Winnipeggers won't see what's in a consultant's report on guidelines for the development of off-leash parks until the fall, in spite of the fact the report was handed in in the spring.
Donna Henry, president of the Kilcona Park Dog Club, says Winnipeg often points to Calgary as a model for off-leash parks.
Yet Calgary spent two years developing guidelines, and carried out extensive public consultations, she said.
"You need to involve people at the beginning of the process so you're actually getting their input," Henry, a former superintendent for Parks Canada in northern Manitoba and Yukon, said.
The guidelines are expected to rank parks according to their size and location, and will likely recommend what kinds of services and amenities, from garbage pick-up to picnic tables and bag dispensers to splash pads for dogs, should be available.
The consultant told the board of Maple Grove Park Dog Owners' Association that he had met with board members of Kilcona Park Dog Club as well, and had spoken with people at random as he walked through the city's off leash areas.
But Henry says dog clubs are just part of the picture. They have a special relationship with the city, for instance, organizing volunteers for annual park clean-ups.
Henry said there are dozens of other voices that should be heard, such as people who have dogs but don't use the parks, people with disabilities, even developers.
"For the city just to be consulting with seven people on our board, and the board of Maple Grove, and then having the consultant walk through the park and talk randomly to a few people...that makes a mockery of the whole public consultation process," she said.
KPDC president Donna Henry and Hudson at Kilcona Park. Donna Henry, president of the Kilcona Park Dog Club, says Winnipeg often points to Calgary as a model for off-leash parks.
Yet Calgary spent two years developing guidelines, and carried out extensive public consultations, she said.
"You need to involve people at the beginning of the process so you're actually getting their input," Henry, a former superintendent for Parks Canada in northern Manitoba and Yukon, said.
The guidelines are expected to rank parks according to their size and location, and will likely recommend what kinds of services and amenities, from garbage pick-up to picnic tables and bag dispensers to splash pads for dogs, should be available.
The consultant told the board of Maple Grove Park Dog Owners' Association that he had met with board members of Kilcona Park Dog Club as well, and had spoken with people at random as he walked through the city's off leash areas.
But Henry says dog clubs are just part of the picture. They have a special relationship with the city, for instance, organizing volunteers for annual park clean-ups.
Henry said there are dozens of other voices that should be heard, such as people who have dogs but don't use the parks, people with disabilities, even developers.
"For the city just to be consulting with seven people on our board, and the board of Maple Grove, and then having the consultant walk through the park and talk randomly to a few people...that makes a mockery of the whole public consultation process," she said.
Extensive public consultation not part of city's plan
The city says the consultant "was given direction for a limited public consultation... In other words, an extensive public consultation process was not contemplated or considered for this project nor it is being considered."
It said people will get to comment when the consultant's report goes to the Standing Policy Committee this fall.
Typically a report is made public just a few days before the committee meets and anyone wanting to comment must register.
Henry says that doesn't give people enough time. "When people go to a meeting in the fall and are presented with a fait accompli, 'Here's what we've done, here's our plan,' they haven't had a chance to see it before hand. They haven't had a chance to think about what the content is and to think about what works and what doesn't work for them. ...To come to the meeting, to hear what's in the plan and to be responding like that, that's completely unfair."
Colin Lang, co-chair of the Maple Grove Park Dog Owners' Association, said it's a good idea to have guidelines for off-leash parks but he is also critical of the way the city is going about it.
"The city should not do it unilaterally," he said. "The guidelines should be drawn up in consultation with the different stakeholders of the dog parks."
Lang said he's worried about what will happen in the fall.
"It's almost like they're drawing up the guidelines now and they're going to want us to rubber stamp them," he said.
Colin Lang and Petey at Maple Grove. The city says the consultant "was given direction for a limited public consultation... In other words, an extensive public consultation process was not contemplated or considered for this project nor it is being considered."
It said people will get to comment when the consultant's report goes to the Standing Policy Committee this fall.
Typically a report is made public just a few days before the committee meets and anyone wanting to comment must register.
Henry says that doesn't give people enough time. "When people go to a meeting in the fall and are presented with a fait accompli, 'Here's what we've done, here's our plan,' they haven't had a chance to see it before hand. They haven't had a chance to think about what the content is and to think about what works and what doesn't work for them. ...To come to the meeting, to hear what's in the plan and to be responding like that, that's completely unfair."
Colin Lang, co-chair of the Maple Grove Park Dog Owners' Association, said it's a good idea to have guidelines for off-leash parks but he is also critical of the way the city is going about it.
"The city should not do it unilaterally," he said. "The guidelines should be drawn up in consultation with the different stakeholders of the dog parks."
Lang said he's worried about what will happen in the fall.
"It's almost like they're drawing up the guidelines now and they're going to want us to rubber stamp them," he said.
Dog owners feel marginalized
Mathew Hobson says he and his wife have taken their two dogs, a yellow lab and collie cross, to three off-leash areas in the city. Their favourite is Maple Grove. But he's concerned there isn't more choice.
And he's not happy that people like himself aren't being consulted as off-leash guidelines are being drawn up.
"It doesn’t make any sense that they wouldn’t request input from people who are actually going to use the facilities," he said. "Obviously, the fact we don’t have a say till it’s already made, means there’s probably not very much chance of it changing... It just doesn’t make any sense they wouldn’t do the research ahead of time."
Hobson said pet owners are being left out.
"It seems to be somewhat discriminatory against pet owners and lead to a city where you’re not really all that pet friendly anymore."
Lang agrees. He said the city should look at dog walking as a legitimate activity, like football, or rugby, and get the same kind of respect.
"You've got a group of people out here, all ages, all the way up to the 80's and 90's, come out here with their dogs," he said. "I know when I got my dog he was a retirement project for me and that's what gets me off my chair and outside. One of the things I would like to push for is for dog walking to be an actual activity and to be looked at as such."
And something else he said the city should know. "There's a lot of dog owners in this city who also vote. And that's I think an important thing that the councillors should also be looking at."
Mathew Hobson says he and his wife have taken their two dogs, a yellow lab and collie cross, to three off-leash areas in the city. Their favourite is Maple Grove. But he's concerned there isn't more choice.
And he's not happy that people like himself aren't being consulted as off-leash guidelines are being drawn up.
"It doesn’t make any sense that they wouldn’t request input from people who are actually going to use the facilities," he said. "Obviously, the fact we don’t have a say till it’s already made, means there’s probably not very much chance of it changing... It just doesn’t make any sense they wouldn’t do the research ahead of time."
Hobson said pet owners are being left out.
"It seems to be somewhat discriminatory against pet owners and lead to a city where you’re not really all that pet friendly anymore."
Lang agrees. He said the city should look at dog walking as a legitimate activity, like football, or rugby, and get the same kind of respect.
"You've got a group of people out here, all ages, all the way up to the 80's and 90's, come out here with their dogs," he said. "I know when I got my dog he was a retirement project for me and that's what gets me off my chair and outside. One of the things I would like to push for is for dog walking to be an actual activity and to be looked at as such."
And something else he said the city should know. "There's a lot of dog owners in this city who also vote. And that's I think an important thing that the councillors should also be looking at."