LAKEPORT – Dogs and their owners will soon have a temporary place to play near Westside Community Park.

 

The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday agreed to temporarily designate a city-owned parcel next to the park, at 1402 Westside Park Road, as the dog park location, while the permanent dog park location is prepared.

 

Westside Park Committee Chair Ron Raetz first made the request two months ago.

 

In a letter to the council dated Dec. 20, Raetz explained that a dog park has long been a goal of the Westside Park Committee, and that the committee has received private donations to fund it.

 

Raetz's letter explained the dog park originally was to have been located at the park's north end.

 

However, Raetz told the county Tuesday that lot line adjustments and street widening in the subdivision development had cut into the dog park area he had planned and made it too small.

 

“We have a nice spot there, for Chihuahuas,” Raetz quipped.

 

The temporary dog park proposal first went to the city Parks and Recreation Committee, which approved the temporary use, before forwarding it to the council.

 

The staff report from Acting City Manager Richard Knoll to the council for Tuesday's meeting suggested approving the request, as long as it doesn't conflict with the long-term commercial development plans for the land, which had been determined as its “highest and best use.”

 

“I have no problem with the fact that it's temporary,” said Raetz.

 

The permanent dog park location can be established during phase two of the park's master plan, Raetz said. Using the land temporarily shouldn't be expensive or work intensive, said Raetz, needing only some fencing and minor cleanup.

 

Councilman Bob Rumfelt said he felt the temporary use was appropriate for the thin strip of city-owned, commercially zoned property, saying he's taken his own dogs for runs there.

 

Councilman Jim Irwin said he didn't object to the temporary use of the land, but asked city staff to report on potential marketability of the land in the future.

 

Another council member, Ron Bertsch, said the parcel doesn't look buildable. Knoll reported that an engineer had looked at the property and determined that it was.

 

Rumfelt moved to approve the plan, and noted that the park committee should be given enough time to move the park should the city decide to use it for another purpose before a permanent dog park is created. Irwin seconded the motion, which carried 4-0 (Councilman Buzz Bruns was absent from the meeting).

 

Raetz reported that the park “keeps moving along.”

 

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

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