CCMIN020414 - Laserfiche WebLink

Herb Ritter, Planning Commission, encouraged staff to look at public contributions and dedications as a potential funding source for the project. He agreed that the lack of dog parks is a major deficiency of the city and regretted that he was not able to see this corrected during his time on the Parks and Recreation Commission. He said locating one in the Oak Woodland Area near the pathway system and Marilyn Kane Trail would be of great value to the entire community. Kurt Kummer, former Parks and Recreation Commissioner, said that anything other than a unanimous vote by the Commission is unusual in his experience. He stated his full support for the Phase 2 project, which very closely resembles what was in the original plan. He said the Commission was repeatedly assured by city staff that a dog park on the Bemal Property was a sure thing, and that it reluctantly accepted being brushed aside at other opportunities for this reason. He referred to subarea 7, which houses a storm water mitigation pond but was planned for use as an agricultural club or community vegetable garden, as one example of where staff seems to feel it has the discretion to modify uses without voter approval. He read from Measure P which states that "the potentially permitted land uses by the subarea include a range of uses which may be located in the respective subareas, but are not required to be located in that subarea nor required to be located in any specific place within the Phase 2 plan area Final determination about which of the potentially permitted land uses of the subarea are to be located at which place will be the subject of future decision of the city." He urged the Council to direct staff to conduct a study of the appropriate locations for a dog park somewhere on the Bernal Property and to give them a short and specific time table in which to accomplish that. Roy Ficken, former Animal Services Officer, stressed the benefits of the dog-human relationship on individuals and the community as a whole. He predicted that, if not provided with a dedicated space for off leash play, dog owners would almost certainly use the sports fields or other recreational areas for this purpose. He strongly encouraged the Council to make a dog park, consistent with AKC recommendations, at this site a reality. He also suggested that the city sell a lifetime license for perhaps $200 to offset the cost of this use. Mayor Thorne closed the public hearing. Vice-Mayor Pentin said he also recalled being assured of a dog park at Bernal during his time on the Parks and Recreation Commission. He said he did not believe the Oak Woodlands Area to be the ideal location for a dog park, the parcel identified by the Commission so many years ago has all the validity and fewer infrastructure needs than any of those recommended by staff. Councilmember Narum concurred, noting that she served on the Parks and Recreation Commission, Bernal Property Task Force and Bemal C ommunity Park Task Force. While she did not support a park in the Oak Woodland Area, she felt it appropriate to try and identify some location around the woodland area that is less remote than those identified by staff. She recalled that the task force discussion did include significant interest for a- dog-park in general, just not in the actual woodland area. She noted that one of the issues raised at the task force was that installing a dog park into an existing neighborhood park is generally met with opposition. This is an opportunity to find a location without creating neighborhood opposition and the city should capitalize on it. Councilmember Cook-Kallio continued to struggle with the perceived resistance to the general concept. She agreed with Mr. Kummer's points, particularly that Measure P's use of "may" instead of "shall" suggests that it is not an imperative. She said she loved the Oak Woodland design and if they could remain open to identifying a location for a dog park within-that it would be idea. . Councilmember Brown said that while she is not a dog owner herself, she clearly sees the community desire and need for a dog park. She said she strongly supported the Oak Woodland Area as an appropriate location, particularly given its proximity to trails, but did not support the location referred to by the Vice-Mayor as it is too far from the other features of this wonderful park. City Council Minutes Page 8 of 15 February 4,2014