THE LONG BEACH RECREATION DOG PARK ASSN.
Summary of ANNUAL / SUMMER QUARTERLY MEETING: July 28, 2001

Remarks

Jim Knutson announced that the association's request to renew its soon-to-expire agreement with the city for three more years should be approved without any problems. He will be working with Linda Pope of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine to secure the pact.

Members were also alerted to recent thefts from unattended vehicles in the parking lot.

Old Business

1. President Jim Knutson said that no progress had been made on securing a permanent meetings venue. Members suggested meetings could be held in the grassy area outside of the Dog Park with a banner at the meeting site.

2. President Jim Knutson said that the proposed changes in the City Code as they pertain to the Dog Park is currently before the City Council for its three readings.

3. Jim Walters said that he has yet to hear from the heads of the mathematics departments at the five local high schools as to whether students would like to assist the association in taking a census of the park. Member Ashley Dobbs suggested that if the high school classes do not wish to participate, statistics or marketing classes at Cal State Long Beach or Long Beach City College might.

4. Gerry Facon reported that the second half of the Bark Board was enclosed at the July raking party. Jim Walters said that he and member Buzz Minnich posted pictures of the July 21 Pet Fair on it.

Annual Reports

Secretary Jim Walters reported on the association's accomplishments since July 2000:

• The organization had its first elections, with three members joining the board. During the year, the president received the resignations of six board members; a seventh missed the past 11 meetings.
• Association members adopted new Articles of Incorporation and a new set of bylaws, which have been recorded by the proper state agencies.
• The initial covering of decomposed-granite ground cover, which covered about 20% of the park a year ago, will soon be completed. Additional deliveries will have to be made on an on-going basis to fill in thin spots.
• The perimeter sprinkler project has been completed and has been fine-tuned over the year with a new set of nozzles for better coverage.
• A third watering station has been added to the park. The gate at the west end of the park has been repaired and one of the entrance gates at the east end has been replaced.
• A new little-dog section was added to the east end of the park and an additional bag box installed there.
• The enclosed Bark Board has been doubled in size and efforts to update it every month are underway.
• All calls to the Parks Department are logged in the association's minutes. The department has responded to all but two calls within 24 hours.
• The association launched its website at www.geocities.com/lbdogpark and has recorded about 2,000 hits. Members can find the latest park news and have access to the association's legal papers, summaries of board meetings and treasury reports.
• Membership, which stood at 88 a year ago, rose to 111 by the end of 2000. Membership for the 2001-02 fiscal year stands at 180, about evenly split between new and renewing members.
• Fund-raisers this past year have included three yard sales, an Ice Dogs benefit, two "Portraits in the Park" events, and the recent Pet Fair.
• A $250 donation to the Police Department's K-9 Officers Unit was made by the association in light of the organization's loss of several dogs.

Treasurer Fred Nicas was absent.

President Jim Knutson reported on the association's future goals:

• Automating the sprinkler system and extending coverage with the addition of several 360-degree units at the center of the park.
• Increased lighting.
• The parking meter donation box will be moved to the main entrance gate.
• Interest in another dog park at El Dorado near the new animal shelter has been raised; the board will study the matter further in concert with the Parks Department.
• Steps will be taken to promote outside animal welfare organizations, as per the association's new Articles of Incorporation.

New Business

1. Dues for the 2002-03 fiscal year were set. Membership Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Reed suggested that the "family" option be better clarified on forms as some couples and families were enrolling this past year as individuals. The board agreed to revise the language on its future membership forms.
MOTION by Gerry Facon, seconded by Jim Walters, to set basic dues for the next fiscal year at $25. Approved, 4-0.

2. Results of the July 21 Pet Fair were made by Gerry Facon and Projects & Fundraising Chairwoman Lori Edwards. The association's first such event, after expenses netted $4,528. Ms. Edwards gave the following breakdown for revenue:

Expenses included a Health Department permit, a helium tank, bullhorn, printing, etc. The Parks Department furnished an events permit, portable toilets, tables and chairs at no charge. Ms. Edwards and Mr. Facon expressed their thanks to Friends of the Long Beach Animal Shelter for providing the association with advice and a model for the fund-raiser. Mr. Facon said that the association raised more money in its initial outing than the Friends did for theirs. Josh Starer was singled out for raising hundreds of dollars before the event to cover expenses.

3. The committees:

Nominations & Elections: Chairman Gerry Facon announced the results of the spring Board of Directors election:

Pablo Drobny	50
Buzz Minnich	49
Shirlee Hitchcock	48
Lori Edwards (write-in)	2
Toni McDermitt (write-in)	1

The three winners will be installed at the August board meeting, at which officers for 2001-02 will be chosen.
Projects & Fundraising: Chairwoman Lori Edwards. Gerry Facon and member Ashley Dobbs expressed interest in bringing matters of pet health concerns to members at the park and at meetings. Among the items under consideration are education events at member quarterly meetings, the sale of pet disaster-preparedness kits, a Red Cross first-aid seminar for pets, discussion on diseases. Other fund-raising ideas suggested included campaign give-aways and the sale of Dog Park hats and shirts.
Maintenance & Planning: Jim Knutson and Fred Nicas are co-chairmen. Mr. Knutson said that the next installment of decomposed-granite ground cover is scheduled for Aug. 7-10 and, at 200 tons, will be larger than many of the previous dumps. This load will connect the east and west ends of the park. While the recently installed "lick stick" has cut down on the water gathering at the newest watering station to shrink the mud hole, dogs have not figured out how to use it, Mr. Knutson said. Plans are to remove the apparatus and put the old faucet back on. He said the association has tried several remedies that the Parks Department suggested but none have been satisfactory. He hopes the city will put a drain in to the sewer line in the not too distant future. No more contributions are being taken at this time for the Pet Promenade as the second pour, scheduled for this fall, is completely sold out.
Membership: Acting chairwoman Carolyn Reed is studying the idea of offering premiums with memberships, including dog tags, refrigerator door magnets and silk-screen bandannas. The various ideas will be examined for cost and practicality, she said. A new logo contest was also suggested.
Communications & Advertising: Chairman Jim Walters said that a new printer produced the last issue of the Paw Prints newsletter at a lower price and better quality. Members suggested finding an underwriter for the publication, as it remains one of the organization's biggest expenses.

4. Next regular board meeting: Thursday, Aug. 2, at Carolyn Reed's home.

--JIM WALTERS, Secretary, July 30, 2001