tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37560366783700018672024-02-19T03:19:13.115-08:00arbordogPlaying Frisbee with your dog is NOT a crime!arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-6768173707882386102008-05-22T16:09:00.001-07:002008-05-22T16:14:31.607-07:00Swift Run OPEN AgainAs promised, Swift Run has re-opened for regular use. We dropped in this afternoon and it was nearly back to regular capacity so I imagine most people already realize this.<br /><br />It looks like the parking lot got flatter, gravel was dumped on the sloping part of the entrance, a small trail of gravel was built along the fence by the entrance, the lowest spots were leveled off with dirt, grass seed was spread, straw was placed over seeded areas. I may have missed one or two things as well (more benches and poop stations?).<br /><br />Enjoy!arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-50241373380801883542008-05-15T17:21:00.000-07:002008-05-15T17:31:13.870-07:00This Weekend - Walk And WagThe Humane Society of Huron Valley is hosting the <a href="http://hshv.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=1000&pg=entry&JServSessionIdr007=zrsqqxv4m3.app43b">29th annual Walk And Wag</a> this weekend. It's a day of dog-oriented activities including a fund-raiser walk, agility demos, vendors, all kinds of god stuff. <br /><br />When: Saturday May 17, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM<br /><br />Where: <a href="http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/parks_recreation/cfp/pr_pkcfp.html">County Farm Park</a> - 2230 Platt Rd<br /><br />What: A day of fun activities for people and dogs<br /><br />If you want to participate in the walk, buy a raffle ticket, volunteer, or get any other information, go over to the <a href="http://hshv.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=1000&pg=entry&JServSessionIdr007=zrsqqxv4m3.app43b">Humane Society</a> homepage.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-49259523792541185272008-05-10T18:40:00.000-07:002008-05-10T19:05:06.029-07:00Saline's Mill Pond Park OPENSaline has finally <a href="http://city-saline.org/features/News%20Articles/news_html/dogpark">reopened </a>the off-leash area at <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=saline+mi+mill+pond+park&ie=UTF8&ll=42.189355,-83.765945&spn=0.057108,0.160675&z=13">Mill Pond Park</a>!<br /><br />With Swift Run <a href="http://arbordog.blogspot.com/2008/04/may-closings-at-swift-run.html">closing </a>for maintenance on Monday, this will provide some relief.<br /><br />For those that have never been there, Mill Pond is on W Bennett St just off Ann Arbor-Saline Rd on the north edge of Saline. For most in Ann Arbor, it is a little farther away than Swift Run, but not too far. The off-leash area is quite a bit simaller than Swift Run (around an acre) and it opens onto the river on one side. The river is great if your dog likes to swim, less great if your dog likes to escape or if you don't like your dog to get wet. No registration or membership required.<br /><br />Also, don't forget that the <a href="http://www.a2gov.org/government/communityservices/ParksandRecreation/parks/Features/Pages/Olson.aspx">Olson Park</a> off-leash area will remain open during this time as well.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-78939643930114074432008-04-27T09:38:00.001-07:002008-04-27T10:20:46.682-07:00May Closings At Swift RunThe <a href="http://www.mlive.com/annarbor/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-27/1209278415188360.xml&coll=2&thispage=2">Ann Arbor News </a>carried a story today on the coming closures at Swift Run. The park will be <strong>closed from May 12 - May 21</strong>.<br /><br />During this time, several improvements will be made including smoothing out the parking lot, putting gravel in the muddy entrance area, mulching around trees, and adding more waste stations.<br /><br />The article doesn't mention re-opening the temporary dog park at Southeast Area Park, so I wouldn't count on it being available. As far as I know, <a href="http://arborwiki.org/city/Olson_Park">Olson Park </a>on the opposite side of town will be open, plus there is the <a href="http://www.copperleafcrossing.com/akvh/">Copper Leaf Crossing </a>off-leash area on Ann Arbor-Saline Road. Unfortunately, Saline's <a href="http://city-saline.org/parks/news/dogpark">Mill Pond Dog Park </a>is also currently closed.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-46179245100591317842008-04-23T07:13:00.000-07:002008-04-23T07:19:57.242-07:00EnforcementIn addition to the buzz about pending temporary closures (see below), I'm also hearing rumors that enforcement of ordinances related to dogs are being stepped up. This rumor is not as well substantiated as it might be, but I have heard reports that Ann Arbor city police are now writing more tickets for off-leash violations in other parks. <br /><br />The person who told me this also thought they were going to start monitoring Swift Run and Olson to be sure people have permits. So please be sure you have a permit and that you have it with you when you come to the Dog Park. It would be silly to get a ticket for playing in the legal off-leash area. <br /><br />Information on obtaining a permit can be found <a href="http://www.a2gov.org/government/communityservices/ParksandRecreation/Pages/DogParks.aspx">here</a>.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-66875409631259062072008-04-19T19:06:00.001-07:002008-04-19T19:11:49.093-07:00Temporary Closings Coming to Swift RunI have heard from a couple of sources now that Swift Run will be closed temporarily for "a couple of weeks" in mid-May. This will allow some maintenance including addition of gravel to the entryway, reseeding of grass in the muddy areas, and possibly the construction of a path around the perimeter of the park. <br /><br />I do NOT have any official information about this and I don't know what other things might be done during this time, but both of the sources I heard this from are reliable. It looks like there will be an article in the AA News early next week about these plans, hopefully we'll get more details there.<br /><br />As I understand it, Olson Park will remain open during this time so there will still be at least one legal off-leash area in the city. Also, there had been talk in the fall about using the temporary Southeast Area Park (the one that was available from September through November last year) when Swift Run has to close for maintenance. I have NOT heard either way whether that will be open in May...<br /><br />Stay tuned.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-23361591757969933732008-04-17T11:47:00.000-07:002008-04-17T11:55:28.561-07:00Action Item - Thank The City/CountyThe dogparks that the city and county opened this fall are a wonderful addition to our community... even if they are a bit overdue. Now that we have this resource, take some time to thank a city or county official. <br /><br />You can use the links in the column on the right of this page that we used to advocate for these parks in the summer. Those are the people who made this happen, especially the Ann Arbor Parks Advisory Committee (PAC) and the good people at Ann Arbor Parks & Rec. <br /><br />I know they are interested in public reactions, one of the reasons it took so long to get these off the ground was fear of public backlash. And more to the point, these folks worked very hard to make this happen and they deserve a pat on the back.<br /><br />So from us here at Arbordogblog to all of the people who let this happen, here is a very belated public <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">THANK YOU!!!</span></span>arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-60454359049561478202008-04-17T11:40:00.000-07:002008-04-17T11:46:21.305-07:00Olson Dog Park OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!In addition to Swift Run, Olson Park now has an enclosed off-leash play area. (<a href="http://www.a2gov.org/government/communityservices/ParksandRecreation/parks/Features/Pages/Olson.aspx">Here is info on Olson Park with a map link</a>.) It is not quite as large as Swift Run, but my dogs have had some big fun and exercise there.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where</span>:<br />Olson Park<br />Northeast corner of DhuVarren and Pontiac Trail<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>:<br />Regular Park Hours<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What</span>:<br />One Acre of Doggie Bliss <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Permits:</span><br />Handled the same way as Swift Run (All-access (pink) passes valid for both parks)arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-60179797008394215702008-04-17T11:33:00.001-07:002008-04-17T11:39:25.207-07:00Sift Run Dog Park OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!Hopefully most of you have figured this out by now, but in late November, the city of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw county officially opened the Swift Run Dog Park.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Location</span>:<br />Southwest corner of Platte and Ellsworth Roads, behind Ann Arbor Transfer Station.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hours</span>:<br />Daylight Hours<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Requirements</span>:<br />Permit tag available at Ann Arbor City Hall or Washtenaw County<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fun:</span><br />TONS!!!<br /><br />To register, you will need proof of vaccinations (rabies), a license from the city, county, or another municipality, paperwork for altered dogs, and a little money. All of the specifics can be found <a href="http://www.a2gov.org/government/communityservices/ParksandRecreation/Pages/DogParks.aspx">here</a>.<br /><br /><br />If you haven't been yet, you're really missing out. This is a huge facility and very well-done. Hope to see you there this weekend!arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-61439376808805877632008-04-17T11:31:00.000-07:002008-04-17T11:32:54.043-07:00LONG Overdue UpdateI must sincerely apologize to everybody out there. I took a new job in September and it completely overwhelmed my life. 5 hours of commuting and 60-80 hour workweeks are not a good thing for anybody. Still I should have been updating. I'm going to post a couple of quick updates today, but I am unlikely to resume regular posting. Consider this a general apology.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-90356546256751733552007-09-14T11:44:00.000-07:002007-09-14T11:52:54.578-07:00Temporary Dog Park OPEN!As newfs noted in the comments for the last post, the Southeast Area Park off-leash area is <span style="font-weight: bold;">OPEN for business!</span><br /><br />We just got back from a short visit and there were already three other dogs using the park. It is a pretty simple facility, but very fun. The off-leash area is about an acre of grass with trees and bushes fenced off with chain link. There is a secure double-entry to keep your canine pals from running off and a clean-up bag box in case you forget to bring your own bags.<br /><br />Charlie and Sadie's review is two paws up. All the trees and bushes provided ample opportunities for Charlie (hound mix) to sniff, explore, and mark, and the length of the area is more then enough for Sadie (pharaoh hound mix) to run at full speed. Even with a Chuck-It I could barely throw a ball the entire length of the park. They are looking forward to playing with other dogs as more and more people start coming.<br /><br />So if you haven't done so yet, go get a permit and start enjoying legal off-leash play in Ann Arbor. And please follow the posted rules and etiquette, it is important for this to get off to a good start so the city realizes how much dog parks have to offer our community.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-35809026740816671092007-09-14T07:46:00.000-07:002007-09-14T07:50:49.645-07:00Permits AvailableThe City of Ann Arbor is now selling permits for the dog parks!<br /><br />Details <a href="http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/News%20Releases/dog_park_Sept_2007.pdf">here</a><br /><br />and here (PDF)<br /><br />Just take your vaccine, registration and spay/neuter records to the City Clerk.<br /><br />Not sure yet if this means Southeast Area Park is open, but I'll find out soon and get back to you.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-70478631908183110092007-09-02T16:50:00.001-07:002007-09-02T17:15:34.589-07:00Dog Park News RoundupI've missed a lot of news in the past couple of weeks. Here's a quick digest of all the major dog park goings on.<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />- On Aug 22, the Ann Arbor News ran <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-24/1187793783147140.xml&coll=2">an article about the current dog park situation</a>. They are projecting the temporary site at Southeast Area Park to be open in the third week of September. Construction is already complete. It would always be nice to see things happen sooner, but it looks like we are very close to the first opening of a legal off-leash area in Ann Arbor! Check the article for other details and timelines on the other projects.<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />- A few days later Christina, who many of us know well, wrote a <a href="http://www.mlive.com/columns/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-1/11882260157110.xml&coll=2">letter to the editor</a> in response to that article asking why we can't start using the off-leash area since the fence is up.<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />- At this week's <a href="http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/CityAdministration/Clerks/Agenda.html">City Council meeting</a> (Tuesday because of the holiday), Council will be voting on a contract to begin construction at the large Swift Run site. There are some details in the <a href="http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/CityAdministration/Clerks/AgendaDocuments/2007/09-04-07/DS-2.pdf">memo attached to the resolution</a> (PDF), the most interesting of which is that the projected completion date is November of this year. (Let's Hope!) - </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />- Finally, the city and Canine Social Club are holding an <a href="http://caninesocialclub.net/">open dog swim at Buhr Pool</a> on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons (<a href="http://www.a2gov.org/CommunityServices/Parks/Buhr/2007_Buhr_Dog_Swim_flyer.pdf">PDF flyer</a>). Take your friends, pay a small fee, and enjoy dog day. We have been to similar events in other cities and they are LOTS of fun whether your dog swims or not. I'm very sorry that I won't be able to go this year.</span>arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-30940606894119919112007-08-19T13:22:00.000-07:002007-08-22T11:26:27.172-07:00CSC Volunteer Meeting for the NEW DOG PARKLate Edit: I forgot to list the location of the meeting. It will be at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pavillion at Southeast Area Park</span> - Southwest corner of Platt and Ellsworth. <span style="font-size:85%;">Thanks to kayla&mom for pointing out my omission. </span><br /><br />I got an e-mail from the Canine Social Club this week inviting interested people to a meeting on Aug 23 to discuss volunteer monitors for Southeast Area and Olson Park dog runs when the open. I think the plan is to have people posted during busy times to help people figure out the rules and etiquette and to watch for potential problems. It will probably involve telling people where they can buy a permit and making sure that people pick up after their dogs.<br /><br />Here is the full text of the e-mail:<br /><div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western"> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://www.caninesocialclub.net/" target="_blank"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:78%;" ></span></a></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caninesocialclub.net/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">www.CANINESOCIALCLUB.NET</span></a></span><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > (See photos of Southeast Park -Temporary Swift Run Site)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Yes, it’s really happening!<span style=""> </span>Dog parks are opening in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ann Arbor</st1:place></st1:city>!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >As <st1:city st="on">Ann Arbor</st1:city> and <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Washtenaw</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> open their first off-leash dog parks, the Canine Social Club has been asked to help ensure that the parks are successful.<span style=""> </span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ann Arbor</st1:place></st1:city> Parks & Recreation officials are calling a meeting to coordinate volunteers to help monitor usage of the both the Southeast and Olsen dog parks during their initial phases.<span style=""> </span>The meeting will be held <b style="">Thursday August 23<sup>rd</sup>, 5:30 – 6:30</b>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >What does monitoring mean?<span style=""> </span>Really, it just means doing what we already do when we get our dogs together to play.<span style=""> </span>We make sure poop gets scooped, and encourage owners to keep their dogs under reasonable control (curb aggressive behavior, etc.)<span style=""> </span>Monitors will be needed during peak hours:<span style=""> </span>before/after work and on weekends.<span style=""> </span>The specifics of monitoring schedules and responsibilities will be discussed during the meeting.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >If you are able to help, please reply to this email and attend the meeting on Thursday.<span style=""> </span>Even if you’re not sure if you’ll be available, please attend the meeting to learn more about the parks, and what everyone can do to make them successful.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Thank you,</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" >Canine Social Club</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:78%;" ></span></p></div></div></div><br />If you can make it, please do. Hopefully hall monitors won't be necessary once things get rolling, but we all have a stake in ensuring that the first off-leash areas in Ann Arbor open with minimal problems.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-90838495013183078572007-08-19T13:19:00.000-07:002007-08-19T13:22:09.120-07:00Light PostingFirst let me apologize for my light and sporadic posting over the past month. I've been preparing for a new job so my attention is focused elsewhere.<br /><br />That new job begins this week and I will probably be overwhelmed for the first couple of weeks. So unfortunately my posting schedule will probably be even more sporadic until I get in a groove. I'll try to keep on top of major developments, but I can't promise any consistency and I definitely won't be able to make most of the City Council or PAC meetings for a while.<br /><br />Sorry about this, hopefully it won't be as overwhelming as I'm imagining right now. But I want to let you all know why I'm dropping off the radar for a while.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-59413205680130471392007-08-14T12:31:00.000-07:002007-08-14T13:07:05.329-07:00Fee StructureAt last week's City Council meeting plans for four new off-leash areas were unanimously approved. The <a href="http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/CityAdministration/Clerks/AgendaDocuments/2007/08-06-07/DS-8.pdf">memo attached (PDF)</a> to that resolution lays out the detailed plan including suggested fee structure.<br /><br />The fee structure is on page 2 of the PDF. The rates are variable depending on two major factors 1) Swift Run only or all A2 off-leash areas; 2) Spayed/Neutered or intact.<br /><br />For Swift Run only the rates are: $50 intact or $35 spayed/neutered<br />For all off-leash areas: $60 intact or $45 spayed/neutered<br /><br />Those are rates for a single dog. Additional dogs will be charged as follows:<br /><br />Swift Run only: $25/$15<br />All areas: $10/$5<br /><br />So for example I have two fixed dogs and will be buying a permit for all city areas. That will be $45 for the first plus $5 for the second bringing my total to $50 annually. <br /><br />As I understand it, the permitting will be handled through the city clerk's office and will require proof of vaccination, proper registration, and a signed agreement to follow off-leash area rules. A tag will be issued to each dog to serve as its permit and should be worn whenever in an off-leash area. <br /><br /><br />This is an interesting fee structure. It is about in the middle of what we have paid elsewhere to use public off-leash areas, those ranging from free to a little over $100 for two dogs. As I've said before, I'm in favor of a nominal fee to manage vaccination and safety concerns as long as dog owners are not being asked to pay all of the support costs in addition to the property taxes we already pay; dog runs should be managed just like other facilities. I would of course like to see these fees a little bit lower, but I think they are reasonable and from my discussions with Parks staff I don't believe that we are being asked to provide the bulk of operating costs. <br /><br />The structuring of these fees around whether a dog is fixed or not is an interesting thing that I haven't seen elsewhere. I originally thought that it was a response to liability concerns - some parks do not allow unfixed males or females in heat inside at all. But what I have been told is that this is a response to requests by the Humane Society to encourage people to spay or neuter their dogs. <br /><br />I know that will frustrate some people and I'm not honestly sure how effective it will be. Will someone who is not inclined to fix their dog decide to do so to save $15? I honestly can't say. At the risk of alienating some people though, I'll say that I think it's a good intent and fairly progressive for a city to encourage people to help reduce the stray population by giving a break to animals that have been spayed or neutered. <br /><br />Whatever your position on that issue, it looks like this will be our fee structure for the first year of decriminalized off-leash play. The fee structure will be up for review annually and Parks staff have told me that they view this as very flexible in the coming years. Once this is in the works, you should feel free to offer constructive criticism. It sounds like the city will be quite receptive to suggestions.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">NB - there is language in the memo I linked to above that suggests that hardship scholarships will be available for people who want to buy permits but cannot afford them. I don't know any details about that, but apparently they will be available.</span>arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-13097334877682965142007-08-11T11:50:00.000-07:002007-08-11T11:53:44.797-07:00Signs of ProgressI drove by Southeast Area Park while I was running errands today and I was pleasantly surprised to see that work has already begun on the temporary dog run. A (rather tall) chain link fence has been put up with a double gate entrance. It looks like most of the fence is up, but it isn't quite finished. <br /><br />I assume there are other things that have to happen before it is opened - signage, trash cans, and permitting - and I have no idea how long that will take, but this is a very encouraging sign. Now that Parks staff have a green light to finish, it looks like it's actually going to happen.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-86782618810341683762007-08-08T06:08:00.001-07:002007-08-08T06:10:48.037-07:00Election ResultsResults of yesterday's primary are <a href="http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2007/08/anglin_credits_campaigning_for.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Sabra Briere won the three-way challenge for an open seat in Ward 1.<br /><br />Leigh Greden retained his seat in Ward 3.<br /><br />Mike Anglin won against incumbent Wendy Woods in Ward 5.<br /><br />Wards 2 and 4 were uncontested.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-22877314268145567852007-08-07T07:10:00.001-07:002007-08-07T07:12:21.817-07:00Voting DayDon't forget to vote today if you are in Wards 1, 3, or 5.<br /><br />Check out my posts of the past few weeks if you haven't been following and want some more info on the candidates.<br /><br />BTW - lots to report from last night's Council meeting. Good stuff mostly. I'll get a report up today or tomorrow morning.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-47063660800629263872007-08-06T05:43:00.000-07:002007-08-06T05:51:45.972-07:00Council Candidate Survey ResponsesOnly a handful of the City Council Candidates responded to our survey. It was probably a bit late in the campaign season to send them out.<br /><br />Responses can be found <a href="http://dogarbor.googlepages.com/citycouncilquestionaires">here</a>.<br /><br />Don't forget to vote tomorrow. Unless an independent registers between now and the general election in November, the results of tomorrow's primary will be final.<br /><br />Brief candidate snapshots from the AA News are <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-23/118606576366160.xml&coll=2&thispage=2">here</a>.<br /><br /><br />More information on City elections can be found <a href="http://www.a2gov.org/CityAdministration/Clerks/filinginfo.html">here.</a> A map of Ward boundaries can be found <a href="http://www.a2gov.org/CityAdministration/Clerks/W4map.html">here</a>.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-71113989444434073182007-08-05T19:00:00.000-07:002007-08-05T19:23:07.080-07:00Several Dog Park Items on Agenda for Council MeetingCity Council will finally discuss several dog park issues at their meeting tomorrow (Monday). The full council agenda with links to details about individual issues is available <a href="http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/CityAdministration/Clerks/Agenda.html">here. </a><br /><br />PH4, B3, and DS2 all deal with tweaks to the ordinance change that passed this summer allowing the city to establish off-leash areas. Essentially they are changing the wording to allow Parks staff to approve dog run rules without Council approval. <br /><br />PH5 and DS8 - "Approve Off-Leash Dog Play Areas at Swift Run Park, Southeast Area Park, Olson Park and Leslie Park and Establish User Fees for Off-Leash Dog Permits." <br /> - Council will be approving plans for four dog runs including the temporary site at Southeast Area Park. After this step the process will be in the hands of Parks staff and should go much more quickly. You may be interested to read the details of DS8 (<a href="http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/CityAdministration/Clerks/AgendaDocuments/2007/08-06-07/DS-8.pdf">PDF link</a>) because they include the proposed fee structure. I will have some details and thoughts on this later in the week, after I see how Council discussion goes.<br /><br />DS18 - "Resolution to Approve a Partnership Agreement between the City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services Unit and Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for the Development, Maintenance and Operation of a Dog Park at Swift Run Park."<br /> - This is the formal agreement between the City and County regarding their partnership in the Swift Run project. This is also worth a read as it lays out the nitty gritty bureaucratic organization for Swift Run (<a href="http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/CityAdministration/Clerks/AgendaDocuments/2007/08-06-07/DS-18.pdf">PDF link</a>). I will also have some thoughts on this later in the week.<br /><br />This should be an interesting meeting. I don't foresee any challenge to any of these issues, so we should be a large step closer to legal off-leash play on Tuesday morning. <br /><br />As always, feel free to come out and show your support during one of the public hearing sections<br /> (PH4 and PH5) or by simply watching. If you can't make the meeting, you can catch it on Channel 16 live or Tuesday morning at 11:00.<span style=""></span>arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-51735633089450347312007-08-04T06:43:00.001-07:002007-08-04T06:45:40.478-07:00Questionnaire Results Coming MondayI've been getting the responses to the City Council Candidate survey I sent around last week. I'll have them posted here as soon as I have all of the responses and have them organized. It will be no later than Monday morning, but probably no earlier than late Sunday night. Check back Monday for all the results.<br /><br />Enjoy the nice weather this weekend, I hope you can all find somewhere to exercise with your dogs.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-81045947903447864132007-07-26T16:22:00.000-07:002007-07-26T16:30:20.541-07:00Questions for City Council CandidatesI am planning to prepare a short questionnaire to send around to all of the City Council candidates asking them where they stand on dog park issues, what they may have already contributed, and what they plan to do for dog owners as Council Members. This is intended to get a feel for where they all stand in advance of the upcoming elections and also to give a forum for sitting members to explain their perspective on the current situation. <br /><br />As I'm sure you can tell from my earlier posts, I have strongly ambivalent feelings about the current Council. I know they are the most dog-friendly Council Ann Arbor has had in recent memory and I believe that they are currently working in our interests. I also feel that they have come late to the table, not always understood our positions or urgency, and not been pro-active enough in promoting off-leash play. Thus I look forward to providing an open forum for them to explain in their own words what many of us saw as foot-dragging and broken promises. This exercise should be productive for all of us in establishing common ground for future discussions.<br /><br />I have prepared a few questions, but I'd like your input. What sorts of things would you like to ask the candidates? Send me some short questions relevant to the topic and I'll include them in my questionnaire. Consider it an action item for the next couple of days. I'm hoping to send it out in the next couple of days, so do it quickly if you want to be included in the final document.<br /><br />You can post your suggestions in the comments or e-mail me privately at arbordog@hotmail.com<br /><br />I'll post the results here for everyone to see.arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-35540950104194978442007-07-26T06:08:00.000-07:002007-07-26T06:32:42.386-07:00Upcoming City Council ElectionsI have been focusing on City Council lately in part because there is a round of elections coming up this fall and several Ann Arbor wards will be contested. Primaries will be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of August and general elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. There is still time for candidates to file petitions to run as independents.<br /><br />Wards with primaries:<br />First Ward:<br /><ul><li>Sabra Briere - Democrat </li><li>John Roberts - Democrat </li><li>Richard Wickboldt - Democrat </li></ul><br />Second Ward:<br /><ul><li>Stephen Rapundalo - Democrat Incumbent</li></ul><p>Third Ward: </p><ul><li>Leigh Greden - Democrat Incumbent </li><li>LuAnne Bullington - Democrat<br /></li></ul>Fourth Ward:<br /><ul><li>Marcia Higgins - Democrat Incumbent</li></ul><br />Fifth Ward:<br /><ul><li>Wendy Woods - Democrat Incumbent </li><li>Mike Anglin - Democrat </li></ul><p><br />Currently there are no independents or non-Democrats running and Wards Two and Four have no challengers.<br /><br />I have been hard on the City Council in the past and I stand behind everything that I have written. However, I do believe that things could be much worse. We have a council that does not oppose dog parks and this has not always been the case in the past. Further, every member has at some point or another stated that she or he supports the Parks system and dog runs specifically.<br /><br />Thus, I strongly urge you to investigate all of the candidates in your ward and not to vote a pure anti-incumbent ticket unless the challengers appear to be genuinely better candidates. I do not plan to endorse any candidate in any ward but I hope to follow up this post with more details on the individual candidates' positions. It would be wonderful to get some members on Council who will aggressively and actively support our needs, but there have been far worse Councils than the one we have now.<br /><br />Also, I strongly urge any Ann Arbor resident who is interested in public service to consider running as an Independent. Particularly in the Second and Fourth Wards where there are currently no challengers. If you are interested in making Ann Arbor a more friendly community for dog owners, I think you could garner an awful lot of support and these local elections are often decided by small margins with low turnout.<br /><br />If you wish to run as an independent, you must gather 100 signatures from within your ward on forms that you can obtain from the City Clerk's office. Filing deadline for Independents is August 8 so get started today.<br /><br />More information on City elections can be found <a href="http://www.a2gov.org/CityAdministration/Clerks/filinginfo.html">here. </a> Contact information for the candidates who have filed so far can be found <a href="http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/clerk_register/elections/el_aug07candidates.html">here</a>. A map of Ward boundaries can be found <a href="http://www.a2gov.org/CityAdministration/Clerks/W4map.html">here</a>.</p>arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3756036678370001867.post-46476356774238000512007-07-24T06:41:00.000-07:002007-07-24T06:52:44.200-07:00Plans In The WorksI have said on a number of occasions that plans are great, but they do very little for us if they can never be realized. I think though that the city has a great deal of momentum toward realizing some plans right now. Here is a section of a status update I recently got from PAC:<br /><blockquote>Christen [Smith] told PAC that City Council (CC) will be voting on authorizing off leash areas at Swift Run, Olsen, and temporary sites at Southeast and Leslie Parks (among other things having to do with dog parks) at their early August CC meeting.</blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;">There are still plenty of things that can slow down the realization of an off-leash area and I am still disappointed that we had to wait this long to get approval for the Southeast temporary dog run (not to mention being a year behind schedule on Swift Run). But this is one major hurdle that will be cleared next week for </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >four </span><span style="font-size:100%;">separate plans.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Also in this status update were a few details on the Olsen Park plan. That plan is supposed to be put on an expedited schedule, but again we'll have to wait and see since we've heard things like this before. The final plan will </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >not </span><span style="font-size:100%;">include the existing picnic table and shelter as part of the off-leash area. However since Olsen is not on a capped landfill like Swift Run, it will be much easier to modify in the future and there may be a possibility of adding a shelter structure to the dog run later.</span><br /><br />This all looks good, but I'll really believe it when I am watching my dogs play at one of these locations.<br /><br /></span><br /></div>arbordoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02674827579056885195noreply@blogger.com0