HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 1805City of Palo Alto (ID # 1805)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 7/18/2011
July 18, 2011 Page 1 of 3
(ID # 1805)
Summary Title: Improve Recreational Opportunities for Dog Owners
Title: Parks And Recreation Commission Recommendation that Council Direct
Staff To Consider Improvement of Recreational Opportunities For Dog Owners
Among Other Community Recreational Interests During the Planning and Design
Phase of Park Renovation Projects and the Design Of Any New, Or Renovation Of
Existing, Neighborhood Or Regional Parks
From:City Manager
Lead Department: Community Services
Recommendation
The Palo Alto Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously recommends that the
Council direct staff to consider improving recreational opportunities for dog owners
among other community recreational interests during the planning and design phase of
park renovation projects and in the design of any new, or renovation of existing
neighborhood or regional parks.
Background
The Parks and Recreation Commission has routinely heard from the public about the
need for more recreational opportunities for dog owners. The Commission defines the
issue, as follows:
·The City has improved many parks and playgrounds over the last 15 years, yet
little has been done to improve recreational spaces and opportunities for dog
owners in Palo Alto.
·Several commissioners have observed dog owners, without authorization, allowing
their dogs to be off-leash at numerous parks on a regular basis. This behavior
suggests there is a need to improve recreational opportunities for dog owners.
·A primary Commission and Community Services Department priority is to create
a culture of fitness in Palo Alto. Walking one’s dog is a good way to be active.
Providing additional spaces and/or destinations to walk one’s dog will further
encourage healthy behavior from dog owners.
For the reasons above, Community Services staff coordinated a public meeting to engage
the community in a discussion about recreational opportunities for dog owners. The
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primary purpose of the public meeting was to discuss the adequacy of recreational
opportunities for dog owners. At the public meeting, which occurred in the winter 2010,
approximately 100 people attended, and the vast majority were dog owners. The primary
hope of the residents who attended was for the City to establish more off-leash dog areas
that are within walking distance from homes.
After discussing the outcome of the public meeting in subsequent months at regular Parks
and Recreation Commission meetings, the Commission unanimously recommended to
Council the policy direction urging staff to consider improving recreational opportunities
for dog owners among other community recreational interests in the design of any new,
or renovation of existing, neighborhood or regional parks.
Discussion
Off-leash dog areas provide not only exercise and socialization for healthy dogs and their
owners,but also provide a significant benefit to dog owners through increased
connections between neighbors. The Commission and staff however also recognize the
sensitivity of off leash dog areas and the concerns and competing interests of some non-
dog owners, sports clubs, and parents.
Consequently a prudent course of action for the Commission is to make a policy
recommendation to Council, for staff to consider the feasibility of improving recreational
opportunities for dog owners in the design of any new or renovation of existing
neighborhood or regional park. Each new park and park renovation is unique, and may or
may not present an opportunity to improve recreational opportunities for dog owners.
Considerations of park size, proximity to homes, engineering constraints, other park
activities, community support, budget among others factors will be included in the
consideration.
The Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation will, at a minimum, ensure the
feasibility of improving recreational opportunities for dog owners is considered as new
parks and park renovations opportunities develop.
The expectation, as a result of this recommendation, is that over time it will lead to more
areas for off-leash dog play as the feasibility of recreational opportunities for dog owners
is routinely considered in the design process for new and renovated park projects.
This recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission has been delayed in its
presentation to the Council for approximately one year, in part, because of department
restructuring and reorganizing of Parks and Recreation responsibilities due to fewer staff
and resources. Furthermore, the workload of the Recreation staff, in particular, this past
year and a half has increased considerably due to the coordinating role Recreation staff
continues to play in the Project Safety Community Coalition among other duties, which
has caused some work items to be deferred. It is, however, not staff’s intention to
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postpone the recommendations of the Parks and Recreation Commission; this is a unique
circumstance, and every effort will be made to ensure future recommendations of the
Parks and Recreation Commission are forwarded to the Council in a timely manner.
Resource Impact
The resource impacts will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as staff and the Parks and
Recreation Commission review park planning and renovation designs that lend
themselves to improving recreational opportunities for dog owners.
Policy Implication
The policy implications are minimal; staff not only supports this recommendation from
the Parks and Recreation Commission, but staff further believes that it is consistent with
current practice. Over the past year, the City has had the opportunity to significantly
expand the dog-run area at Greer Park and provide the infrastructure for an enclosed field
for a possible shared space for field users and dog owner recreation as part of these park
renovations. With El Camino Park being renovated in the near future, staff again
explored park design opportunities for dog owners among other recreational needs.
Prepared By:Robert De Geus, Manager
Department Head:Greg Betts, Director, Community Services
City Manager Approval: James Keene, City Manager