Currently, San Bruno offers one dog park consisting of a fenced-in area at Commodore Park. Noting the small space available at Commodore, a group of residents who own dogs asked the commission to create an off-leash area at one or more local parks. Creating off-leash hours at Forest Lane, Grundy and Monte Verde parks, most likely during the early morning, 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., or early evening, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., will be discussed by the commission Tuesday.

Conversations have thus far included dog owners. Now the commission hopes to gather the input of those who do not own dogs and residents who live near the parks, said Community Services Director Randy Schwartz.

Mayor Larry Franzella explained San Bruno was one of the first cities to have a dog park, on the Carl Sandburg school site. When the school was sold, the park needed to be moved, explained Franzella. A fenced-in area at Commodore Park is the area currently offered to dog owners.

The space is a bit small, Schwartz said, concerning dog owners who noted the animals really couldn’t run.

A small group began looking at the various park sites to see which, if any, could meet the space need. Details considered include sites being a certain size, ability to put in a water station, location, ability to have lighting, cost to develop, maintenance and parking.

With full fencing, rough estimates show it would cost $20,000 to implement the dog amenities at Forest Lane Park, $23,000 to $24,000 at Grundy Park and $28,000 to $29,000 at Monte Verde Park. Fencing is the largest estimated cost in each of the projects. Take the estimated cost for Forest Lane for example. Of the $20,000, $17,000 is for fencing.

Whether or not fencing will be part of any recommendation put forward to the City Council is yet to be seen. Schwartz said a number of details will come into play when considering if fencing is needed, such as proximity to streets or play areas.

Franzella was interested in trying the off-leash hours for a short period of time. If people clean up after the dogs without issue, then the hours can continue. If not, the city will need to revisit the issue. Franzella anticipated it all would work out.

In 2008, Burlingame considered a similar ordinance at Washington Park. In May, the council approved a 90-day trial allowing off-leash dogs in the upper field of Cuernavaca Park and the eastern most lawn in Washington Park before 7:45 a.m. The trial went well, allowing the trial to become the rule last summer.

The commission meets 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 at the Senior Center, 1555 Crystal Springs Road in San Bruno. Anyone with questions can contact Randy Schwartz at 616-7181 or rschwartz@sanbruno.ca.gov. Those unable to attend can submit suggestions to the commission through Schwartz by noon Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.