At its Monday night meeting Cranbrook City Council that a significant portion of Moir Park, when it is reclaimed be designed and constructed as an off leash dog park.

The area will include a dog exercise area and amenities that will be planned in consultation with local veterinarians and dog owners.

Moir Park, not to be confused with Moir Centennial Athletic Park where baseball, soccer and football fields are located, is a gravel pit that will soon be exhausted. It is located beside the City's public works yard on Cobham Avenue.

No estimation of when exactly gravel extraction will cease at the location was available Monday night but a report from the City's engineering department is forthcoming and will contain that information, as well as exactly how much land is available.

Will Pearce, Chief Administrative Officer with the City, said the size of the dog park would not be less than a soccer field.

Coun. Dianna Scott, chair of the Health and Wellness committee, said she is happy to see the off leash dog park go forward. She said it's been something a lot of people have been asking for, particularly people who have moved to Cranbrook from cities with off leash areas.

A new fee schedule for dog licensing was also approved by Council in conjunction with the decision to go ahead with the off leash dog park. Currently, dog license fees generate approximately $18,000 per year and issues about 1,900 dog licenses.

Fees for licensing are $30 for female and male dogs ($55 after Feb. 28) and $8 for spayed and neutered dogs ($33 after Feb. 28). In 2012 the license fee for spayed and neutered dogs will rise to $10 ($35 after Feb. 28), in 2013 it will be $35 for female and male dogs ($60 after Feb. 28) and $12 for spayed and neutered dogs ($37 after Feb. 28) and in 2014 the license fees will go up to $15 for spayed and neutered dogs ($40 after Feb. 28).

Council also directed administration to allocate $5,000 annually to public education on responsible pet ownership, including the responsibility to license dogs, to be managed by corporate communications.

Lastly, Deb Girvin, bylaw officer, will bring forward a proposal in the first quarter of 2011 for Council's consideration to restructure Animal Control, which is budgeted at $98, 170 and deals primarily with dogs at large and other dog or cat complaints. The intent of the restructuring is to improve service, improve the City's operating relationship with the SPCA, increase bylaw enforcement in areas such as parking control in residential areas and improve revenues through increased enforcement activity.