Terrazas Public Library
1105 East César Chávez St.
6:30 - 6:45 Announcements
6:45 - 7:15 APD and Animal Cruelty Investigations
7:15 - 7:45 Pet Trader Ordinance (relates to Petland, but not exclusively)
7:45 - 8:15 Donations Fund
8:15 - 8:30 Announcements and Wrap Up
Please forward to anyone you think might be interested.
Pat Valls-Trelles
Animal Issues Forum
http://bit.ly/animalissuesforum
Friday, August 21, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Dogs blamed for bacteria count at Bull Creek Park
Debra Bailey, a task force member who formed a volunteer group last year to regularly clean up dog waste at the park, said sewage spills and other trash left in the creek could also be to blame for high bacteria levels. The city should look at other options before closing the dog park or requiring leashes, such as better enforcement and signs related to picking up dog waste, she said.
"They are blaming the dogs and not addressing other issues," she said.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/08/05/0805bullcreek.html
Bacteria counts force temporary closure of Bull Creek dog park
Area of Bull Creek District Park will soon require leashes, then will be off-limits over the winter while new vegetation is planted.
By Sarah CoppolaAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Beth Hoeferkamp regularly brings her dogs Henry and Frieda to the off-leash dog area at Bull Creek District Park.
Come October, she might have to find another spot for her dogs to roam free.
The City of Austin Parks Department plans to close the dog park area for six to eight months to restore vegetation near the creek and because of high E. coli bacteria levels in the creek, a potential health problem for people and pets. Officials blame the bacteria — found during regular water sampling since 2007 — on dog waste at the heavily used park, one of 12 off-leash parks in Austin.
"It would be a shame to see the park close, but if it's necessary for the water quality, I guess it has to be done," Hoeferkamp said.
In March 2008, the city put up signs at the park about the environmental dangers of dog waste, but problems persisted, parks Director Sara Hensley said.
So the department also plans to require leashes at the park beginning Sept. 8. Starting in October, the city would close the off-leash dog area to plant more grasses, shrubs and trees — vegetation that helps keep pollutants from draining into the creek. City officials haven't determined yet whether leashes would be required when the park reopens in the spring.
Heavy use of the park has worn down existing vegetation there, city officials say, and the drought has led to low, slow-moving waters in the creek where bacteria can thrive.
The vegetation work would cost up to $200,000 and would be done at the same time as improvements to a low-water crossing at the park, said Mike Kelly, a civil engineer in the Watershed Protection Department. Officials haven't decided yet if they will close areas of the 48-acre park outside the off-leash dog area, he said.
Parks and watershed protection officials will brief the Environmental and Parks and Recreation boards on Aug. 19 and Aug. 25. The public is invited to attend those meetings, and the city will hold another yet-to-be-scheduled public hearing later this month.
Austin's leash ordinance requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than six feet on public land. The maximum fine for violating that rule is $500.
The parks department and a task force formed earlier this year are trying to find other spaces that could be turned into off-leash parks, Hensley said.
Debra Bailey, a task force member who formed a volunteer group last year to regularly clean up dog waste at the park, said sewage spills and other trash left in the creek could also be to blame for high bacteria levels. The city should look at other options before closing the dog park or requiring leashes, such as better enforcement and signs related to picking up dog waste, she said.
"They are blaming the dogs and not addressing other issues," she said.
There were two sewage spills into a tributary of the creek in recent years: 50,000 gallons in August 2007 and 30,000 gallons last month.
Both were caused by blockages in a sewer line in the area and were fully cleaned up, Austin Water Utility spokesman Kevin Buchman said.
Chris Herrington, an environmental engineer in the Watershed Protection Department, said sewage didn't cause the high bacteria levels in the creek, because the water samples did not show high levels of caffeine, nitrogen or phosphorous, which he said are usually present in wastewater.
scoppola@statesman.com; 912-2939
"They are blaming the dogs and not addressing other issues," she said.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/08/05/0805bullcreek.html
Bacteria counts force temporary closure of Bull Creek dog park
Area of Bull Creek District Park will soon require leashes, then will be off-limits over the winter while new vegetation is planted.
By Sarah CoppolaAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Beth Hoeferkamp regularly brings her dogs Henry and Frieda to the off-leash dog area at Bull Creek District Park.
Come October, she might have to find another spot for her dogs to roam free.
The City of Austin Parks Department plans to close the dog park area for six to eight months to restore vegetation near the creek and because of high E. coli bacteria levels in the creek, a potential health problem for people and pets. Officials blame the bacteria — found during regular water sampling since 2007 — on dog waste at the heavily used park, one of 12 off-leash parks in Austin.
"It would be a shame to see the park close, but if it's necessary for the water quality, I guess it has to be done," Hoeferkamp said.
In March 2008, the city put up signs at the park about the environmental dangers of dog waste, but problems persisted, parks Director Sara Hensley said.
So the department also plans to require leashes at the park beginning Sept. 8. Starting in October, the city would close the off-leash dog area to plant more grasses, shrubs and trees — vegetation that helps keep pollutants from draining into the creek. City officials haven't determined yet whether leashes would be required when the park reopens in the spring.
Heavy use of the park has worn down existing vegetation there, city officials say, and the drought has led to low, slow-moving waters in the creek where bacteria can thrive.
The vegetation work would cost up to $200,000 and would be done at the same time as improvements to a low-water crossing at the park, said Mike Kelly, a civil engineer in the Watershed Protection Department. Officials haven't decided yet if they will close areas of the 48-acre park outside the off-leash dog area, he said.
Parks and watershed protection officials will brief the Environmental and Parks and Recreation boards on Aug. 19 and Aug. 25. The public is invited to attend those meetings, and the city will hold another yet-to-be-scheduled public hearing later this month.
Austin's leash ordinance requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than six feet on public land. The maximum fine for violating that rule is $500.
The parks department and a task force formed earlier this year are trying to find other spaces that could be turned into off-leash parks, Hensley said.
Debra Bailey, a task force member who formed a volunteer group last year to regularly clean up dog waste at the park, said sewage spills and other trash left in the creek could also be to blame for high bacteria levels. The city should look at other options before closing the dog park or requiring leashes, such as better enforcement and signs related to picking up dog waste, she said.
"They are blaming the dogs and not addressing other issues," she said.
There were two sewage spills into a tributary of the creek in recent years: 50,000 gallons in August 2007 and 30,000 gallons last month.
Both were caused by blockages in a sewer line in the area and were fully cleaned up, Austin Water Utility spokesman Kevin Buchman said.
Chris Herrington, an environmental engineer in the Watershed Protection Department, said sewage didn't cause the high bacteria levels in the creek, because the water samples did not show high levels of caffeine, nitrogen or phosphorous, which he said are usually present in wastewater.
scoppola@statesman.com; 912-2939
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