That the City Council APPROVE THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. CC 2025-__ ENTITLED: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 12.30 (DOG PARKS) TO TITLE 12 (STREETS, SIDEWALKS, AND PUBLIC PLACES) OF THE LA HABRA MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO REGULATIONS FOR DOG PARKS.

With the opening of the brand new Vin Scully Centennial Park scheduled for Fall of 2025, the City will be soon be operating its first ever municipal dog park. Since this is the first dog park in La Habra, staff is recommending the City Council adopt a set of rules to govern the operations of the dog park, to be codified into the La Habra Municipal Code (LHMC).  Title 12 Streets, Sidewalks, and Public Places, Chapter 28 "Parks", establishes rules governing animals within parks; however, there are no specific rules relating to the operations of a dedicated dog park. By adding a Chapter outlining the rules and regulations governing City dog parks, the City will have greater control over the operations and enforcement of rules of the park. Staff has researched rules that have been established at other existing dog parks in neighboring cities, and have developed a proposed ordinance that is consistent with neighboring cities while creating a safe environment for all those who utilize the new dog park in La Habra. 

If the proposed ordinance is approved by City Council, the second reading will take place at the Regular City Council Meeting of September 15, 2025. If approved at the second reading by City Council, the ordinance will take effect 30 days following that final approval. Staff will ensure that all applicable approved dog park rules will be posted with the appropriate signage throughout the park.

There are no direct costs associated with the adoption of this ordinance; however, indirect costs, such as expenses for signage, may be incurred by the Public Works General Fund budget, which has sufficient funding for these nominal expenses.