Parks commission recommends new rules for dog park

Costa Mesa parks commissioners unanimously recommended changes Thursday to the city’s Bark Park that would limit access into the facility only to those with special access keys.

Should the City Council, which has the final say in the matter, approve the commission’s recommendation, the electronic keys would be obtained after park users pay their already-mandated dog license fees.

City staff contend that the keys will help track dog vaccination and owner records for the increasingly popular 2-acre, off-leash dog park, as well as bring dog owners into compliance by paying the fees.

Currently, City Hall doesn’t have sufficient vaccination or owner records of dogs visiting the Bark Park, and when incidents happen, like dog bites, information can be scarce. Staff also estimate that only 10% to 20% of dogs in Costa Mesa are licensed at all.

Commissioner Byron de Arakal said he liked how the key system would incentivize owners to get their licenses.

“If you want to use the park,” he said, “follow the law and license your dog, then you can use it any time you want.”

Added Chairman Kim Pederson: “Nothing’s foolproof, but I think we’re going down the right direction with some of these things.”

Costa Mesa dog licenses are $25 annually for spayed or neutered canines. For those that aren’t, licenses are $80.

Residents are limited to having up to five domesticated animals, including dogs.

There was some confusion from the commission that city staff had originally suggested creating a separate fee just to use the Bark Park, though Recreation Manager Travis Karlen clarified separate fees were not the intention.

The commissioners did express interest in charging a new fee for non-Costa Mesa residents to license their dogs in the city and consequently have use of the Bark Park.

Some residents expressed skepticism about the plans, including how park user data would be monitored and the cost of dog licenses.

Former council candidate Al Melone said he doesn’t frequent the Bark Park anymore. He said he didn’t like how only a fence separates the park from its parking lot, making it feel less secluded than it once did.

Melone also complained about grass conditions, though Pederson, who works for the city of Newport Beach’s parks system, said perfect grass at dog parks “is like a pipe dream.”

“Go to any of them,” Pederson added. “Show me one that’s got the all, Anaheim stadium look.”

Karlen noted that staff have planted some K9Grass — reportedly a dog park-friendly grass — in the Bark Park as a test.

The commission also approved various new regulations for the park, including requirements that dogs in the small-dog section be less than 30 pounds and dog-sitters, walkers and trainers have a city business license to operate in the park.