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Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 2 <br />October 9, 2019 <br />----------------------------- <br /> <br />7. Action Items <br /> <br />7.1 WHHCA Dog Ordinance <br /> <br /> Mr. Hecker presented his staff report. Stating that the Friends of the Mississippi River who <br />authored the plan states that dogs are not mentioned in the Natural Resource Management <br />Plan, although the Friends of the Mississippi River does not support dogs within WHHCA for <br />ecological perspective. <br /> <br /> Chair Anderson stated he spoke with area wild life manager and Trust for Public Land staff <br />and both support prohibiting dogs from WHHCA. <br /> <br /> Stewart Wilson, Chair of WHHCA planning committee, stated that the property was acquired <br />with a grant from the State of Minnesota and as a part of that a hunting plan and restoration <br />management plan had to be devised. The prime directive was for preservation of wildlife <br />habitat. Wildlife management areas are sensitive to the use of dogs during hunting. Would like <br />the commission to consider a special ordinance not allowing dogs. <br /> <br /> Chief Nierenhausen shared concerns that ordinances like this will be difficult to enforce, <br />stating that rules are only good when you have some type of mechanism to enforce them. <br />Police department does not have the staff resources and time to go out and enforce <br />prohibiting dogs from the property. <br /> <br />Chair Anderson stated that the funding dollars came with restrictions for what the property <br />can be used for which included hunting. <br /> <br />Chief Nierenhausen asked the commission to think about how feasible an ordinance will be to <br />enforce when making the decision. <br /> <br />Trent Seamans, DNR Conservation officer for the area, shared that the state does not have <br />any authority to enforce prohibiting dogs in the WHHCA. He can only enforce state laws; if <br />rules are posted on a sign he can educate people about it but cannot cite people. However, he <br />supports prohibiting recreational dog walking in WHHCA. <br /> <br />Mr. Hecker asked if there are complaints coming into the police department. <br /> <br />Chief Nierenhausen stated minimal issues with the property. <br /> <br />Chief Nierenhausen recommended doing public education to get the word out about <br />prohibiting dogs due to hunting would be better before creating an ordinance. <br /> <br />Chair Anderson stated that we can go on a promotional campaign.