Fence approved for dog park

Photo: File

There will be a 4-ft.-tall galvanized chain-link fence installed at Marshall Fields off-leash park, but it didn't come easy.

The plan, for now, is to build an interim fence to keep dogs off of the ball fields, and to look at the master plan for a more formal solution down the road.

In all, 400 linear metres of fence will be put in at the fields for a total of $87,000. The final price came as a surprise to some councillors given the original estimate of just over $50,000.

The quote came in higher because of the high demand for fencing at this time of year, city staff said.

Mayor Victor Cumming also wanted the recommended $38,000 to fund the spadefoot toad habitat work, but that was re-motioned to have staff find a cheaper option after councillors protested the cost.

Coun. Brian Quiring was the most vocal opponent.

"We’re turning this freaking fence into a science project. The $38,000... give me a freaking break. I think it’s crazy and I’m voting against it," Quiring said of the toad habitat funding estimate.

Quiring said a gravel path leading around the habitat — the greatest part of the projected cost — was an ineffective idea because people will use the existing route.

Coun. Scott Anderson agreed.

"The current path is a desired path. To me it’s overkill," Anderson said. "It’s a great idea but I don’t think it will actually work, and it’s expensive."

Once the consensus was reached among councillors that $38,000 wasn't doable, Cumming asked for the pencils to be sharpened for the estimate.

"I think we need to respect this area and come in at a lower cost. I would encourage this to go back to staff to find a lower-cost solution for a consistent trail quality that we have there now for item C," Cumming said. They also put off the erosion control work portion of the recommendation.

As part of the approved motion, council moved for the existing bylaws be enforced at the park until the fence is in place, and they approved the source of funds for the projects endorsed above, as 2018 Year-end Uncommitted Unexpended Balance.