AN ORDINANCE relating to off-leash areas; adding a new off-leash area at the Interstate 5 Open Space Project to the list of designated offleash areas in Subsection 18.12.080 B of the Seattle Municipal Code.

WHEREAS, Ordinance 118099 established off-leash areas for dogs in City of Seattle Parks; and

WHEREAS, there are currently no off-leash areas available within the densely populated Capitol Hill and Eastlake neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, it is the City Council's intent that the Department of Parks and Recreation shall continue to look for a site for an off-leash area on Capitol Hill; and

WHEREAS, the off-leash area in Volunteer Park was controversial and sustained impacts inconsistent with the park's intended design; and

WHEREAS, City Council Resolution 29628 directed Parks and Recreation to find an alternative to the Volunteer Park OLA; and

WHEREAS, Seattle voters approved a $198.2 million levy lid lift for Parks and Recreation, including $1.8 million to improve the area under I-5 in Eastlake. The Levy included the project to, "Develop area under I-5 into a neighborhood open space. Consider an off-leash area, stairs to make pedestrian connections, and other amenities"; and

WHEREAS, the Department completed a community planning process that spanned three years, and included four widely advertised public meetings and many committee meetings; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Park Commissioners took public testimony and reviewed the I-5 Open Space site plan including the off-leash area, and recommended its acceptance by the Superintendent; and

WHEREAS, the Department completed a SEPA checklist and issued a Determination of Non-Significance on April 21, 2004; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Effective January 1, 2005, Subsection 18.12.080B4 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows:

18.12.080 Animals running at large prohibited.

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B. Dogs may be allowed to run at large only in the following areas hereby designated as off-leash areas:

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4. That portion of Volunteer Park depicted on revised Exhibit 18.12.080 K will be extended until October 25, 1998, or until another site on Capitol Hill is secured and opened. No later than March 15, 1998, the Department of Parks and Recreation, following consultation with the Office of Management and Planning and COLA, shall submit at least three (3) alternative sites (one (1) of which may include rotation of the Volunteer Park area) to the Council for consideration as a replacement for the Volunteer Park site. After appropriate public hearings and review, the Council will make a final decision on a Capitol Hill site no later than July 30, 1998. That portion of I-5 Open Space depicted on Exhibit 18.12.080 U.

Section 2. Exhibit 1 to this ordinance is hereby added to Section 18.12.080 and is to be labeled Exhibit 18.12.080 U.

Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force January 1, 2005, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten (10) days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.

Passed by the City Council the ____ day of _________, 2004, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of __________, 2004. _________________________________ President __________of the City Council

Approved by me this ____ day of _________, 2004. _________________________________ Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor

Filed by me this ____ day of _________, 2004. ____________________________________ City Clerk

May 30, 2004 version #7 t

Exhibit 1: Exhibit 18.12.080 U