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Home My WebLink About1996-02-27 City CouncilCity of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL ATTENTION: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: POLICY AND SERVICES COMMITTEE CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: February 27, 1996 CMR: Comrmmity Services 155:96 Results of Six-Month Trim of Removal of Basketball Hoop from Johnson Park REOUEST This report provides information regarding the six-month trial removal of the basketball hoop from Johnson Park. RECOMMENDATIONS This report is informational only; no action is required. pOLICY IMPLICATIONS A change in the hours of use for the Johnson Park basketball court will require a Park Ordinance amendment. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On May 12, 1995, at the continuing request of neighbors of Johnson Park, staff removed the hoop and backboard from the basketball court at Johnson Park for a six-month trial period (CMR:259:95). This was done because of continuing complaints that the court was in constant use at all hours by adults who consistently used loud and abusive language. Staff had met with neighbors and basketball players earlier to try to resolve the issue. That effort was unsuccessful. A public meeting was held on November 2, 1995, to receive feedback from citizens about the " loss of the basketball hoop during the trial period. Postcards requesting feedback and announcing the meeting were sent out to more than 1,500 residents in the area. Approximately thirty people attended the meeting. From that meeting and about thirty-f’lve telephone conversations from citizens, it appears that the community is evenly divided on this issue. CMR:155:96 Page 1 of 2 The basketball hoop and backboard were reinstalled in Johnson Park on November 20, 1995. As a result of a suggestion that came out of the November 2 meeting, a sign was installed requesting basketball players to respect park neighbors by watching their language, keeping the noise down and using the court only between sunrise and sunset. The period between November and February is not a prime season for outdoor basketball play, so accurately predicting the effectiveness of asking basketball players to police themselves when using the court is difficult. However, staff has not received any specific complaints related to basketball play in Johnson Park since the hoop and backboard were reinstalled and the sign placed next to the court. Therefore, the court will be retained in its present configuration, the posted hours of court use will be formalized by a change in the Park Ordinance and the Downtown Park Ranger Patrols will continue. From discussions with members of the basketball community, there is clearly a need in the area for a place where adults can play a high-energy, and often vocal, game of informal, outdoor basketball. Options to Johnson Park for this type of activity continue to be explored within the community. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact at this time. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This program is not a project as def’med by the California Environmental Quality Act and is not subject to CEQA requirements. ATTACHMENTS CMR:259:95 CMR:518:95 Prepared By:John Walton, Superintendent, Open Space and Sciences Department Head Review: City Manager Approval: Manager CMR:155:96 Page 2 of 2 City City of Palo Alto Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: Community Services DATE:May 18, 1995 CMR: 259:95 SUBJECT: Removal of the Basketball Hoop from Johnson Park for a Six-Month Trial Period REQUEST This is an informational report and no Council action is requested. RECOMMENDATIONS At the continuing request of neighbors of Johnson Park, staff has removed the hoop from the backboard of the basketball court in the Park for a six-month trial period. At the end of the trial period, staff will meet with the community to assess the impact of the loss of basketball play at the Park and will report to the Policy and Services Committee with recommendations for further action. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This action for a six-month trial period does not represent any change to existing policies. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Neighbors in the Johnson Park area have been working with staff to resolve many issues related to the use of the Park. These issues have included problems with public urination, loud and abusive language and hours of.Park use. Many problems have been reduced by park rangers patrolling the Park and discussions with neighbors, basketball players and other park users. The remaining concern is the use of the basketball court. Neighbors have complained that the court is in constant use at all hours, by adults who consistently use loud and abusive lang-uage. Staff has met with neighbors and basketball players on numerous occasions attempting to resolve this issue. Resolution has not been achieved. As an alternative to an increased presence in the Park by park rangers and police officers, staff has removed the basketball hoop for a six- month trial period.. At the end of that time, staff, neighbors and basketball players will then meet to discuss the impact of the loss of basketball play in the Park. Staff will report to the Policy and Services Committee with recommendations for further action. CMR: 259:95 Page 1 of 2 FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact related to this report~ ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This program is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act and is not subject to CEQA requirements. Prepared by: John Walton, Superintendent of Open Space and Sciences Department Head Review: City Manager Approval: PAUL THILTGEN Director of Community Services , JU(~rE, FLEMINGManager CMR: 259:95 Page 2 of 2 City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: Community Services DATE:DECEMBER 14, 1995 CMR: 518:95 SUBJECT: Reinstallation of the Basketball Hoop and Backboard at Johnson Park REQUEST This is an informational report and no Council action is requested. RECOMMENDATIONS No recommendations are proposed at this time. Staff will report to the Policy and Services Committee in January 1996 with recommendations for further action. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This action does not represent any change to existing policies. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The basketball hoop and backboard at Johnson Park were removed on May 12, 1995 for a six- month trial period. (CMR: 259:95). This action was taken as a result of continued complaints from neighbors in the Johnson Park area. Their complaint was that the court was in constant use by adults who consistently used loud and abusive language, and used the court at all hours. Staff met with neighbors and basketball players in an attempt to resolve these issues. Resolution was not achieved. Because of these complaints, staff removed the basketball hoop and backboard for a six-month trial period. It was understood that the basketball hoop would be reinstalled following the six- month period, due to requirements of the Park Improvement Ordinance for Johnson Park. In addition, it was agreed that staff would meet with park neighbors and basketball players to discuss the impact of the loss of basketball play and to work together to create a solution to the issues presented. CMR: 518:95 Page 1 of 2 Staff held a public meeti.u~ on November 2, 1995 to receive fee, .ok from citizens about the loss of the basketball hoop in Johnson Park during the -trial period. Postcards requesting feedback and announcing the meeting were sent out to more than 1500 residents in the area of Palo Alto north of University Avenue. Approximately thirty people attended the November 2 meeting. From that meeting and about thirty-five telephone conversations with citizens, it appears that the community is evenly divided on this issue. The basketball hoop and backboard were reinstalled in Johnson Park on November 20, 1995. As a result of a suggestion that came out of the November 2 meeting, a sign was installed requesting that basketball players respect park neighbors by watching their language, keeping the noise down and using the court only between sunrise and sunset. This effort of having the basketball players police themselves could potentially reduce the number of complaints from park neighbors. Staff will continue to work with the community to develop options to resolve this issue. FISCAL ...IMPACT No fiscal impact. ENVIRO~NTAL ASSESSMENT This program is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act and is not subject to CEQA requirements. ATTACHMENTS CMR:259:95 Prepared By:John Walton, Superintendent, Open Space and Sciences Department Head Review:| PAUL THILTGEN Director of Community Services City Manager Approval: Manager CMR: 518:95 Page 2 of 2