City Council members threw dog park proponents a bone Monday night.

After listening to a presentation from members of SPARK (Start a Park for Austin’s Respectable K-9s), council members unanimously voted to take up the dog park proposition at the May 16 City Council meeting.

Mike Schatz and Megan Burroughs, two of the founders of SPARK, asked the City Council to support SPARK in its efforts to form a dog park and to refer the matter to the Park and Recreation Board.

Burroughs said SPARK’s goal is to raise between $15,000 and $25,000 to help the city pay for the project. That money would pay for a chain-link fence with hopefully some funds leftover to begin a sustainable fund for park upkeep, Burroughs said at the work session.

Schatz and Burroughs said the dog park would need to be at least one acre and have a four-foot fence — preferably with a double-gated entry to keep the dogs contained. The park would also require garbage cans, tables or benches, shade and parking close to the site.

Mayor Tom Stiehm said he is pleased with SPARK’s initiative, especially since council members have been trying to get more citizens involved in local government.

City Council members will vote whether to support SPARK’s efforts at their May 16 meeting.