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specific areas that are of the highest priority and that it will present that information to the City <br /> Council. Secondly, based on the Commission's recommendation, the City Council could <br /> consider the Commission's priorities as part of its regular priority setting process during which <br /> the Council establishes its annual work plan. If as a result of that process the Council adds a <br /> dog park to its annual work plan, then staff and the Commission could begin a more <br /> comprehensive process of identifying potential locations for the park. Once a site is located, <br /> then the City Council can take steps to consider funding as part of the City Budget or Capital <br /> Improvement Program. <br /> As the Commission is aware, the process of developing a park involves an identified need, input <br /> from the public, recommendations from the Commission and then finally, approval from the City <br /> Council. Often, even after a commission and/or City Council expresses an interest in a new <br /> facility, such as the recently completed Firehouse Arts Center or the current Lions Wayside <br /> /Delucchi Parks renovation project, it is quite some time before the project if fully funded and <br /> constructed. Nevertheless, the critical point is that a final decision resides with the City Council <br /> which must approve and fund the amenity and that the above process, involving inclusion of a <br /> project on the City Council's annual work plan and funding, has been the most consistent path <br /> for facility development. As a result, the preferred step for pursuing a new City facility is to have <br /> it included as part of the City Council's work plan and to date, a dog park has not been part of <br /> that plan. <br /> Summary of the Dog Park Matters <br /> Based on the information above, staffs perspective is that both Measure P and the Bernal Park <br /> Master Plan disallow a dog park on the Bernal Community Park and the Oak Woodland area. <br /> However, there is a potential for inclusion of a dog park on sub-areas 5, 12, and 13, assuming <br /> the City Council determines that this type of use is compatible with surrounding land uses. <br /> Regarding the Staples Ranch area, while it is unfortunate that a dog park was not included as <br /> part of the Stoneridge Creek Neighborhood Park, there is still a potential for inclusion of one on <br /> the Staples Community Park site. However, there is no timetable for revisiting overall planning <br /> for this park. Finally, staff anticipates that the Master Plan will identify the need for an additional <br /> dog park and as such, adoption of the plan presents an opportunity for the Commission to <br /> inform the City Council of its priorities which can be reviewed by the City Council as part of its <br /> annual work plan process. Assuming the Council includes a dog park in its work plan, staff is <br /> prepared to work with the Commission as appropriate to identify a potential location for the park. <br /> Further, like other park projects, it's anticipated that funding for the design and construction of a <br /> dog park would be subject to the City's overall Budget/Capital Improvement Program process. <br /> Based on the above, staff is recommending that the Commission address the dog park issue as <br /> part of the Parks Master Plan process as outlined above. <br /> Other Oak Woodland Matters <br /> As indicated previously, staff is also interested in addressing other matters raised by the <br /> Commission so that it can be in a position to make a recommendation to the City Council on the <br /> Oak Woodland Schematic Plan at the Council's February 4 meeting. These additional matters <br /> include, 1) an additional trail entry point in the area adjacent to Bernal Phase I access road on <br /> Valley Avenue to create a natural "extension" to the Marilyn Trail; 2) the retention of open space <br /> Page 6 <br />