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DISCUSSION <br /> As indicated previously, the Schematic Plan includes those features and amenities <br /> approved on December 12, 2013 by the Parks and Recreation Commission and it <br /> unanimously supported the area's design and focus with the inclusion of a reservation <br /> of areas for the placement of art work at some time in the future, the additional trail <br /> access near Valley and Pleasanton Avenues, and the inclusion of interpretive signage <br /> related to the sites agricultural history. However, as part of its review, the Commission <br /> spent considerable time discussing the opportunities and constraints related to including <br /> a dog park in the Bernal Community Park Phase II, the Oak Woodland or some other <br /> area of the overall Bernal Property and this discussion led to the 3-2 vote approving the <br /> Schematic Plan. The dissenters (Balch and Streng) both indicated strong support for the <br /> Schematic Plan's design, but expressed an interest in seeing additional study related to <br /> including a dog park as part of the Oak Woodland or some other Bernal Property <br /> location as part of this current design/construction process. In addition, all <br /> commissioners expressed interest in pursuing an additional dog park at some future <br /> location and pointed to the draft Pleasanton Parks and Recreation Master Plan currently <br /> being prepared by RJM Design Group (Park Master Plan) that identifies a need for this <br /> facility. Finally, there was discussion regarding the fact that various City Commissions, <br /> including the Parks and Recreation Commission, recognized the need for a dog park on <br /> the Bernal Property as part of the 2005/06 Bernal Specific Plan process. <br /> The Commission's December 12 agenda report and the minutes from the December 12, <br /> 2013 meeting (Attachment 3) provide the background related to this matter and as such <br /> staff will not provide additional detail in this report. <br /> As part of the Commission's discussions staff raised, and continues to raise, two <br /> concerns regarding placement of a dog park on the Bernal Property: <br /> 1. While the Bernal Specific Plan does include one reference to "dog park" as a <br /> potential park and recreational use for the Bernal Property, its Illustrative Site <br /> Plan does not include a dog park and inclusion of one was not part of the ballot <br /> language that was approved by the voters as part of Measure P. Further, prior to <br /> finalizing the Illustrative Plan, and agreeing to place the Specific Plan on the <br /> ballot, the City Council removed the one dog park initially included as part of the <br /> Bernal Community Park. <br /> 2. The Potentially Permitted Uses for Sub-Area 3 (which is the Oak Woodland), <br /> included in the Bernal Specific Plan and the ballot language, includes <br /> "agriculture, open space, passive park and recreation facilities, and public <br /> utilities" and staff has maintained that a dog park does not meet that criteria or <br /> the portrayal of this Sub-Area as the "grand meadow." <br /> Based on the above, staff has taken a conservative interpretation of Measure P which <br /> states "further voter approval would be required before sub-areas, or permitted land <br /> uses within those sub-areas could be modified." and as a result, its position is that <br /> inclusion of a dog park in either the Oak Woodland or Bernal Community Park would <br /> require voter approval. <br /> Page 3 of 5 <br />