HF 2246

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:01am

A bill for an act
relating to dog parks; creating a dog park grant program; appropriating money;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 85.019, by adding a subdivision;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 85.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 85.019, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

Subd. 4d.

Dog parks.

The commissioner shall administer a program to
provide matching grants to units of government eligible under section 85.0457 for the
establishment, expansion, or maintenance of dog parks.

Sec. 2.

[85.0457] DOG PARK MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) The commissioner must provide grant funding to units of government for the
establishment, expansion, or maintenance of dog parks. For the purposes of this section,
"unit of government" means a city of the first or second class, as defined in section 410.01,
that is not located in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott,
or Washington.

(b) The commissioner must solicit dog park grant proposals and award competitive
grants to units of government at least annually, subject to funding availability. The
commissioner may not penalize a unit of government for dog park establishment,
expansion, or maintenance activities undertaken by the unit of government prior to
enactment of this section. The commissioner must give priority to the establishment of
new dog parks over the expansion or maintenance of existing dog parks.

(c) An eligible unit of government must agree in writing to:

(1) post at a minimum the dog park rules in paragraph (d);

(2) provide matching contributions at a rate of at least one to two that may include
in-kind contributions of land, access roadways and access roadway improvements, and
necessary landscaping and parking;

(3) post a conspicuous sign at major points of entry stating that the dog park was
funded wholly or partially by the people of Minnesota through a constitutional amendment
adopted in November 2008. If a standard sign is required by state law for all parks and
trails funded wholly or partially by funds raised due to the constitutional amendment, the
applicant must agree to acquire and post the standard sign; and

(4) convene and consult a local advisory committee consisting of the unit of
government's parks and recreation commission or equivalent public body. If no such
body exists, the mayor of the unit of government must appoint an advisory committee
consisting of no fewer than five members.

(d) Required dog park rules are:

(1) all dogs must enter and exit the park on a leash;

(2) all dogs must be licensed by the appropriate local authority; and

(3) dogs under the age of four months are not allowed in the park.

A unit of government may use a portion of any funding received under this section
to enforce the posted rules at a dog park funded in whole or in part by the dog park
matching grant program.

(e) At its discretion, a unit of government may limit dog park use and charge a
fee for dog park access.

(f) No later than January 15, 2011, the commissioner must provide a program report
along with any program recommendations to the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over environmental finance and, if such committees exist, the legislative committees with
jurisdiction over the allocation of constitutionally dedicated parks and trails funding.

Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; DOG PARK GRANTS.

$500,000 in fiscal year 2010 and $500,000 in fiscal year 2011 are appropriated
from the parks and trails fund established in Minnesota Statutes, section 85.53, to the
commissioner of natural resources for grants under section 85.0457.