to off-leash use. The reopening of such area is at the discretion of‬
 ‭the Director. The Director shall post a notice indicating that the area has been‬
 ‭closed for off-leash use at the entrance to the area and at other locations in the‬
 ‭area if needed to give notice to the public of the closing.‬




‭52‬
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‭Appendix G: Off-Leash Detailed Findings & Recommendations‬

‭The Task Force reviewed work from previous committees (‬‭see Appendix K‬‭) as well as‬
‭current practices, ordinances and policies. The group also did a city-wide survey to solicit‬
‭public opinion on areas proposed by previous committees (‬‭see Appendix I‬‭). Prior efforts to‬
‭create off-leash areas were left uncompleted, as Section 7 of Appendix D in the City‬
‭Ordinances expired.‬37

‭Table 3. Current and Proposed Off-Leash Areas for Dogs‬

 ‭Current‬ ‭Proposed‬

  ‭Off-Leash‬ ‭3.5/520 acres‬ ‭Add:‬
 ‭Starr Farm Dog Park‬ ‭●‬ ‭Sections of Neighborhood Parks‬
 ‭Waterfront Dog Park‬ ‭(Smalley, Calahan, Schmanska)‬
 ‭Texaco Beach‬ ‭6-8am‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Sections of Natural Areas‬
 ‭(Northshore, Urban Reserve)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Beaches (Blanchard, North Beach‬
 ‭wintertime only; Oakledge Cove &‬
 ‭section of Leddy Beach all year)‬
 ‭Keep:‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Starr Farm Dog Park, Waterfront Dog‬
 ‭Park, Texaco Beach‬

  ‭On-Leash only (Neighborhood Park)‬ ‭All Neighborhood Parks‬ ‭Most Neighborhood Parks except for‬
 ‭designated areas in Calahan, Schmanska, &‬
 ‭Smalley Parks‬

  ‭On-Leash only (Conservation Area)‬ ‭All Natural Areas‬ ‭Same (all areas designated “Urban Wilds” -‬
 ‭such as Arms Forest, Crescent Woods, Arthur‬
 ‭Park, Ethan Allen Park, McKenzie Park, and‬
 ‭Mount Cavalry Red Maple)‬

  ‭No Dogs Allowed‬ ‭Cemeteries‬ ‭Same (at the wish of Cemetery Commission)‬


‭Interactive map showing proposed off-leash areas‬

‭There is a strong desire from dog owners to have easy access to off-leash areas. More‬
‭fenced in areas exclude non-dogs and their caretakers from spaces in our parks, and the‬
‭City also lacks funds to build fenced in dog parks. Many communities have turned to‬
‭unleashed dog areas to solve the issue of limited park spaces and the desire not to fence‬

‭37‬
 ‭City of Burlington, Vermont, Ord. of 9-23-02‬
‭https://www.codepublishing.com/VT/Burlington/#!/BurlingtonAxD/BurlingtonAxD.html‬‭(Pilot program. The rules of‬
 ‭this section shall be in full force and effect for eighteen (18) months. The director of parks and recreation shall‬
  ‭review the impacts of the designated off-leash areas and shall make a report to the city council after twelve (12)‬
 ‭months of operation. Unless directed otherwise by the city council, these rules shall expire upon the end of the‬
 ‭18th month in which the rules were in effect.)‬



  ‭53‬
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‭these spaces, while providing a mechanism to better regulate and manage where dogs are‬
‭off-leash and enforce regulations that they be on leash outside of off-leash areas. The‬
‭question of creating unfenced off-leash dog areas elicits strong opinions both for and‬
‭against.‬

‭Some neighboring cities have successfully created unfenced off-leash areas. South‬
‭Burlington allows dogs to be under voice control at all parks and only requires leashes on‬
‭South Burlington Recreation trails and at the following parks: Red Rocks, Vet Memorial, and‬
‭Jaycee Park. Colchester’s default policy is also off-leash, with dogs required on-leash only‬
‭on sidewalks and the bike path. Winooski’s policy is similar to Burlington’s, where the‬
‭default is on-leash only. But for similar reasons they are‬
‭exploring the possibility of establishing another location or two‬
‭where dogs can officially be allowed off-leash, then working to‬
‭tighten up enforcement where it isn’t allowed.‬

‭Some efforts were made to find alternative spaces to the park‬
‭spaces overseen by Burlington Parks & Recreation.‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Cemetery spaces.‬‭The Task Force discussed the fact‬‭that‬
 ‭some fenced in spaces in Burlington currently exist but‬
 ‭are not available for dogs. The idea of using cemetery‬
 ‭spaces as an urban solution is not new.‬38 ‭A proposal‬‭to work with the Cemetery‬
 ‭Commission to consider the option of on-leash or off-leash use for dogs was‬
 ‭unsuccessful. The Cemetery Commision heard the proposal, including the possibility‬
 ‭of additional revenue and volunteer hands to maintain the cemeteries, but chose‬
 ‭not to work with the Task Force to explore this concept.‬39

 ‭●‬ ‭Spaces outside Burlington.‬‭At the suggestion of City‬‭Councilmember Sarah Carpenter,‬
 40
 ‭the Task Force looked beyond Burlington to understand‬‭what off-leash spaces‬
 ‭were available (for those with cars who can drive). As noted above, our neighboring‬

‭38‬
 ‭For example, see the Cemetery Dogs program at the‬‭Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC - one quarter of‬
‭the cemetery’s operating income derives from donations by dog walking members and covers the costs of grounds‬
 ‭maintenance contracts. Source: https://congressionalcemetery.org/dog-walking/‬
  ‭39‬
 ‭See‬‭Burlington, VT Cemetery Commission meeting minutes‬‭from their April 20, 2023 meeting:‬
 ‭https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/5294/files/7035‬
 ‭40‬
 ‭See‬‭Burlington, VT City Council meeting minutes from‬‭their March 27, 2023 meeting:‬
 ‭https://burlingtonvt.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2058/files/2159‬



  ‭54‬
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 ‭communities of South Burlington and Colchester have much less restrictive leash‬
 l‭aws, allowing off-leash use in their parks unless specifically restricted. In addition,‬
 ‭South Burlington, Essex, Milton and Shelburne have fenced dog parks.‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Former Landfill in the Old North End.‬‭The Task Force‬‭also discussed the former landfill‬
 ‭area at the top of Manhattan Ave. This area is currently being used by some‬
 ‭residents as an off-leash area for dogs, but due to continued monitoring of‬
 ‭environmental considerations cannot be officially set up for dogs at this time.‬



‭After reviewing the prior task force work, the results of the Spring 2023 survey, and‬
‭consulting with the Cemetery Commission and directors of parks in neighboring towns, the‬
‭Task Force recommends the following areas to the Parks Commission for piloting. More‬
‭specific details are in the drafted‬‭Off-Leash Dog‬‭Policy‬‭.‬

‭Table 4. Recommended areas to pilot unfenced off-leash dog sections‬

 ‭Park‬ ‭Time‬ ‭Rationale‬

 ‭Smalley‬ ‭6-8am‬ ‭Significant requests from survey; limited use by youth in the mornings‬

 ‭Leddy Beach‬ ‭All day‬ ‭Slight in favor from survey, significant current use‬
  ‭(north end)‬

 ‭Northshore‬ ‭All day‬ ‭Slight in favor from survey, significant current use‬

 ‭Calahan Park‬ ‭6-8am‬ ‭Slight in favor from survey, proposed area (lower field) is in a different‬
 l‭ocation from the playground; significant current use‬

 ‭Schmanska‬ ‭6-8am‬ ‭Slight in favor, Recommended by 2013 task force, adds an area in the‬
  ‭Park‬ ‭East end of Burlington, suggest morning only‬

 ‭Urban Reserve‬ ‭All day‬ ‭More in favor, off-leash connection to dog park and parking lot, will‬
 ‭separate from bike path w/ clear signage on start/stop of off-leash areas‬

 ‭Blanchard‬ ‭November‬ ‭Limited beach use in the winter.‬
  ‭Beach‬ ‭-March‬

 ‭North Beach‬ ‭November‬ ‭Limited beach use in the winter.‬
 ‭-March‬

 ‭Oakledge Cove‬ ‭All day‬ ‭South end water access, helps curb existing off-leash use at Blanchard‬
 i‭n the summer.‬




‭55‬
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‭In addition to the above areas, the proposed fenced-in dog park in Oakledge Park was by‬
‭far the most popular and most supported area with survey respondents. Future funding‬
‭and significant planning would be needed to make this a reality.‬




‭56‬
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‭Appendix H: Education Campaign‬

‭Part of the scope of the Task Force work mandated by the City Council resolution requested‬
‭that Task Force members conduct an educational campaign around the following issues:‬

 ‭1.‬ ‭Off leash dogs in city parks, natural areas or beaches‬
 ‭2.‬ ‭Dogs attacking people or other dogs‬
 ‭3.‬ ‭Dog feces not being picked up‬
 ‭4.‬ ‭Dog barking contributing to noise pollution‬

‭All materials and research were developed using volunteer time‬
‭and resources. Outreach was limited to available slots on the‬
‭Parks Recreation and Waterfront (PRW) Front Porch Forum and‬
‭social media accounts. The Task Force recommends some funding‬
‭be allocated to educational outreach and that multiple city‬
‭departments participate in the sharing of information on their‬
‭social media accounts. The campaigns comprised of the following:‬

 ‭1.‬ ‭Leash Your Dog PSA for conservation reasons (wildlife,‬
 ‭plants)‬41
 ‭2.‬ ‭Interview with Seven Days to address additional reasons‬
 ‭for leashing your dogs (including prevent of attacks)‬42
 ‭3.‬ ‭April Stools Day PSA to encourage residents to pick up their dogs’ feces‬43
 ‭4.‬ ‭Barking PSA to provide helpful tips to address barking and reduce noise pollution‬

‭The Task Force also explored the possibility of increasing licensing numbers through a‬
l‭imited social media drive,‬44 ‭and worked with the BPRW‬‭to create the Wag the Waterfront‬
‭event.‬

‭41‬
 ‭As seen in PRW’s Front Porch Forum post May 18, 2022:‬
‭https://frontporchforum.com/areas/22/issues/4452#post_2786297‬
 ‭42‬
 ‭Mullis, R. (Aug 9, 2023). One Burlingtonian’s Journey‬‭to On-Leash Dog Ownership. Published in print as “Going to‬
  ‭the Dogs | One Burlingtonian's journey to on-leash dog ownership” and online at‬
 ‭https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/one-burlingtonians-journey-to-on-leash-dog-ownership-38844346‬
 ‭43‬
 ‭As seen in PRW’s Front Porch Forum Post April 1,‬‭2022:‬
 ‭https://frontporchforum.com/areas/23/issues/5456#post_2747458‬
 ‭44‬
 ‭Instagram reel created by task force members on volunteer time, and shared on PRW’s Instagram account on‬
 ‭March 21, 2023 to encourage residents to license their dogs and explain how to get their dogs licensed.‬
 ‭https://www.facebook.com/reel/936523320687771‬



  ‭57‬
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‭Proposed Annual Education Calendar‬
‭A proposed calendar to continue providing education on various‬ ‭Legend:‬
‭topics was developed and is shown below, followed by details on the‬
 ‭PSA‬
‭various public service announcements as well as the Wag the‬ ‭Campaign/Drive‬
 ‭Event‬
‭Waterfront event.‬




 ‭JANUARY‬ ‭FEBRUARY‬ ‭MARCH‬

‭Barking PSA‬ ‭Repeat Spay/Neuter PSA‬ ‭Licensing Campaign‬
 ‭(February is S/N Awareness‬ ‭Continues‬
 ‭Month)‬

 ‭Campaign/Drive: Dog‬
 ‭Licenses Due April 1‬

 ‭APRIL‬ ‭MAY‬ ‭JUNE‬

‭Off-Leash PSA‬ ‭Don’t Leave Your Dog in the‬ ‭Keep Your Dog Cool PSA‬
 ‭(Conservation)‬ ‭Car PSA‬
 ‭Don’t Leave Your Dog in the‬
‭Picking up Poop PSA‬ ‭Off-Leash Dog PSA (to avoid‬ ‭Car PSA (repeat July/Aug)‬
 ‭conflicts attacks)‬

 ‭JULY‬ ‭AUGUST‬ ‭SEPTEMBER‬
‭Off-Leash Dog PSA (to avoid‬
 ‭conflicts attacks)‬ ‭Off-Leash Dog PSA (to avoid‬ ‭Wag the Waterfront Event‬
 ‭conflicts attacks)‬
‭Dog Days Event‬
‭Church Street tie-in for pet friendly‬
 ‭shopping areas or Burlington‬
  ‭Farmer’s Market on Pine St‬

 ‭OCTOBER‬ ‭NOVEMBER‬ ‭DECEMBER‬
 ‭(a week after leaf pick up)‬
‭Halloween Parade Event?‬ ‭Spay/Neuter PSA‬
‭Dog Costume Contest?‬
 ‭Poop Scoop PSA Even‬
 ‭through winter need to scoop‬
 ‭poop all year round‬




‭58‬
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‭Leash Your Dog Outreach (7 Days Article)‬
‭Taskforce members Maria Karunuñgan and Abbey Duke were interviewed by journalist‬
‭Rachel Mullis of Seven Days to weigh in on thoughts about off-leash dogs, resulting in the‬
‭following publication in Seven Days:‬45




‭The take-home message in the article was to encourage residents to leash their dogs for a‬
‭variety of reasons, including respect and consideration for others’ cultural and religious‬
‭preferences, prevention of unwanted conflict between unfamiliar dogs with unknown‬
‭sociability, and generally taking more responsibility for their dogs’ behavior around others.‬



‭Wag the Waterfront Event September 2023‬
 ‭●‬ ‭PRW hosted on September 9, 2023 1-4pm‬46
 ‭●‬ ‭Social media posts invited people to come‬47
 ‭●‬ ‭The event featured the following:‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Afternoon Yappy Hour in the dog park‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Free professional caricatures & free‬
 ‭professional photos‬



‭45‬
 ‭Mullis, R. (Aug 9, 2023). One Burlingtonian’s Journey‬‭to On-Leash Dog Ownership. Published in print as “Going to‬
‭the Dogs | One Burlingtonian's journey to on-leash dog ownership” and online at‬
 ‭https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/one-burlingtonians-journey-to-on-leash-dog-ownership-38844346‬
  ‭46‬
 ‭See‬‭https://enjoyburlington.com/event/wag-the-waterfront/‬
 ‭47‬
 ‭See‬‭for example https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw7iosEMae4/‬



  ‭59‬
 Page 186 of 221
 ‭○‬ ‭Booths rented by local dog-related businesses (daycares, groomers, dog‬
 ‭trainers, dog treat bakeries, etc).‬
 ‭○‬ ‭Events such as dog training demos, Paws & Poses yoga, and weight-pulling‬



‭Public Service Announcements Developed by the Task Force‬
‭The following public service announcements were developed by the Task Force for several‬
‭educational campaigns. Most of these were shared on social media.‬

‭Excessive Barking PSA‬

‭The Task Force wrote a public service announcement to address the complaint of excessive‬
‭barking.‬48 ‭The main points of this campaign were to‬‭help raise awareness about why‬
‭excessive barking is bad (pointing to upset neighbors, welfare issues, & violation of city‬
‭code). Tips from a professional trainer were provided, including the recommendation to‬
‭consult with a veterinarian and professional trainer if struggles continued.‬




‭Fig. 4 Barking PSA Instagram slides‬




‭Leash Your Dog PSA‬

‭The Leash Your Dog PSA released in May 2022‬49 ‭contained‬‭the following text:‬

 ‭:: A MESSAGE FROM THE DOG TASK FORCE ::‬

 ‭Protect Nature - Leash Furry Companions in Vermont's Natural Areas‬

 ‭Spring is nature's time to restore and grow, and also nature's most fragile time. Burlington's‬
 ‭natural areas are still in recovery from forest clearing hundreds of years ago and use this‬

‭48‬
 ‭See for example the Facebook post on February 16,‬‭2023:‬
‭https://www.facebook.com/BTVParks/posts/pfbid04CsSzqckLeKfr2BHiVhVsYssx3KDYdthXt4CysmTxeATD2FNqeig9Sh‬
 ‭eDXinqKhpl‬
  ‭49‬
 ‭PRW’s Front Porch Forum post May 18, 2022:‬
 ‭https://frontporchforum.com/areas/22/issues/4452#post_2786297‬



  ‭60‬
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 ‭time to replace and regain strength. Spring flowers have delicate stems and depend on small‬
 ‭ground insects, like ants, to help them expand their population.‬

 ‭Larger, similarly tender mammals like foxes are born now through August! For these‬
 ‭animals, reproduction takes a lot of energy and kits, pups and their parents are weaker and‬
 ‭especially vulnerable throughout this season.‬

 ‭Off-leash dogs (and their owners) unknowingly break tender wildflower stems and chase or‬
 ‭even fatally maim baby animals, setting back the tiny steps that ecosystems take each spring‬
 ‭towards restoration.‬

 ‭Please walk your dog on a leash on all trails and paths throughout City and Vermont parks.‬
 ‭Obey on-leash postings to allow Vermont's forests to regain their species diversity and to‬
 ‭save our wildlife. To learn more about spring wildflowers and to see the cutest red fox kit‬
 ‭photo, please see our facebook page‬‭https://www.facebook.com/BTVParks‬‭.‬




‭Scoop the Poop PSA‬

‭The Scoop the Poop PSA (“April Stools Day”) released in April 2022‬50 ‭contained the following‬
‭text:‬

 ‭On behalf of the Burlington Dog Task Force Team, we'd like to remind everyone: Scoop Your‬
 ‭Poop!‬

 ‭Pet waste should be picked up promptly because it…‬
 ‭-> is harmful for kids playing in the dirt‬
 ‭-> contaminates locally grown food‬
 ‭-> contaminates drinking water and swimming areas‬
 ‭…. is gross!!!!‬

 ‭With the weather warming and snow finally melted, we want to encourage all dog owners to‬
 ‭pick up their dog's poop! (and any poop you see from other dogs, even if they are not your‬
 ‭own).‬

 ‭Pet waste is harmful for children playing in your local neighborhood as parasites from fecal‬
 ‭matter can remain in the soil for years. Picking up poop can also go a long way to protecting‬
 l‭ocal gardens especially if you are growing food for yourselves, and protect anyone working‬
 ‭or playing in the dirt. In addition, please keep in mind our drinking water is affected as well!‬
 ‭According to the Lake Champlain Committee, pet waste contributes up to one-third of‬
 ‭bacterial pollution in waterways near developed areas. (source:‬
 ‭https://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org/learn/news/item/2200-stool-piles-and-counting/‬‭)‬
 ‭Bacteria from pet waste adds e-coli that can result in the closing of recreational swimming‬
 ‭areas.‬

 ‭Help us protect our children's play areas, neighborhood gardens, and local swimming spots‬
 ‭by picking up your dog's poop!‬




‭50‬
 ‭PRW’s Front Porch Forum Post April 1, 2022: https://frontporchforum.com/areas/23/issues/5456#post_2747458‬



  ‭61‬
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‭Recommended Additional Areas of Educational Outreach‬
‭The Task Force recommends the following additional areas of education:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Education on preventing dog attacks & conflicts with other dogs & people‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Resource for new arrivals (either new residents of Burlington who have dogs, or‬
 ‭current residents who get a new dog)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭How/when to report incidents & what information is helpful‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Guidelines for behavior of dogs in designated off-leash areas‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Education/information that can be distributed on the cards that accompany dog‬
 l‭icense tags‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Curriculum for community justice center, should a restorative justice approach be‬
 ‭adopted for resolving violations of dog policies & ordinances.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Low-cost spay/neuter outreach‬




‭62‬
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‭Appendix I: Data Summaries (Police Incident Reports, Off-Leash Survey)‬

‭The Task Force analyzed animal incident reports provided by the Burlington Police‬
‭Department (BPD) and results of an off-leash survey conducted by the Department of Parks‬
‭Recreation Waterfront (PRW).‬



‭2019 Dog and Cat Incident Reports Analysis‬
‭The Task Force analyzed data from 467 incidents involving companion animals (cats and‬
‭dogs) that were reported in the calendar year 2019. The effort to summarize the data and‬
‭analyze it was time-consuming, as the data were presented to the task force as individual‬
‭PDF files with written details of each incident. To make sense of these written reports, a‬
‭dataset was created by pulling the following variables from each report: date, time, incident‬
‭number, origin of call, animal type, location of incident, incident details, and resolution.‬
‭Incident details consisted of a summary of what was reported by the caller to dispatch.‬
‭Resolution consisted of the responding officer’s response and/or a more detailed‬
‭description of the incident. The “Incident Type” variable in the data set was then broken‬
‭down into dog-related or cat-related incidents, and assigned a category.‬




‭63‬
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‭Dog-Related Incidents‬

‭Reported dog incidents were categorized as follows (in order by the number of incidents‬
‭reported in 2019):‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Dog in Vehicle:‬‭Vehicle was gone on arrival (GOA),‬‭Dog did not appear to be in‬
 ‭distress (guardian of vehicle not present or mentioned in the incident report), Dog‬
 ‭did not appear to be in distress and the guardian returned to their vehicle and the‬
 ‭officer was able to speak to the guardian about the dangers of leaving a dog in a car;‬
 ‭or Dog was in distress. (109)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Loose Dog / Dog At Large:‬‭(89)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Found Dog:‬‭(65)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Dog Bite:‬‭Dog bite to another dog, Dog bite to a person,‬‭Dog bite to both a‬
 ‭dog/person, Dog bite to a cat, Dog bite to unknown person or animal. (57)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Excessive Noise:‬‭Barking, whining, and/or howling‬‭(46)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Welfare Concern:‬‭Issues related to an animal's well-being‬‭and safety including but not‬
 l‭imited to possible animal neglect, animal abuse, and injured animals. (34)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Miscellaneous:‬‭Examples are guardianship disputes,‬‭how to surrender an animal,‬
 ‭requests for behavioral training assistance, and how to obtain care for an animal‬
 ‭while the guardian is hospitalized. (14)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Nuisance:‬‭(11)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Lost Dog:‬‭(4)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Dog Aggression Concern:‬‭(3)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Deceased Animal:‬‭(2)‬




‭64‬
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‭Cat-Related Incidents‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Deceased Animal:‬‭(15)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Welfare Concern:‬‭(7) Issues related to an animal's‬‭well-being and safety including but‬
 ‭not limited to possible animal neglect, animal abuse, and injured animals‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Loose Cat / At Large:‬‭(4)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Cat Bite:‬‭(3)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Found Cat:‬‭(2)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Miscellaneous:‬‭Example: Request for behavioral training‬‭assistance. (1)‬



‭Cat Incident Reports.‬‭Almost half of police incident‬‭reports concerning domesticated cats‬
i‭nvolved the reporting of a deceased cat (45.7%). People reporting these incidents were‬
‭concerned about cats and other cat related incidents included welfare concerns (20%),‬
l‭oose cats (11.4%), and found cats (5.7%). Cat bites made up 8.6% of all cat related incident‬
‭reports. Because residents know that general issues with cats (cat welfare, lost cats, etc) are‬
‭not handled by CSOs, the number of cat incidents is likely to be grossly underreported.‬




‭65‬
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‭Spring 2023 Off-Leash Survey Analysis‬
‭Based on the work of the previous task force & work groups (‬‭see Appendix K‬‭), areas‬
‭recommended for off-leash usage were reviewed by the committee based on current‬
‭usage, and a proposal for areas to pilot was derived. This proposal was included in a survey‬
‭to get feedback from the community. Based on feedback and information about current‬
‭off-leash use by residents, the pilot areas were further revised. For example, Roosevelt and‬
‭Schmanska were removed from consideration, based on quantitative survey opinions and‬
‭written comments. Leddy Park Trails was also removed from consideration, in spite of‬
‭quantitative results in favor of, due to important written considerations brought up by‬
‭community members in the open comments portion.‬




‭Quantitative Survey Results‬




‭Fig. 5. Community members’ opinions about proposed off-leash areas.‬




 ‭66‬
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‭Table 4. Community members’ opinions about proposed off-leash areas‬

 ‭LOCATION‬ ‭IN FAVOR‬ ‭AGAINST‬ ‭NEUTRAL‬

 ‭Baird Park‬ ‭353 (37.04%)‬ ‭368 (38.61%)‬ ‭232 (24.34%)‬

 ‭Calahan Park‬ ‭422 (43.11%)‬ ‭392 (40.04%)‬ ‭165 (16.85%)‬

 ‭Leddy Park Trails‬ ‭467 (46.93%)‬ ‭433 (43.52%)‬ ‭95 (9.55%)‬

 ‭Roosevelt Park‬ ‭352 (36.9%)‬ ‭405 (42.45%)‬ ‭197 (20.65%)‬

 ‭Schmanska Park‬ ‭369 (39.13%)‬ ‭349 (37.01%)‬ ‭225 (23.86%)‬

 ‭Leddy Beach (north end)‬ ‭445 (46.99%)‬ ‭429 (45.30%)‬ ‭73 (7.71%)‬

 ‭Northshore Natural Area (south end)‬ ‭414 (45.25%)‬ ‭387 (42.30%)‬ ‭114 (12.46%)‬

 ‭Oakledge Dog Park (new fenced area)‬ ‭542 (57.48%)‬ ‭303 (32.13%)‬ ‭98 (10.39%)‬

 ‭Urban Reserve (near rail tracks)‬ ‭433 (47.22%)‬ ‭375 (40.89%)‬ ‭109 (11.89%)‬




‭Qualitative Survey Results (Analysis/Coding of Written Comments)‬

‭In addition to the quantitative survey collected, the Task Force compiled 631 written‬
‭comments from respondents providing additional opinions and suggestions regarding‬
‭off-leash areas and dog parks (61% of respondents left one or more comments). Many‬
‭comments focused on specific proposed locations, or suggested additional locations not‬
i‭ncluded in the survey. Comments fell into the following categories or theme (in order by‬
‭the number of comments received in the categories):‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Appreciate off-leash areas as option:‬‭Commenters felt‬‭there were not enough‬
 ‭off-leash areas or appreciated the city was investigating additional off-leash spaces‬
 ‭for dogs. (202)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Dog parks only:‬‭Commenters felt off-leash areas should‬‭only be provided strictly in‬
 ‭fenced-in dog parks designated for dogs, and that there should not be designated‬
 ‭unfenced areas. (143)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Nuisance behavior / Environmental impact‬‭. Commenters‬‭expressed concern over the‬
 ‭negative impact of dogs in general - contributing to noise, annoying people, or‬
 ‭trampling local plants/killing wildlife especially in conservation areas. (122)‬



‭67‬
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 ‭●‬ ‭Enforcement & Reporting:‬‭Commenters asked for more accessible complaint forms,‬
 ‭stronger consequences for existing ordinance infractions, or complained that they‬
 ‭never saw enforcement happen, and this made them leery of offering off-leash‬
 ‭areas. (121)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Park-specific.‬‭Commenters made a comment about a specific‬‭park, such as‬
 ‭requesting we consider Smalley Park for off-leash. (100)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Safety‬‭. Commenters were concerned about aggressive‬‭dogs, or dogs jumping‬
 ‭on/injuring people (small children were often mentioned). (67)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Time/season complexity:‬‭Commenters felt the initial‬‭survey’s multiple sets of‬
 ‭disparate times per individual park would lead to a lot of confusion and possibly be‬
 ‭difficult to enforce. (39)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Comments for other public land-owners‬‭. Commenters‬‭suggested offering areas not‬
 ‭governed by the city of Burlington as possibilities for off-leash. (38)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Education:‬‭Commenters asked for increased education‬‭around rules, requested‬
 ‭more signage and clarity so that community members knew which rules applied in‬
 ‭which parks and where. (25)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Cultural impact‬‭. Commenters expressed concern for‬‭individuals whose cultural or‬
 ‭religious practices may be adversely affected by allowing off-leash dogs in unfenced‬
 ‭spaces (this was especially common in reference to Roosevelt Park) (17)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Neighborhood park concerns.‬‭Commenters made suggestions‬‭for specific parks. (17)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Tag / Permit Concept‬‭. Commenters thought that some‬‭off-leash areas should be‬
 ‭provided on a tag or permit basis. (16)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Accessibility‬‭. Commenters were concerned about more‬‭off-leash spaces being‬
 ‭accessible to people who don’t have cars and need to walk their dogs to an available‬
 ‭off-leash area. (10)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Comparison to other cities‬‭. Commenters made positive‬‭or negative comparisons of‬
 ‭Burlington to other cities (usually to complain that Burlington was not dog-friendly‬
 ‭enough, but sometimes to complain that it was too dog-friendly). (8)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭No off-leash‬‭. Commenters felt dogs should not be allowed‬‭off-leash anywhere in‬
 ‭Burlington. (6)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭No additional comment‬‭. 39% of respondents did not‬‭leave a comment‬




‭68‬
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‭After reviewing the written comments and quantitative data, decisions were made to‬
‭remove the following proposed off-leash areas from consideration by the Parks‬
‭Commission as a pilot, for the reasons stated below:‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Leddy Trails (concerns about wildlife disruption)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Roosevelt Park (concerns about aversive effect on neighborhood cultural practices)‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Baird Park (concerns about how close the proposed dog play area would be to the‬
 ‭children’s playground)‬

‭The survey also collected feedback from respondents on areas that had not been included,‬
‭to see if there should be additional areas considered.‬

 ‭●‬ ‭Smalley Park came up frequently and as a result, Smalley was added to the list of‬
 ‭pilot areas.‬
 ‭●‬ ‭Many commenters requested additional locations not under the purview of PRW to‬
 ‭be made off-leash (for example, Red Rocks or Ethan Allan Homestead, both of which‬
 ‭require dogs to be on-leash and are not part of PRW).‬




‭69‬
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‭Appendix J: Task Force Progress Reports to City Council PACC Committee‬

‭The Task Force submitted progress reports to the‬‭City‬‭Council PACC Committee‬‭on the‬
‭following dates.‬

‭2022-03-01‬

‭2023-02-23‬

‭2023-08-23‬




‭Appendix K: History of Prior Task Force Work‬

‭In 1998, the City chose to pilot five locations for off-leash areas. They included Starr Farm‬
‭Park, Urban Reserve, Intervale, Schmanska and Oakledge Park. Two areas, Starr Farm and‬
‭Urban Reserve, exist today as off-leash fenced parks. The language for the program still‬
‭exists in the City Ordinances under Appendix D, section 7, Rules and Regulations of the‬
‭Burlington Parks and Recreation Park. The section became no longer enforceable in‬
‭approximately 2002 as the pilot ran out without any information that indicates that the City‬
‭Council took action.‬

‭In 2011, the City Council created a work group to revise and formalize the pilot program‬
‭started in 1998. After two years, the workgroup recommended that the South, Center and‬
‭North end of the City all have options for dogs off-leash. They also specified four parks‬
‭off-leash areas would not be permitted including Burlington Greenway, Battery Park, City‬
‭Hall Park and Champlain Street Park. They suggested that Starr Farm and Urban Reserve‬
‭fenced dog parks be listed in the ordinance and that the non-fenced areas be listed in a‬
‭new off-leash dog policy rather than an ordinance. The off-leash dog policy would be‬
‭approved by the Parks Commission and not through City Council.‬

‭The suggested off-leash areas from the 2011-2013 report included Leddy Park, Oakledge‬
‭Park, Calahan Park, Schmanska Park, Waterfront Park (in addition to the fenced area), and‬
‭Roosevelt Park. It was a mix of year-round and seasonal and any time of day to specified‬
‭times of day. The Parks, Recreation & Waterfront (BPRW) department started a Parks‬




‭70‬
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‭Comprehensive Plan process around the time of the final report. With that process starting,‬
‭the decision was made to pause the off-leash work to see what came out of the‬
‭comprehensive plan. It did not get picked back up again following the release of the 2015‬
‭Comprehensive Plan.‬

‭In 2019, the current BPRW Director started to move forward with the work from 2011-2013‬
‭meeting with PACC and the Parks Commission. The suggestion was made by the Parks‬
‭Commission to survey the community as quite a bit of time had passed from the 2011-2013‬
‭work. Before sending out the survey, the pandemic hit and once again, the project stalled.‬




‭71‬
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To: City Council
From: Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission
Re: Annual Report for 2024-25
Date: June 3, 2024


Overview of Commission
See Appendix A for the list of Commissioners, meetings, and attendance records.

Mission and Vision of Parks Commission
To support and move forward the BPRW department mission and be the liaison between the City and
the public

Issues/Projects Discussed and Outcomes
 1. Issue – Public Forum interaction
 Outcome – Developed, passed and implemented a public comment agreement for all members of the
 Commission.
 2. Issue – Dog Task Force Recommendations Off-leash Dog Areas
 Outcome: The Commission initially wanted to work through the off-leash recommendations through a
 separate subcommittee, but at the April 2025 meeting, brought the discussion back to the full
 Commission. The goal is to make a final recommendation to the City Council in the fall of 2025,
 methodically working through each area.
 3. Project – 2025 Commission Goals
 Outcome – The Commission set goals to learn more about the permitting process (park permits),
 establish parameters for public engagement at Commission meetings, volunteer when possible at
 department events, and schedule a retreat.
 4. Issue – Updating Appendix D
 Outcome – Over several meetings the Commission discussed updates to Appendix D, which had not
 had a significant update in over 25 years. Commissioner Boehm also provided recommendations to
 staff prior to the first draft coming to the Commission. As of the May meeting, the Commission
 approved sections 1 and 4 for City Council approval and will review sections 2 and 5 at the June




 Page 199 of 221
 meeting.


 5. Annual Financial approvals
 a. Fee Updates for marina slips, parking fees, park permits & rentals
 b. Penny for Parks community requests
 i. AED at Calahan Park - $4,000
 ii. New scoreboard at Calahan Park - $15,000
 iii. Picnic tables and benches at Calahan Park - $7,750
 iv. Bollards for Schmanska Access Road - $500
 v. Benches for Roosevelt Park - $6,000
 vi. ADA picnic table at Oakledge Park - $1,000
 c. Penny for Parks FY26 budget
 Outcome: The Commission supported various fee increases for park permits & rentals, parking and
 marina slips per City ordinance and Penny for Park projects per ordinance and city resolution.
 6. Presentations
 a. Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak visited in August
 b. BPRW – Recreation Division
 i. General division update
 ii. Event schedule
 c. Open Space Plan Update (two meetings)
 d. Pomeroy Park Playground Update (two meetings)
 e. 127 Path project
 f. Roosevelt Park Comprehensive Plan
 g. General Obligation bonds
 7. Monthly updates
 a. Parks Foundation
 Chair, Nate Lantieri, is a liaison with the Parks Foundation. Nate updated the Commission on
 both at each monthly meeting.


Challenges/Difficulties and Best Approach to Resolve
Challenge – How to make the public feel welcome and heard when they come for public forum?
 Best Approach to Resolve – Welcome everyone who comes and obtain their contact information in
 case a follow-up is needed. If the chair allows, have time for limited interaction with individuals coming




 Page 200 of 221
 for public forum and commit to discussing any issues brought forth in the Commission discussion time
 with a potential agenda item at a later meeting.


Ongoing Work FY25 to FY26
 1. Dog Task Force off-leash dog recommendations
 2. Finalizing all the updates to Appendix D, Rules and Regulations of City Parks
 3. Set a fall retreat


Volunteer Hours
The Commission contributed a total of 201 hours from June 2024 to May 2025 in their work as Commission
members, through meeting attendance, listening to community members, supporting events, and helping to
beautify parks.




_______________________________________ _______________________________________
Nate Lantieri, Chair Kate Mobley


_______________________________________ _______________________________________
Harley Johnson Aaron Keech


_______________________________________ _______________________________________
Kirstin Boehm Ryan Bergmann


________________________________________
Robert Etter


*Kate Mobley joined the Commission at the March 11, 2025 meeting, filling the position vacated by Lee
Morrigan.




 Page 201 of 221
 Appendix A
 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
 ATTENDANCE RECORD JULY 2024 – JUNE 2025


Date Commissioners Present

July No Meeting

August 13 Boehm, Johnson, Keech, Lantieri and Morrigan

September 10 Etter, Johnson Keech, Lantieri, and Morrigan

September 19 Boehm, Johnson, Lantieri and Morrigan

October 8 Boehm, Johnson, Keech, Lantieri and Morrigan

November 12 Bergmann, Boehm, Etter, Johnson, Lantieri and Morrigan

December 10 Bergmann, Etter, Johnson, Keech, Lantieri and Morrigan

January 14 Bergmann, Boehm, Johnson, Keech, Lantieri and Morrigan

February 11 Bergmann, Boehm, Etter, Johnson, Keech and Lantieri

March 11 Bergmann, Boehm, Etter, Keech, Lantieri and Mobley

April 8 Bergmann, Boehm, Etter, Keech, and Lantieri

May 13 Bergmann, Boehm, Etter, Keech, Lantieri and Mobley


June 10



Total volunteer hours for the period of July 2024 through June 2025 by the Commissioners were 201.




 Page 202 of 221
 SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITIES

 Monthly Parks Commission update - June, 2025

Department accomplishments and notable staffing developments since the last report

 • June work anniversaries – Dan Cahill (24), Kurt Johnson (2), Zach Martin (3), Matt Alger (2), Tyler Walton
 (10)
 • Transition team created to support transition to new director and support transition with loss of
 significant BRPW personnel, to include Sophie Sauvé, Deryk Roach and Erin Moreau (see transition team
 update at the end of the memo)

Major upcoming events: http://enjoyburlington.com/events/

 • Leddy Beach Bites – starts June 25!
 • July 3 @ Waterfront Park


Park Update

Conservation Program

 • Community Gardens
  Spring site start up underway.
 Supporting site leaders and managing a Open Space Plan Consultants and City
 variety of maintenance and repair needs OSP leadership team
 at sites.
  Developing water system expansions for Starr
 Farm, Tommy Thompson, Calahan, and Lakeview coninutes
  Working to bring stronger watercatchment systems to all sites. Season long project.
 • Nature Connection Pilot with Burlington School District

  Hosted UVM students for invasive removal in Champlain Parkway project
  Facilitated BCL student group project, transplanting trees with 5th graders at Flynn Elementary
  Facilitated multiple planting day programs for k-5 for inaugural pocket forest at Flynn Elementary
  Coordinated tool trailer for CP Smith Elementary School Work day
  Coordinated plant donation for Hunt Middle School
  Managed student seedling nursery starts




 Page 203 of 221
  Assisted with Open Space day at Kieslich & native plant giveaway w/UVM partner
  Co-presented at UCF conference about NBCS
 programming

• Natural Areas and Trails
  Construction of new retention wall on the primary
 connection trail between the Greenway and Arms Forest
  In coordination with the Planning Department, led an all-
 staff planting project at Oakledge Park.
  Assisted with trail assessment and review for the Leddy
 Bike Park.
  Developed a multi-use Leddy trail system that utilizes
 existing trails, creates new trails, and ties into the Bike
 Park. Rehabilitation of existing trails began in late
 May and new trail construction will be completed Full staff planting day at Oakledge –
 by the end of July (when the Bike Park opens). Conservation team having fun!
  Development of a partnership with CRAG Vermont
 to improve accessibility and reduce access impacts
 of boulding areas at Ethan Allen Park. Currently working
 on a trail plan, signage, and community events.
  Ongoing trail maintenance due to intense precipitation
 events this spring. We have been clearing drainage
 ditches, rebuilding water bars, and removing berms to
 help our trails shed surface water and reduce wet and
 muddy sections of trail.
  Oriented and trained our seasonal staff. We spent three
 days orienting new staff to Kieslich Park and our service
 sites, teaching them safe and efficient tool use,
 practicing different scenarios for engaging with the
 public, and generally helping our seasonal staff feel
 ready for and excited about the work ahead.

 Bike Path
  Prepped all spaces along bike path for marathon. This included weeding and mulching, mowing,
 weed whacking, blowing off of the bike path.
  Led training for new seasonals so that they could be prepared and safe for working on trails
  Cleaned Ethan Allen Tower for mother’s day opening
  Supported green up day by picking up trash
  Helped with hosting the Open Space Protection Event at Kieslich Park
  Finished trail reroute behind Kieslich building for better flow and safety of space
  Started implementation of bike path intersection vegetation redesigns




 Page 204 of 221
Central Facilities Program


 1. Hired




 • Working through last stage of boiler
 project in City Hall.
 • Cooling towers cleaned and started up
 in City Hall and Fletcher Free Library.
 • Float control added to Cooling tower at Fletcher Free Fire Station 2 floor, ready to pour
 Library.
 • Exhaust fan bearings replaced at Fletcher Free Library.
 • Hot water tank repaired in City Hall.
 • New water makeup with backflow installed for cold water in
 City Hall.
 • HVAC PM done and balanced at 645 Pine.
 • Building repairs completed for sale of 200 Church Street.
 • Final planning done for cruiser lot fence at BPD.
 • Interior flooring project completed at BPD.
 • Start of exterior envelope restoration project at Fletcher
 Free Library.
 • Carpet cleaned at 645 Pine.
 • Lock core project started at BCA. City Hall boiler project
 • New bay floor at Station 2 ready to pour.
 • Two team members completed RRPM Lead Certification.
 • Final and fourth side of window restoration project at the BCA
 completed.
 • Deep cleaning elevators in City Hall and Library.
 • Event set up in Contois.
 • Continual graffiti, trash and needle clean-up.

Tree and Greenways Program

 • Regular maintenance of all equipment.
 • Responded to resident requests as needed
 • Regular updates to tree inventory
 • Routine maintenance of landscape plantings and Rain Gardens
 throughout the city
 • Continued removal of ash trees in New North End and Old North
 End
 • Hired seasonal Horticultural Assistants Ash tree on Mansfield Ave declining due
 • Attended and presented at annual Arbor Day Conference in to Emerald Ash Borer infestation
 Randolph Vermont




 Page 205 of 221
Park Facilities Program

 • All Community Gardens' water has been turned on.
 • City Hall Splash Pad has been turned on.
 • All Park drinking fountains have been installed.
 • North Beach Campground and Concession water has been
 turned on.
 • All Ball Field irrigation systems have been turned on. We will be
 working on repairing some leaking valves and broken heads in
 the days to come.
 • More memorial plaques are ready to be installed on park
 benches.
 • Graffiti removal is ongoing.
 • A 2” main waterline feeding the North Beach concession has
 failed,. We made one repair, only to have another start the next
 day. The line is scheduled for replacement.
 • The Facilities crew worked a few days in Waterfront Park to
 make sure the Vermont City Marathon was successful.

Grounds, Cemeteries and Rangers Programs Water line repairs at North Beach

 • Cemetery
  In May, Cemetery Staff sold five lots for burial and generated a new bond and deed for a lot
 exchange (private sale)
  In May, Cemetery Staff performed five full burials and 12 cremation burials.
  Continued Lot card entry into Pontem. Completed through Ham-
  Researched multiple lots for inquiring families and grave researchers
  Performed equipment maintenance
  Performed grounds maintenance at Lakeview, Elmwood and Greenmount Cemeteries
  Began the new pricing for interments and lot sales.
  Flags were placed in observance of Memorial Day. Approximately 20 volunteers assisted
 cemetery staff in placing flags at Lakeview, Elmwood, and Greenmount.
  Friends of Lakeview and Preservation Burlington held an open chapel event and tour on Monday,
 May 26.
  Hired a couple more seasonal employees.

 • Grounds Maintenance
  Performed daily trash/cleaning of all parks
  Performed standard equipment maintenance
  Performed small engine equipment maintenance
  Supported Park Rangers
  Finished installing 100 yards of playground chips.
  Daily cleaning of tennis courts
  Painted lacrosse fields at Leddy and GBGSL soccer field at Calahan Park
  Supported BHS Lacrosse and Softball




 Page 206 of 221
  Supported Edmunds Middle school softball and baseball
  Responded to VueWorks request as needed.
  Ordered infield mix for Ireland baseball and Leddy softball
  Maintained and groomed city beaches'
  Graded all city owed parking lots and gravel roads
  Supported facilities with water main break at north beach
  Maintained all athletic fields for spring sports
  Park Ranger program was added to the Grounds and Cemetery manager on a temp basis
  Mowed all city properties and roadside mowing
 
  • Park Ranger
  The Rangers are working on a clear uniform look to make it easier for the community to identify
 them out in the field. There will be times when they come looking less like a Ranger and more like
 a parks worker, to help diffuse energy.
  Multiple clean-ups throughout parks of abandoned material.
  Delivered notices to tents popping up in park spaces
  Started preparing for a potential influx of campers in April and May, when the motel program
 could end
  Working on establishing a base system of the Battery Bandshell that has no storage of items
 during the day through communications with regular users of the bandshell
  Supported CHP staff
  Rangers are now temporarily under Grounds and Cemetery Manager

Planning Update
  o Planning team hired 2 interns this summer to support outreach and engagement!
  o Projects Progressing:
 • 127 Path Feasibility Study: Work continues on alternatives.
 • Baird Park Comprehensive Plan: Reviewed UVM students’ final plans; working on scheduling a
 first public meeting in early summer.
 • Bike Park at Leddy Park: Design work underway; permitting process underway with a view
 towards construction starting in July. Layout of Phase 1 flagged at Leddy Park.
 • Calahan Park Sidepath: We have received
 clearance from the Federal NEPA review Flagging the route for the Bike Park trails
 and are moving forward with final design,
 aiming to bid the project in the Fall.
 !




 • Community Boathouse Feasibility Study
 (co-managing with waterfront): Initial
 concepts discussed; awaiting drawings.
 • Lakeview Cemetery Section 8 – Phase 1:
 Working on contracting with a design firm
 to complete drawings for laying out the
 section. (ongoing)
 • Marina Dredging (co-managing with
 Waterfront): Continuing to evaluate cost
 impacts and possibilities for disposal with




 Page 207 of 221
 DEC and with creative approaches from consultant team.
 •
 North Beach Parking Lot: Working on RFP for design work on the North Beach entry/parking area
 which has seen a lot of erosion and water pooling in recent years. (ongoing)
 Oakledge for All Universal Access: Some additional plantings completed as part of a BPRW staff
 •




 workday. More to come. Working with contractor on a contract for renovating the restrooms this
 spring.
 • Open Space Plan: Ongoing Round 2 of public engagement.
 • Pomeroy Park Playground Redesign: RFP posted – closing end of June.
 • Roosevelt Park Comprehensive Plan: Final report in hand –
 will be publicly posted after a final review.
 • Schifilliti Path: Celebration pushed to spring – will be working
 on a collaborative project with VABVI. (Paused – date TBD)
 • Schifilliti Accessibility and Restrooms: Met with potential
 contractor for the accessibility project and re-strategizing the
 restroom renovations and no bids were received in February.
 (ongoing)
 • Voices of St. Joseph Orphanage Memorial: Collaborating with
 the artist on the archway at the reflective space and
 coordinating the engraving of the boulders with prose from
 the VSJO writers’ group. (ongoing) Returning leadership to the Waterfront –
 •




 Carly at Oakledge and Tenzin to North
Projects supporting other divisions/ departments: (abbreviated) Beach and Theo moves from Oakledge
 leadership to NB leadership
 • Deaccessioning of Chief Greylock @Battery Park – work with REIB
 and BCA, Great Streets/Main Streets, Playground Equipment and
 Compliance, Standard Equipment Replacements, South End Planning,
 Lighting at the Fishing Pier, New North End Plan

Waterfront: Marina, Campground, Beaches, Events & Leddy
Customer Service Update

Campground & Beaches

 • Campground & Beaches opened on May 15th for the Season
 • Seasonal staff have started, with all staff onsite by June 6th
 • Oakledge, North Beach & Leddy Shelters are being reserved steadily for
 Summer use under their new rates
 • The Beach House Snack Bar & Restaurant opened May 31st, between the
 rain drops!
 • So Full Sisters concession is set to open June 14th at Oakledge, and will
 be our first food concessionaire at Oakledge park. This is a great, new
 initiative to bring new services and revenue stream to Oakledge.
 • CityOfBurlingtonSwimWater – Bookmark this site so you have access all
 summer to our beach conditions with live updates multiple times a day!
 [works best from cell phones, Microsoft Edge and Safari. Doesn’t always work with Chrome]
 Both b




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Marina
 • The Marina opened on schedule on May 15th. Seasonal boaters have
 expressed appreciation for the many improvements.
 • Splash, Spirit of Ethan Allen and Marina Operations have been impacted by
 the rainy weather, particularly on weekends.
 • Staff have been spending extra time painting, installing buoys, updating
 insurance and registration information and deep cleaning areas around the
 marina.
 • The harbor and broad lake is loaded with large pieces of driftwood.
 • The US Coast Guard, which documents and oversees aids to navigation on
 Lake Champlain, is very pleased with our new lighted harbor buoys.
 These buoys are placed at the north and south entrances to the New deck furniture at the marina and
 harbor to reduce speeds (SLOW—NO WAKE) and around new flooring in Perkins bathrooms
 underwater hazards (DANGER—ROCKS) to mark two reefs in the
 harbor. The buoys have a solar panel and a small battery that turns
 on with a photocell when it gets dark at night. The entire buoy glows at
 night, making it easy to see and read. General boaters have commented to
 the Coast Guard their appreciation, and the Coast Guard itself appreciates
 the new buoys, recently commenting, “...that boaters love them and it’s an
 enhancement to the harbor.”
 • The Perkins Pier restroom floor project has been completed. The Perkins Pier
 restrooms are now some of the finest public restrooms available in
 Burlington. Nicer restrooms are treated more nicely by the public. Old,
 outdated restrooms are treated more abusively by the public. Investing in
 public restrooms makes things nicer for the public and for the people
 responsible for managing them.
 • Marina staff will soon begin installing new deck boards at the Perkins
 Pier Marina. The current deck boards are close to a quarter century FFL participating in Kid’s Weekend at
 old. Roosevelt Park – great partners!
Parking
 • New touch screen kiosks have been installed in all lots, including
 Oakledge, Perkins, Pease, Coast Guard and North Beach. This is a
 significant upgrade and makes the parking experience much more user-
 friendly. This should also result in fewer parking tickets and increased
 revenue collection.

Events
 • We lost our long-time Event Coordinator, Richard Bailey, due to the
 reduction-in-force cuts in May. This is a big loss to our Department, as
 he oversaw all of the Producer-led events in Waterfront Park, as well as
 the Walk/Run Events held throughout our Community. He improved the
 internal processes of our Events, which translated externally to safe and
 enjoyable events for our Community.
 • With the loss of this position, the Internal Recreation Event Manager has picked up many of the duties
 needed to get through this Summer. In doing so, we’ll need to draw down some services, such as pausing




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 the Wag the Waterfront Event and eliminating the VIP Event on July 3rd. We know there will be other
 impacts, with possibly other Events cancelled or eliminated as we sort through assignments and duties in
 the future.

Leddy Arena Customer Service

 • Morgan Glen, the wonderful Customer Service employee at Leddy Arena is
 being supported by Waterfront during this interim period. Morgan has been
 handling all ice time inquiries, walk-in requests and diving into the world of
 Facility Coordination by identifying key critical areas that need support during
 this RIF-led transition period. We are thankful for his dedication to Leddy to
 keep the place running.

Recreation Programming Update
Recreation Programs Morgan always ready to help out
 • Hired for all Summer Camp Positions for Recreation and Nutrition and a
 few other specialty camps
 • Developed curriculum for a number of new youth camp opportunities: Nature Camp and Zach's Magic
 Camp
 • Developed a new contracted camp opportunity with Petra Cliffs
 • Staff participated in an immersive and focused emergency care training, bolstering staff ability to
 develop more sophisticated and skills-intensive outings in the future!

55+ Programs
 • Reopened senior programming at the beginning of the month with all participants registered and
 prepaid for their classes through June.
 • Saw a lot of success from posting all 55+ classes and clubs on our website and our drop-in calendar.
 More seniors have been able to access the information and come check out the program.
 • Serviced around 25 seniors this month with 10 being new participants.
 • Spring adult classes wrapped up this month at Miller with ASL adding a new class for the summer.
 • Drop-in Treehouse yoga at Oakledge Park started and is going really well. Averaging 7+ participants
 each week with popularity rising.
 • Informed all instructors teaching adult classes and 55+ about the closing of the ONE Center and the
 discontinuing of all programs.
 • Stopped all future discussions and planning of programs past the end of Aug.

Leddy Arena Programs
 • Summer camp staff received offers, with 70% returning and 30% new hires.
 • Numbers started to grow in Cool Camp, Rise & Shine, and Hat Trick. We have some spots remaining.
 • Closing out bills and balances for freestyle ice skaters was successful.
 • Adjusting and prepping for summer as Leddy gears up for a busy camp season without a Recreation
 Facilities Superintendent

Athletics
 • Burlington Youth Lacrosse teams are wrapping up their season the first week of June.




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 • Summer Camp season starts the week of June 16, with the following camps: basketball, tennis, Talent
 skate, ultimate, and sailing.
 • We also have several programs beginning that week as well: Soccer Sparks clinics, itty bitty tennis, adult
 beginner tennis and youth track & field.
 • Other June camps: beginner volleyball, intermediate/advanced volleyball and additional sessions of tennis
 and Talent skate.

Admin Update
Marketing & Communications

 • Marketing team lost PT Graphic Designer and Communications Coordinator position, held by Andrea
 Hickey in the RIF process.
  Jules is taking on more responsibilities in response to the loss of personal, including all graphics,
 signage, social media, and website updates in addition to the ongoing work for Marketing and
 Comms.
 • Jules managing comms for the Rock Point Bridge construction project with DPW
 • Swim water reporting has begun:
 https://anrweb.vt.gov/FPR/SwimWater/CityOfBurlingtonPublicReport.aspx⁠
 • Jules continues work on building out the new website and add new pages.
 • Hired a seasonal role, Emma Goddard, to take on deeper website work, support summer events
 marketing and social media.
 • Working on ads, website and social media for Leddy Beach Bites and July 3rd
 • Marketing working on an all-Parks photography project to capture new, high-quality images with internal
 assistance – thank you Olivia Wolf of the Conservation Team for
 offering your photo skills!
 • Working to inventory and categorize all signage requests for the
 department.
 • Jules working with the Open Space Plan team to create and publish
 communications for public outreach.
 • 8840 total Instagram followers on @btvparks account!



Director May Highlights

 • May was a traumatizing month with the layoffs and impacts on all
 team members. While layoffs are more routine in the private sector, Digging in the dirt always helps when
 there is no recent record of them with City of Burlington employees. times are challenging.
 • Full staff clean-up at Oakledge Park – thank you to the Planning and
 Conservation teams for the spring project
 • Substantial focus on the FY26 budget.
 • Full staff planting day at Oakledge Park.
 • PACC approved the changes to Appendix D sections 1 and 4 and will move them to the City Council.




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 • Enjoyed watching the “Trout Parade” come to Battery Park. While
 the Sustainability Academy has a long-standing relationship with Fish
 & Wildlife to raise trout for Vermont streams, this year included the
 first partnership with The Flynn, making it a more community-
 focused celebration.



Commission notes

 • Contact Candice Holbrook if you would like a summer seasonal
 recreation parking pass for Perkins Pier, North Beach and Oakledge
 cholbrook@burlingtonvt.gov. Name, address, phone, license plate,
 make/mode of car

Transition Update BPRW helped organize a City team for the
 Corporate Cup again this year
 • Cindi Wight will remain the department director until June
 30th. Erin Moreau, Deryk Roach, and Sophie Sauvé have
 been collaborating with Cindi as Interim Directors until a new director is hired, which is expected
 to be late summer. Together, they are meeting with various teams affected by the substantial
 RIFs last month and providing supervisory support to direct reports who have been impacted by
 the cuts. The transition team will focus on identifying tasks, programs, and facility uses that may
 be reassigned, eliminated, paused or reduced based on capacity, budget and the
 Administration’s core objectives.
 • This Team (aka Trident) will communicate widely with the Department through-out this
 transitional period, listen to staff about their ideas for the interim period and long-term
 alignment, come-together as a team and support each other in our work and service to
 Burlington.
 • We will divide duties and responsibilities so that we can each maintain our previous
 responsibilities while addressing the needs of BPRW during this transition. You will see one of us
 at Commission Meetings, PACC, Park Foundation Meetings among other duties. Please reach out
 to us if you have any questions during this time and we thank you for the support of our
 Department.

Love Notes
Hi Incredible Folks from the City of Burlington,

Yesterday was fabulous and definitely a highlight of my 16+ years working with the school district.

It could not have happened without the high level of support from the City. We collaborated with Parks, BPD, and
DPW. Thanks so much to all who supported our community, especially to the officer leading the procession (who's
name I never got) and to the Parks crew who spruced up Battery Park that morning and attended for support.

And in case you missed it, footage from both WCAX and Local 22/44.

-Victor




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Hi Cindi,

The tree crew today on Hyde Street was unbelievably professional and energetic. Kudos to you all.

Dan Cohen




 BCA window repair




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Fixing the fountain at City Hall Park




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Celebrity Green Up Day participants – UVM Men’s Soccer started at City Hall
Park and cleaned up College and Main all the way to City Hall Park.




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New furniture at our Community Boathouse




 Bridge replacement over the Greenway at Rock Point




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Mom (#53 above) ran the marathon in the early 90s and her daughter (teal shirt) ran
it this year – they took a pic in about exactly the same spot – swings still there!




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Waterfront sunset views




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Sneak peek at BHS

Top picture is view from
a balcony

Middle picture is the
gymnasium

Bottom picture is the
parking area out back




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Another view of the new flooring at the Perkins Pier restrooms. Nicest restrooms on
the waterfront! We wish we had before pictures!




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Barrett’s/SavaTree completing ash removals on North Union. We hired them with
funds from the VT Urban and Community Forestry program.

Jules, our Marketing Manager, created signs for the Trees team to put up along
streets where we are completing removals.




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Parks & Recreation Commission

 645 Pine Street, Front Conference Room & Zoom

 Minutes

 June 10th, 2025 @ 5:30pm



Commission Present: Lantieri, Boehm, Mobley, Keech, Etter, Johnson and Bergmann

Not Present:

Staff Present: Cindi Wight, Deryk Roach, Erin Moreau, Sophie Sauve, Dan Cahill, Meghan O’Daniel

Other Present: Chapin Spencer, Zandy Wheeler, Sarah Camille Wilson & Chris Russo



The meeting commenced at 5:32pm with Lantieri welcoming everyone. He asked everyone from the
public who was in attendance to sign in.



 1. Agenda
 1.1
 Lantieri asked if someone would make a motion to adopt the agenda for the meeting.
 Boehm made the motion and Bergmann seconded. Lantieri then asked everyone to take
 a vote and everyone responded aye. None were opposed, so the agenda was approved.

 2. Consent Agenda
 2.1 – 2.10
 Lantieri continued that next was the consent agenda and asked if there were any
 motions regarding that. Mobley moved to approve.
 Etter had a question about requesting a change to one.
 Wight responded that the item would need to be pulled to discuss as a deliberative item
 and typically that is determined ahead of the meeting so that all parties can be
 informed.
 Etter thanked her and said he did not want to do that with any of these items.
 Lantieri continued looking for someone to second the motion. Boehm seconded. All
 were in favor, none were opposed, so the consent agenda was approved.

 3. Public Forum
 3.1
 Lantieri opened the public forum at 5:35pm. There were no comments from the public.
 Sauve, a BPRW staff member, shared information about the Open Space Plan. She
 reminded everyone that the survey is open until June 27th and encouraged those who
 haven’t participated to do so and to share it with others. She continued by sharing their
 outreach efforts – attending NPA meetings, tabling at events and markets. She
 explained that it’s on the City Planning’s page on the website or people could search
 “Burlington’s Open Space Plan”.
 Keech, a Commissioner, shared a letter from a community member about off-leash dog
 concerns from Colombia. It read “Dear Ms. Wight, I’m writing to comment on the
 recommendations for off-leash dogs in Burlington’s public spaces. When our daughter
 was young, we took her to Oakledge Park for a family picnic on the beach. While sitting
 there, an unleashed dog ran up, grabbed her food and ran away. The dog owner was
 unconcerned and became belligerent when we asked him to keep his dog on a leash.
 We are frequent users of North Beach, and have regularly witnessed off-leash dogs
 urinating and defecating on the beach and in the water, running over people's picnic
 blankets, running up to strangers and shaking their wet fur on them and begging
 strangers for food. We have lived in the Old North End for 24 years. Being in a diverse
 community, I've witnessed members of the New American population show fear,
 concern, and even terror when approached by dogs countless times. One highly
 exclusive user group should not take precedence over all other users, including families,
 people with leash dogs, new Americans, and anyone looking for time to relax and enjoy
 the outdoors without being harassed. The only people that don't mind an unleashed
 dog's behavior are the dog owners themselves. Thank you for considering my comments
 and adding them to the public record. Sincerely, Columbia.”
 Lantieri thanked Aaron for reading and Columbia for their comment. Seeing no other
 interest in public forum, he closed it at 5:40pm.
4. Deliberative Agenda
 4.1 Ski Rack Commission change request
 Chapin Spencer, Director of Public Works, started by sharing that they noticed that last
 month the Commission had approved a concessionaire agreement with Ski Rack and
 noted that Zandy Wheeler from Ski Rack was also present. He shared that Zandy had
 made a request to possibly reduce the gross sales commission rate, from 10% to 5%. He
 continued by noting that DPW is currently managing a number of capital projects in the
 City at this time, including Great Streets Main Street and the Champlain Parkway, both
 of which arrive at a shared point – the Pine St. and Main St. intersection, where Zandy’s
 long-term retail operation is located. Spencer continued that DPW has reviewed the
 request and they have initiated a number of business mitigation strategies to help
 businesses to help them get through this period – everything from zero-interest loans to
 additional public parking to amplifying social media campaigns. He closed by sharing
 that they are in support of the request that Ski Rack has put forward to ask for a
 reduced concessionaire rate and he opened the floor for questions.
 Boehm thanked Ski Rack for coming back and asked about where the 10% originally
 came from.
 Wight answered that it was from matching percentages across the board. And
 continued by sharing that this would just be for 2025 with the assumption and hope
 that most of the work will be done by next year.
 Chapin confirmed that he expects this to be a 1 year request, not an ongoing one.
 Zandy Wheeler chimed in that he had put forward an additional request to the
 Commission that it be a 12 month agreement starting now, instead of a 2025 calendar
 year request since it’s already June.
 Etter asked when bike rental typically start for the season.
 Wheeler answered that it depends on the year but typically from April through
 September.
 Lantieri confirmed that the request would be for through the end of June 2026.
 Mobley chimed in that yes it would be changing from a calendar year to 12 months in
 the motion.
 Lantieri asked if there were any actions that Commissioners would like to make.
 Bergmann made a motion to approve the 12 months from 10% to 5%.
 Etter seconded.
 All were in favor, none opposed, so the request was approved.
4.2 Conservation Legacy Fund request
 Dan Cahill, BPRW’s Land Steward, began by sharing that this is a Legacy Fund request
 that was brought to the Conservation Board last month. It is a request that builds on the
 project cost of us conserving the rivers and the marina, a project that was done in 2018,
 to conserve a really critical parcel right at the bike path bridge over the Winooski River.
 Nick Warner and the Winooski Valley Park District have put together a proposal to help
 protect this conservation area that the City has invested in partnership with other
 entities to preserve and conserve. One piece to note is that the language in the
 resolutions that guide the Conservation Legacy Fund give the advisory language that the
 funding available for project cost or acquisition should not exceed 40%, and this project
 is under that threshold.
 Nick Warner, the Executive Director of the Winooski Valley Park District, began by
 sharing that this project was triggered by the flooding and extreme erosion over the
 past two years. He continued that as a conserved area, the solution is not just bringing
 in truckloads of materials. He shared that the solution is really a mix of solutions where
 we can best mimic natural conditions but also recognize that we need to deal with the
 erosion. He felt that this needed to be an engineered solution and that it needed to be
 done in concert with the City, so they went out to bid on a consultant and they hired
 Watershed Consulting and they actually attended the Conservation Board meeting to
 answer any technical questions. He continued that they have not started work yet, so
 they have been hired on the condition that WVPD receives the funding to pay them.
 Their role would be to build a profile for what to do with that whole stretch and to work
 with the City because it is a complex little strip. He said they have looked at other
 funding sources, but felt this was their best bet to be able to get this project done in a
 timely fashion. He then offered to answer any questions Commissioners might have.
 Lantieri asked if any of the Commissioners had questions.
 Etter inquired about the pressing need to prevent the erosion – whether it was to
 ensure the integrity of the bridge or something else.
 Warner answered that it is a combination of water quality, sedimentation and habitat
 and a lot of other things going on. He shared that they estimate they have lost about
 20,000 square feet of material into the river, and it is continuing. He continued that
 another reason they are concerned is that the path of the river creates an eddy right in
 front of Derway and Mays, where especially high water causes a circular pattern that
 carves away the shoreline and there is a neighborhood nearby that has concerns if the
 river continues on this path. It’s really quite an epic loss of material and a significant
 issue.
 Etter asked if there has been a study done on if there is a place where it will reshape the
 shoreline so that the eddy goes away and a different shape of the shoreline will happen
 and result in less erosion? So it naturally resolves itself. He continued by wondering if
 we are committing ourselves to a continuing fight or if there is space, would the river
 just move itself in a way so that it would erode less.
 Warner responded that because it is a floodplain, the goal is to come up with a solution
 that would allow the area to flood and also have some resistance to erosion. He shared
 that they’re looking at the whole site because of this and it is complex which is why they
 need the engineers.
 Keech chimed in that he was looking at this in terms of what this Commission has voted
 for in the past and what kind of service this is going to provide. He continued that this
 eddy is exposing the back side of the foot bridge, which is City property, and as soon as
 it gets out of control it is the City’s problem too. He said that he was looking at the funds
 requested and that compared to approving a $7,000 request for benches at Calahan,
 this is just a little more money and you cannot even compare the payout of the two. He
 closed by sharing that he feels this is such a small request with such a huge payout.
 Lantieri said that it sounded like this was completely within the goals of the
 Conservation Legacy Fund and doesn’t exceed the 40% Dan mentioned. He then asked if
 there were any other questions or comments from the Commissioners.
 No one did so Lantieri asked if there was a motion from anyone.
 Boehm made a motion to approve. Bergmann seconded.
 All were in favor, none opposed so the motion was approved.
4.3 Appendix D Section 2 and 5
 Wight shared screen so that everyone could follow along and introduced Erin Moreau,
 BPRW Harbor Master.
 Moreau began by explaining that Section 2 pertains to the marinas – both at Perkins
 Pier and the Boathouse. She continued that what they found when reviewing it was that
 it talked about boaters in general, but there are really two classifications of boaters,
 transient and seasonal, and sometimes there are different restriction or qualifications
 associated with each. She continued that we enter into more full agreements with our
 seasonal boaters, so they dove into the language in the ordinance for those a little bit
 more. She shared that one of the main things they wanted to clarify was that there is no
 subletting, which has been an issue. She continued that this means people cannot go
 online and sell their slip for a day and BPRW has more authority in regards to that.
 Moreau shared that a lot of what was in the ordinance in the past was more general in
 regards to parks, so we updated this to define who staff is.
 Vetter asked about a switch from 8pm to 7pm for transient vessels presumed to be
 staying overnight.
Moreau confirmed and shared that it is actually more like 5pm, which is what designates
evening from day, and so what this means is that you can stay out here on the hook
until 7pm free of charge, but we will start charging you overnight at 7pm. We did this
because we want it to be daylight throughout the entire season when this happens, and
8pm puts us into twilight later on in the season.
Moreau continued that a lot of the new language and changes are from the contract
that all seasonal boaters sign, but this is taking it to the next level.
Etter asked about the section referencing that the owner shall give the City advanced
notice of commencement and duration of such vacancies saying that it doesn’t say how
long the vacancy has to be, and suggest that that is added.
Moreau answered in agreement, saying that she would update it to say “over 48 hours”.
Etter asked if it was common practice for boaters to let Marina staff know when they
are leaving the harbor.
Moreau answered that this is pretty typical, but mostly from larger boats that are
overnighting. She continued that Perkins Pier is all small crafts, most of which do not
have an enclosed cabin, so this mostly happens with the Boathouse and is a fairly
normal marina habit for safety reasons. She shared that her staff will check in with a
boat if they haven’t notified them that they are overnighting somewhere else to make
sure that they are okay. She continued that most boaters let them know when they will
just be gone for a bit, gone for a week or anywhere in between.
Keech asked if this was a verbal practice or is there a way to track and capture this.
Moreau responded that they use a software called Dockwa. Boaters can e-mail or come
to the front counter and staff will input information about a slip in here, like how long
the boaters will be away for, which helps security and evening staff know which spots
will be empty, and if a boat is missing that should not be, they are reaching out to check
in.
Etter asked about the changes to the insurance requirement and what kind of things
that would cover.
Moreau responded that they are not putting the amount in the Ordinance because it
fluctuates so much but that the agreement will reflect the current amount annually. She
continued that this would cover things like damage to the dock with their vessel,
damaging power pedestals, if their boat sinks in the harbor, leaks and breaches and the
list goes on.
Mobley asked for clarification about the clause regarding boater behavior.
Moreau responded that this is all currently in the boater agreement, but they wanted to
add it in here to really reinforce it and take it to the next level.
Wight continued on with Section 5, Park Closings. She shared that there were some
updates to park names and some parks added.
Moreau shared an update about parking – changing the language from “permits” to
“fees” because of the installation of kiosks across the City.
Moreau continued that one of the biggest changes was to the North Beach section –
clarifying the season and that motor vehicles are excluded from the beach parking lot
“from dusk to dawn” – so no overnight parking there, which she is hoping will help with
some problematic activity that happens at night sometimes.
 Wight pointed out the addition about the gate being closed overnight and in the off
 season. She continued that some people have shared frustrations about this but the
 reality is that it is remote and we do not have staff down there in the off-season, and no
 plowing in the winter and lots of mud in the spring.
 Lantieri asked if someone would like to move to approve the recommended changes to
 Appendix D, Sections 2 and 5 with the amendments as outlined in this meeting.
 Mobley made a motion to approve, Keech seconded. All were in favor, none were
 opposed.
4.4 Appendix D Section 7
 Lantieri began by sharing that he, Boehm and Wight created this memo by taking a step
 back, thinking about the timeline and what were actually things that needed to be done
 and looking at each of the components involved.
 Wight added on that this was intended to help folks understand the separation of
 Appendix D versus the policy. She continued that there are a lot of things in the policy
 that will be more nimble to change as compared to what is in Appendix D since there is
 more time and effort to change ordinances and so having details in the policy is better.
 Boehm clarified that right now there is not a policy currently, but that today the group is
 reviewing the Appendix D section 7 language that will help to create the policy. She
 continued that what they are suggesting the group talk about today are – getting an
 answer to any questions about liability from the City attorney, and just like we have
 been doing, look at the draft changes and vote on that.
 Lantieri agreed and added that the next step will be outlining and filling out the policy
 from there in the coming months.
 Boehm chimed in that the policy would then be controlled by the Parks Commission, not
 City Council, like the ordinance.
 Keech wanted to make sure the group talked about this before any editing happened
 and also brought up that the Commission has been up against a similar topic in the past
 – smoking areas, about whether they were going to be happening or not. He continued
 by sharing a quote that he found written by the Parks Department in opposition to City
 Council imposing non-smoking areas in their parks. He said that this department did not
 want that to occur, but City Council imposed it, so they had a statement about their
 opposition it and he said it runs perfectly parallel to what the Commission is dealing
 with right now. He asked for permission to read the quote so that it was on the record.
 Lantieri allowed him to read it.
 Keech read “The rights of a non-smoker must always come before the privileges of a
 smoker in a community setting. That has been the national standard for close to 40
 years now, ever since the government won its lawsuit against the tobacco companies.
 How can Burlington be any different? In all of the conversations we had with
 Commissioners from cities and other towns, no one mentioned protecting the rights of a
 smoker in a park. Instead, they focused on the purpose of a public park. We're all
 citizens of all ages would be able to enjoy clean air with beautiful views surrounded by
 natural landscape and a wholesome recreational activities.” He continued by saying that
 this runs perfectly parallel to this dog argument – whose rights are we talking about,
 whose park is it. He finished by sharing that he just wanted to put that out there and
that this is a statement from this Department and now, in terms of this topic, the
viewpoint is essentially flipped. He closed by saying that this does not make any sense to
him.
Lantieri thanked him for sharing and asked if anyone else had any other questions or
thoughts before they started.
Etter asked about the e-mail they received from Amy Mayer.
Wight answered that she is our risk person at the City attorney’s office.
Keech asked what their ultimate take on this was and shared that he read it as “don’t do
it”.
Wight responded that Amy’s comment was that she feels that formalizing it in places
where people are already informally doing it actually lowers risk because there are rules
and signage, so the direction is not “don’t do it” at this time. She continued that she
does not feel that it’s the Commission’s responsibility to worry about the liability piece
of this.
Keech responded that the first bullet point is that all visitors use the park at their own
risk, which he thinks is a pretty damning first statement. He continued that another
thing he thinks needs to be pointed out is that parks should be physically separate from
the general public. It shouldn’t be located around playgrounds, which are being
proposed. Sports fields, which are being proposed. Public pathways, which are being
proposed. Or schools, not proposed. Or, he said he would like to include beaches, which
are being proposed. He shared that the direction of this document defies the idea of
having unfenced off-leash areas.
Boehm shared that she felt it would be helpful for everyone to look at this section of
Appendix D is that we can come back to these pieces, but it can us orient what we are
really talking about in this one place. She asked if everyone was okay with starting that
process.
There was general agreement.
Lantieri shared that the basis of this originally came from the Task Force
recommendations and then we modified and edited as we saw fit.
Wight said that the first section, A, just defines that there has to be an off-leash dog
policy as approved by the Parks Commission and that any modifications need to be
approved by the Parks Commission. She continued that if there are off-leash areas, that
they are stated in the policy, with the exception of fenced dog parks, which shall be
established by ordinance because they are more permanent.
Keech shared that he looked at this and feels that until they make a decision about
fenced areas and unfenced areas that it is difficult to look at this. He continued by
saying that if we are going to say no to unfenced areas, that should basically say the
OLDP shall govern actions within dog parks. Except that permanent fenced dog parks
shall be established by ordinance. He continued by asking what these opportunities that
they are talking about are. And said that until we define what the intentions are as a
group, how are we going to edit this?
Boehm responded that that was a fair question and said that the other way to do it
would be to develop the policy first, but that there would still need to be a framework
or context that they were fitting into. She continued that if the group looks at this and
agrees that this is what we think we would fit it into, then they would work on the policy
which would be the same process – going through it like this.
Wight added that Appendix D Section 7 won’t go to City Council until the policy is also
done.
Etter suggested modifying the wording of A to make it a bit more flexible, less like we
are compelling ourselves to have off-leash dog opportunities that are not permanent
fenced dog parks. He thought changing the wording to read something like “there might
not be any, but if there are they will be in the OLDP”.
Wight mentioned the edit from “guardian” to “owner”.
Etter suggested changing the word “shall” to “may” in section B because it is more
flexible rather than compelling the Commission to make policy that they haven’t
decided they are going to make. He continued that the first sentence in section B is
enough and the second two sentences could be removed entirely.
Mobley stated that she felt that the third sentence should be kept in.
Etter agreed.
There was a discussion on the difference between “shall” and “may” and which was
more appropriate for this section. Ultimately the group decided “may” gives some
flexibility.
Etter jumped ahead to number two but noted that it was relevant to B. He wanted to
make it clear that dogs must be leashed in all parks at all times except for the locations
under number one and number two.
Keech shared that he had to strike two completely because it is essentially off-leash
non-fenced, and looked for confirmation.
Etter responded that if there are off-leash dog areas they will be listed in the OLDP.
Keech said that if we just write off-leash areas, because if you go into a fenced area you
can take your dog off-leash.
Wight clarified that not any fenced in area, like tennis courts.
Boehm confirmed that the law is that dogs need to be on-leash at all times in the City,
so that is the default and does not need to be stated in Appendix D.
Wight said that it is stated that this group is the only one that has the authority to
establish areas where dogs can be off-leash.
Etter shared that he wanted to make sure it was very clear that these are the only areas
where dogs are allowed to be off-leash.
Lantieri suggested that could go in either this section or A.
Boehm commented that the first sentence in B is essentially a very long way of saying
what Etter was getting at.
Wight said this could be used as a space to capture intent and people could wordsmith
via e-mail later. The group then wordsmithed a few spots together while Wight noted
the changes in the document.
 Bergmann noted a change in the titles of the areas with fenced off-leash areas.
Keech asked about funding for the Oakledge dog park and if that was all that was left to
get it built, confirming that it had been approved already.
Wight answered that it is that coupled with staff capacity.
Lantieri confirmed that this process, however, is what establishes it and allows it be
there.
Etter asked why bullet 3 was struck and what is in Article 2, Section 517
Wight answered that it was about the funds to implement it should be made available
from the fees and the CAO does not want funds to dictate where the money goes. She
continued that that is noting a change the Task Force wanted to make but did not make
it through the Ordinance Committee.
Wight continued with letter C saying that the Department would definitely want to be
held to number one.
Etter asked if the Department had any concerns with number two, the targeted
campaigns.
Wight answered that she would be okay if that was taken off.
Boehm shared that for context, one of the things the smaller group talked about and
put in the timeline was that as the Commission begins having conversations with
Cindid’s successor that they may have some insights for what is feasible from their
perspective.
Johnson noted that along with the annual targeted campaign to educate the
community, it would be good to also have a space for feedback on these potential off-
leash areas annually.
There was general agreement that this would be a good addition to the policy.
Keech specifically noted that cats remaining indoors made the ordinance, so it felt
hypocritical to not include this in the ordinance as well as the policy.
Mobley offered that a line could be included here along the lines of “if created, the
Parks Commission will evaluate on a regular basis”.
The group agreed.
Keech asked about the word “opportunities” in letter C number one, and what that
meant if we were not going to ultimately provide off-leash, non-fenced areas.
Wight suggested changing that word to “areas”.
Keech felt that sufficed.
Keech continued that he felt 4 needed a lot of work. He continued that the word
“supervised” can mean different things to different parents in different settings, like
when unleashed dogs are around. He feels that if there are going to be unfenced off-
leash dog areas, things like no glass containers and no food is not realistic. He continued
through the list asking how this would work if there were unfenced areas. He concluded
by saying that depending on how the Commission defines what an area is, whether that
is fenced or unfenced, it is a big deal.
Others read number 4 as being only in fenced off-leash dog areas.
Boehm shared that it is good to take into account what is being said, but to also fit the
ordinance and the policy together with this in mind. She continued that she feels the
spirit of this is not just limited to the fenced areas and number 4.
Etter said that he understood what Keech was saying and used the under 12 years old
example.
Lantieri said that if there is an established off-leash, unfenced area, it would make sense
to not allow unsupervised children in that area.
Keech shared a personal story about his daughter being bitten by an off-leash dog in a
leashed area with her mother right next to her, which is why he made the point that
supervision within these areas would be completely different with unleashed dogs
around.
Etter suggested that number 4 would be worth re-visiting depending on how things go
during the unfenced discussion.
Wight noted that in the document.
Etter shared that he was not a huge fan of the idea of restorative justice processes
because with the law there are set boundaries but restorative practices feelings tend to
be involved. He continued that he would like to see section E, number 3 go away.
Keech agreed. He noted that he has gone through a restorative justice program and it
was great, but it was over a stolen bike, compared to potentially things like medical bills,
human health issues, being involved here if someone is hurt.
Mobley chimed in that a lot of what the group is talking about in regards to this is
conflict between people who have different values around dogs in their space. She
continued that because of this having a restorative justice piece makes sense because so
much of this is going to come down to the way people engage and have conversations
with one another. She shared that given how polarized some of this conversation feels,
she believes that there does need to be something built in that gives people the
opportunity to build bridges in that process.
Etter stated that this then begs the questions of under what circumstances, which may
be for the City attorney to decide.
Keech referenced the Rangers visiting and sharing their difficulties with enforcement
and how if the unfenced piece was going to occur that those difficulties would remain.
He shared that he was curious about section E, number 1 and asked if anyone had ever
been removed because of this?
Wight noted that there is a volunteer group at the Starr Farm Dog Park who might have
some insight.
Lantieri asked if the Rangers have ever ejected someone from a park for any sort of
violation.
Wight responded that yes people have been trespassed people from parks.
Lantieri suggested that some of the difficulties may be stemming from the fact that the
policy does not exist yet, so there is nothing to point to.
Etter asked if Park Rangers can issue fines for dogs off-leash as per the Ordinance that
already exists, or just police.
Wight responded that Park Rangers have been added to that section so yes they do
have the authority to ticket for off-leash dogs in City parks.
Boehm noted that part of it may be a capacity issue for the rangers.
Lantieri circled back to the restorative justice piece of the conversation.
Mobely said that she was fine with having the wording say “may include a restorative
justice process” since it leaves it open but not required.
The group agreed.
 Etter asked for clarification about whether or not anything in this document would
 prohibit people who were interested in accelerating the building of fenced areas from
 donating.
 Wight said no.
 As the group wrapped up the discussion, Boehm reminded everyone that the original
 goal was to vote on this section and asked if people were feeling like maybe that was
 not the right approach right now because they still needed to fit the ordinance and the
 policy together more.
 There was general agreement.
 Lantieri asked someone to make a motion to table the vote on Appendix D section 7
 until further notice, at least until the August meeting.
 Etter made the motion to table, Keech seconded. All were in favor, none opposed.
 Lantieri asked commissioners to take a look at all of the documents between now and
 the August meeting in the hopes that the group can come back and be able to start
 working towards some consensus or at least a compromise.
4.5 Review Commission Report
 Lantieri opened by sharing that Cindi worked this up for the Commission and that it is
 basically a review of all of the action items that they had throughout the year. He
 continued by letting everyone know additions can be made before the final draft is
 complete or the group can approve it at this meeting and then all sign it.
 Keech shared that he thought it was a great encapsulation of everything that has been
 happening. But, he continued, that he did have one plea to everyone that for the future,
 that Pennies for Parks be used for more obscure and unique things that are not
 necessarily incorporated with existing plans.
 Wight responded that one recommendation she could make to the Commission is that
 you as Commissioners have access to your own parts of the community so you can help
 talk up Pennies for Parks to spread the word about the opportunity.
 Lantieri continued that it is a great way for projects to come through via a community-
 driven accelerators for plans that maybe do not have the funds allocated for them.
 Mobely asked for clarification that it is not the role of Commissioners to solicit more
 diverse requests, but just to spread the word that it exists.
 Keech answered that in the past the Department goes through and then presents the
 Commission with some and then we approve them.
 Wight chimed in that in the past few years, every request that has been made has been
 funded and she encouraged Commissioners to remind people that it is an opportunity.
 Lantieri shared that it is not a responsibility but more of an opportunity for an
 engagement.
 Mobely asked for clarification that if she encourages someone to apply and then she is
 voting on it, if that would be a conflict of interest.
 The group consensus was that it would only be a conflict of interest if it was something
 that directly benefitted a Commissioner personally, which would be rare if it ever even
 happened.
 Boehm said that if there were ever concern, a Commissioner could recuse themselves
 from a vote.
 The Commissioners thanked Cindi for putting this report together.
 Mobley noted that her name is “Katie” not “Kate”.
 No other changes were requested, so Cindi asked the Commissioners to sign it
 electronically when it comes through.
5. Standing Items
 5.1 Parks Foundation
 Lantieri shared that there was a meeting of the Parks Foundation last week and that
 they are, from a campaign perspective, in the same place where they are about to
 launch a campaign to the public. He continued that they have spent a lot of time
 working on the back end of things, administratively, and they just got a new board as
 well.
 Wight shared that the new chair is Kelly, who is also the Executive Director of Rock
 Point.
 Lantieri continued that they are at a point where they are starting to move their goals
 forward, which is exciting.
6. Director’s Report
 6.1 Monthly Parks Commission Update
 Wight shared a few things out from the report including that there is a new
 concessionaire at Oakledge, which is exciting. She continued by noting the new lighted
 harbor buoys, which have been getting really positive feedback – even from the
 Coastguard. She also mentioned the Sustainability Academy’s Trout Parade, which was
 very cute. She continued that Pomeroy Park is out to big, which will be the kickoff for
 the Parks Foundation public campaign. She ended by sharing that the Zero North Ave
 grant will be taken on by City staff, which she is relieved about.
 Lantier thanked Wight for her report and for all of the ones that have come before this
 one.
 The rest of the group echoed that sentiment.
 Wight shared her gratefulness for working with everyone in the Commission over the
 years.
7. Commissioner’s Items & Volunteer Hours
 Lantieri started by thanking Wight for her service, especially for her willingness to
 always be on the front line with staff. He specifically noted when she was driving the bus
 to bring people to and from the cold weather shelter.
 Lantieri continued by giving VJ Comai, the City Arborist, a shout out about his willingness
 to dive in and get things done – like the planters on Champlain Street.
 Wight shared that Comai was the one to switch a lot of annual plantings to perennials,
 which saved the City money and is also more ecologically and climate friendly.
 Keech went next and began by bringing up the e-mail everyone received about the bike
 park at Leddy and mentioned that maybe it should be a discussion item at a future
 meeting. He continued by bringing up the sailing center and their proposal to expand
 into the Urban Reserve because it is going to involve fill which is a violation of the Urban
 Reserve plan and the Commission should have a voice in what is going on there. He
 closed by sharing that he received an e-mail from someone about amplified sound in
 Calahan Park, who was looking for verification that the request was approved.
 Wight told Keech to forward the e-mail to her.
 Bergmann said that he did not have any hours to report and thanked Wight for her
 professionalism and reasonableness and willingness to do what is best for the citizens of
 Burlington and that she would be hard to replace.
 Johnson shared that they attended a garden work day at the Calahan community
 garden. They echoed the thankfulness for all of Wight’s work with the Commission and
 the City and that she will be missed.
 Mobley did not have any hours to report, and shared that she was sad her and Wight’s
 time together was short, but that it is great to think about the lasting legacy that she will
 have on Burlington and the Department.
 Etter did not have any hours to report, but also thanked Wight for her service and said
 that the enthusiasm of people who come to the meetings and join the Commission is a
 testimony to her leadership.
 Boehm shared that she had 1 hour of volunteering to report for planning with Lantieri
 and Wight and said that it has been a joy getting to know Wight and that every staff
 member who comes in is so incredibly competent and knowledgeable and hardworking
 and thoughtful and she feels that from Wight and her leadership.

8. Adjournment
 8.1 Motion to adjourn
 Lantieri asked someone to make a motion to adjourn.
 Etter made a motion, Bergmann seconded. All were in favor, none opposed.