WEEK OF JANUARY 9, 2025
VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 45
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What you need to know about Douglas County’s leash laws Many areas require restraints on canines BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Douglas County community members attend a recent public meeting.
FILE PHOTO
How to engage with Douglas County’s local governments and elected boards BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
While Colorado’s open meetings law does not require local governments or elected bodies to seek public engagement on their decisions, most officials consider feedback part of good governance. In Douglas County, all of the local municipalities designate time to hear from the public during meetings through general comment periods that allow people to speak about things not on the meeting agenda, and designated comment periods specific to agenda items. Typically, elected officials don’t respond directly to public comments, but they can be factored into decision making and officials can follow up on them. Public comments also help reporters, including those at Colorado Community Media, learn about community members’ concerns and ideas. Though all of the municipalities
and elected boards accept comments through email, the procedures for commenting during a meeting differ between places and can be tricky to navigate. To help people participate in local government, The Douglas County News-Press created a guide to the basics of local public comment policies. (All of the meeting schedules are subject to change for holidays, weather or other reasons.) Douglas County Board of Commissioners
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners has business meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Public comments can be made on specific agenda items and the board can hear general public comments on items not on the agenda at the end of the meeting. Comments are limited to three minutes per person and can be made in person or online through WebEx. Meeting agendas are available the Friday before the meeting at www.douglas.co.us/boardcounty-commissioners/meetings/
VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | PUZZLES: 19
business-meeting-public-hearings. Douglas County School District
The Douglas County School Board approves an annual meeting schedule that can be found online at www.dcsdk12.org/about/board-of-education. Meetings are typically held two Tuesdays per month, starting at 5 p.m. The board hears public comments during regular meetings, and does not have public comments at study session meetings, which are marked as such on the calendar. Meeting agendas are posted the Friday before the meeting at douglaspublic.ic-board.com. People wanting to speak during public comment must sign up online by noon the day of the meeting. Comments can be given in person or via Zoom. Commenters typically receive three minutes, though that can change depending on the number of people signed up to speak. Unlike most general comment periods with other organizaSEE ENGAGEMENT, P4
Even the most obedient dogs can be tempted by sounds and wildlife when outdoors, potentially putting themselves, the handler or wildlife at risk. This is why dogs in Douglas County are required to be on a leash when on public property. “Dogs are required to be physically restrained by a 15-foot leash when on public property within unincorporated Douglas County,” said Bryanna Munns, an animal law enforcement sergeant with the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office. Unincorporated areas are those outside of city and town limits. Cities and towns within Douglas County also have leash laws. For example, Castle Rock requires leashes, cords and chains to not exceed more than 10 feet in length. Munns added that dogs must be physically restrained by someone who is capable of maintaining control of the dog to ensure that the dog is not approaching other animals or people without permission. Dogs found off the owner or handler’s property are called “strays,” according to the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office website, and may be impounded. If owners fail to properly control their dog or allow it to run at large in the community, they are in violation of Douglas County’s Resolution 019029. Enforcement of the resolution consists of the option for an educational conversation, a formal written warning and a payable fine. The sheriff ’s website also states that fines for violations begin at $50 per animal, and increases with additional violations. A summons for the dog owner to appear in court may also happen. “The enforcement action that the responding officer takes is dependent upon the previous history of the dog owner,” said Munns. “And whether the individual is receptive to our contact.” Why Douglas County has leash laws
There are multiple reasons why leash laws are put in place. Not only does having a dog on a leash allow the owner or handler to more easily break up any negative encounters with other animals or people, but it also helps prevent dogs from roaming into unsafe areas, such as onto icy ponds. With coyotes being a frequent sight throughout Douglas County, the Highlands Ranch Metro District says having dogs on a leash can help protect them, as coyotes and other wildlife might see an unleashed dog as prey or a threat to their territory. Where can I allow my well-behaved dog to run free?
Dogs are allowed to run off leash in nearby designated off leash areas that are fenced in. These include Chatfield State Park, South Suburban’s SEE LEASH LAWS, P8
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