Addendum to Adopt-A-Park Agreement

for Off-Leash Area Pilot Project at Northacres Park

September 12, 2000

The following provisions are incorporated into and made part of the Adopt-A-Park Agreement for Northacres Park between the Citizens for Off-Leash Areas (COLA), stewardship volunteers, the Friends of Northacres Park (FNP), the Haller Lake Community Club (HLCC), and Seattle Parks and Recreation. Following a March 7, 2000 meeting attended by representatives of each, this agreement sets out the good faith and trust expressed at that meeting and attempts to identify and mitigate potential impacts.

Northacres Park is unique among sites selected as off-leash areas by virtue of its native conifers and understory, special efforts will be made to minimize environmental damage and to identify conditions for closure.

Before the pilot off-leash area is opened, the following actions will occur:

1. Parks staff will document by camera and in writing the conditions of the site in its current state, and create a photo catalog for later review and evaluation.

2. Accompanied by a Parks Urban Forester and any community organization or COLA representatives who wish to participate, including FNP and HLCC, Parks staff will identify and count the significant trees within the boundaries of the pilot off-leash area.

3. Accompanied by a wildlife expert to be named by Parks staff and any community organization or COLA representatives who wish to participate, including FNP and HLCC, Parks staff will identify to the extent possible wildlife present in the area.

4. Parks staff, in cooperation with volunteers, will remove the ivy and other invasives that interfere with the trees in the off-leash area.

5. Parks staff will encourage the removal to other areas of native plants likely not to survive in the off-leash area.

6. Parks staff will fence the most sensitive trees, leaving northwest native plants inside the fencing. The fencing will be high enough and of a mesh fine enough to prevent encroachment by dogs into the native "islands."

7. Parks staff will install crushed rock turnpikes in lowest path areas to reduce drainage problems.

8. Parks staff, working with COLA and community groups, including FNP and HLCC, will devise a method of measuring acceptable change in the width of paths, condition of trees, condition of the understory, etc.

Pilot Site Operations:

1. Parks staff will install double gates at the south and north entrances and will repair the WSDOT fence along the east side of the site.

2. The site will not be lighted.

3. Parks staff will install amenities, including an information kiosk, trash cans and a drinking water source for dogs. Staff will investigate the possibility of installing recycling receptacles at the site.

4. Parks staff will emphasize in the signage that the site, because of its unique environmental attributes, is intended for low-impact usage. The signage will also encourage dog owners to use the nearby Magnuson, Woodland, or Golden Gardens Park off-leash areas. Signage on the kiosk will explain the wildlife habitat aspects of the park and remind owners that dogs should not harass wildlife.

5. Parks staff will look into the possibility of reconfiguring the parking in the loop to increase the number of available spaces, possibly by installing angled parking along the outside and parallel parking along the inside of the loop. No additional parking will be created from currently unpaved areas of the park.

6. Parks staff will work with COLA and the community groups, including FNP and HLCC, through our North Division Volunteer Coordinator, to schedule volunteer work parties, emphasizing small groups with high expertise.

7. Parks staff will work with COLA and the community groups, including FNP and HLCC, to establish regularly scheduled meetings to talk about and act on issues that arise. Information on how to send comments to Seattle Parks and Recreation will be posted on the kiosk.

8. Parks staff will work with Animal Control to step up patrols in the park to minimize off-leash activity outside the off-leash area. Information on how to report incidents to Animal Control will be posted on the kiosk.

Closure.

1. The off-leash area may be closed in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(D) of Chapter 18.12.080, Seattle Municipal Code (Parks Code), which reads as follows:

D. The Superintendent is authorized to close to off-leash dog use any area described under subsection B on a temporary or permanent basis if significant problems arise which cannot be resolved jointly by the Department of Parks and Recreation and Seattle Animal Control and if the Superintendent determines that such closure is necessary for the preservation and protection of the natural environment, public health or safety. Prior to closing any off-leash area, the Superintendent shall consult with the Director of the Executive Services Department. The Superintendent shall state in writing his other reasons for closure.

2. And with the provisions of Resolution 29628, a policy document:

Section 12. The Superintendent of the Department of Parks and Recreation shall have authority to temporarily or permanently close, or modify the boundaries within reasonable limits in accordance with the ordinance contained in Council Bill 111869, of any of the OLEA sites for any of the following reasons:

a. Excessive environmental damage, despite reasonable efforts to limit it;

b. Failure of COLA to live up to the terms of its agreement with the City;

c. Public health or safety reasons; and

d. Serious unanticipated problems affecting neighboring residents or other

park users.

The Superintendent will evaluate site conditions and concerns of users or neighbors, and will make a determination on closure in compliance with the above provisions.

The parties concur with this agreement by signing below:

__________________________________ _______________________

Kenneth R. Bounds, Superintendent Date

Department of Parks and Recreation

____________________________________ ______________________

Dan Klusman, Chair, Board of Directors Date

Citizens for Off-Leash Areas

________________________________ ______________________

Carolyn Crockett, Representative Date

Friends of Northacres Park and

Haller Lake Community Club