Osoyoos dog owners, and their canine friends, gathered at the Osoyoos Off-Leash Dog Park earlier this year to show support for Elizabeth Burnett (third from far right), who has started a petition urging Town of Osoyoos council to reject a request to turn the current dog park into a minor baseball facility. The dog lovers say the current park is heavily used and shouldn’t be moved. The town is proposing to address the needs of dog owners and minor baseball by moving the off-leash park to a nearby BMX track. (Keith Lacey file photo)
Town of Osoyoos council has approved a plan to discuss spending $150,000 during 2018 budget sessions to turn its current off-leash dog park into its original use as a ball diamond and spending $125,000 of that funding to build a new dog park only metres from its current home near Osoyoos Secondary School.
Council rejected a more expensive project with a price tag of just under $300,000 to build a larger ball diamond that could be shared by minor baseball and local slo-pitch players.
Council voted in favour of a motion one month ago that the existing dog park be repurposed to its original use as a ball diamond and that the BMX site be repurposed into a dog park.
On Monday, council approved a staff recommendation that a few thousand dollars not be spent to build a second off-leash dog park in a fenced off area at Kinsmen Park on the east side of town saying there has been no public demand for a second park.
While there has been heated debate over this issue over the past two months, council quickly approved staff’s preferred option on Monday.
The best option for the ball diamond and off-leash dog park is to make modest changes to turn the current dog park into a ball diamond and spend $125,000 to build a new dog park nearby, said Romanko.
Coun. C.J. Rhodes said he was “glad to see this going to the budget process”, adding a minor baseball diamond and off-leash dog park are both extremely important amenities for residents of this community.
The costs involved “are just mind-boggling” as are many other projects that will be discussed during upcoming budget talks, he said.
Romanko said the majority of work that needs to be done would involve levelling ground and moving earth to make the dog park a reality, while only minor changes would be needed to convert the current dog park into a ball diamond.
“This estimate includes rounding off the fence in centre, placing shale in the needed areas of the baseball infield, moving the gazebo to the new site, developing a fenced level and sloped dog park and the entire area irrigated with recycled water,” he said. “The costs associated with changes to the ball diamond are approximately $26,200. The costs associated with the development of the dog park are approximately $124,000.”
Administration is currently constructing the 2018 budget and is looking for council to make a decision on the project that will be brought forward during budget deliberations, said Romanko.
“This is not a budget item approval, but a placement of the preferred project into the budget process,” he said.
A second, much more expensive option, to upgrade the ball diamond and build a new dog park, is not staff’s preferred option.
“This project was not specifically requested by the Osoyoos Minor Baseball Association on this site, however, administration thought in the best interests of the community, to cost the development as a long-term solution to the association’s program and the local slo-pitch program,” said Romanko in his staff report. “This project has the field turned to enable a Bantam-size playing field that can be used for Midget play if a heightened fence is provided. The project drawing also illustrates the development of a level and sloped fenced area for the dog park and development of additional parking. The area will be totally irrigated with recycled water.”
The price tag for this option was $292,000.
Administration and council are both looking to meet the program needs of the dog park users and the minor baseball association in a financially responsible manner, said Romanko.
“Development of both a dedicated dog park on the West Bench and a ball diamond will enable both user groups to enjoy their activities in a coveted area,” he said.
The more expensive upgrade of the ball diamond will meet the needs of the minor baseball association, local slo-pitch league and the needs of dog users, but the preferred option will meet the short-term needs of the association and dog park users, he said.
The Town’s Community Works Fund (CWF) may be used, but were originally targeted in the five-year capital funding plan for storm sewer projects in 2018 and 2019, said Romanko.
“Tax based sources of revenue may have to be found to replace the CWF that have been targeted for storm sewer works or used in implementing the identified project,” he said. “Administration will have to review its list of planned 2018 projects to ensure council’s direction that one of these project options are completed.
“Additional sources of revenue may be a contribution from the association fundraising and/or the association making a Grant in Aid application for 2018. Dog park users may also be approached to develop an association that can work towards fundraising for their desired West Bench project.”
Other funding options include Grant in Aid, sewer funds, reserves and current year capital funding, he said.
The more expensive ball diamond upgrade would be preferable in meeting community needs, “however, the impacts on the 2018 budget would be very significant. The immediate injection of a capital project of this magnitude into our five-year capital plan requires significant reprioritizing of funds.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
