HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 14586
City of Palo Alto (ID # 14586)
City Council Staff Report
Meeting Date: 9/12/2022 Report Type: Consent Calendar
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Title: Adoption of a Park Improvement Ordinance for Renovation of the
Mitchell Park Dog Park as Recommended by the Parks and Recreation
Commission
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Public Works
Recommendation
The Parks and Recreation Commission and staff recommend that City Council adopt a Park
Improvement Ordinance (Attachment A) for the Mitchell Park Dog Park Expansion project,
funded as part of the Dog Park Installation and Renovation capital improvement project (PG-
18001).
Background
The City of Palo Alto’s City Council adopted Parks Master Plan includes a policy (2.D)
recommending the addition of dedicated, fenced dog parks distributed throughout the City.
The City Council prioritized expansion of dog parks as a city goal in 2017 with the adoption of
Parks Master Plan. There are currently four existing dog parks in the City – Mitchell Park (0.56
acres), Peers Park (0.84 acres), Greer Park (0.06 acres), and Hoover Park (0.14 acres). An
ongoing Capital Improvement Project (PG-18001) was established for the expansion and
enhancement of dog parks in 2018 providing funding of $150,000 per project, funded by park
development impact fees. Staff completed the Peers Park Dog Park in 2018 and is now pursuing
Mitchell Park Dog Park improvements and expansion.
Discussion
On May 4, 2022, staff reviewed the proposed improvements to the dog park in a community
meeting held online to obtain public input. There were 26 participants. The response to the
proposed renovations was positive and included suggestions to include hills/slope areas in the
dog park, enlarge the dog park area as much as possible, add more seating/benches, and fix the
existing drainage issues.
On June 28, 2022, the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) reviewed the proposed plans,
which included revisions made per community comments. The PRC was supportive of the
expansion plans and provided comments that were addressed in the plan presented for the
Park Improvement Ordinance (PIO). These revisions included: the reduction of the small dog
City of Palo Alto Page 2
park fence height to 3 feet and the addition of 15 new native trees, a mix of Valley Oaks and
California Sycamores, to the area for shade and habitat benefits.
On July 28, 2022, the PRC discussed an At Places Memo that provided an alternative to the
Mitchell Dog Park fence alignment. PRC’s Chair, Jeff Greenfield, suggested moving the boundary
of the proposed Mitchell Dog Park fence slightly away from the adjacent group picnic area to
provide better privacy for the picnic area and to maintain some shady tree respites for people.
The At Places Memo mentioned that this change would decrease the size of the dog park, but
would still include some sloped hill areas, including some shade trees. The PRC discussed the
proposed improvements listed in the draft PIO and the alternative fence alignment proposed in
the At Places Memo (Draft Minutes).
The staff presentation mentioned the complaints and challenges related to the three-foot high
fence that was once at Hoover Dog Park and suggested changing the proposed height for the
new small dog park at Mitchell Park to five feet. The three-foot high fence at Hoover Dog Park
was changed to a five-foot high fence due to complaints and requests from the dog park users
at Hoover Park. Dogs, including small sized dogs, would regularly jump over the three-foot
fence. The Commissioners agreed that this would be an appropriate change. The Commission
supported the proposed dog park improvements but disagreed about the placement of the dog
park fence along the hillside next to the picnic area. Several Commissioners supported moving
the fence, as recommended in the At Places Memo, while others noted that they were not in
favor of changing the fence line given that doing so would conflict with the feedback collected
at the community meeting.
The Commission voted 4:3 to recommend that City Council adopt a PIO for the Mitchell Park
Dog Park with the five-foot high fence, as recommended by staff, and with the alternative fence
alignment proposed in the At Places Memo.
The PIO includes the following items:
(1) Expand the size of the existing dog park area with new 5’ tall chain link fence
(2) Install a new small dog park area with 5’ tall chain link fence
(3) Replace existing irrigation system
(4) Replace existing mowed turf with ‘no mow’ grass to reduce maintenance
(5) Add new site amenities including bench seating and waste receptacles
(6) Establish 10’ set-back along Adobe Creek
(7) Install new area drains
(8) Plant new native trees
Next Steps
• Bid Document Preparation & Project Bidding: Fall 2022
• Construction Begins: Early 2023
Resource Impact
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The FY 2023 Adopted Capital Budget includes funding in the Capital Improvement Fund of
$166,500 in the Dog Park Installation and Renovation capital improvement project (PG-18001)
to expand and enhance the City’s dog park resources as recommended by the Parks Master
Plan. The operation and maintenance impacts associated with this project are minimal and
budgeted funds are sufficient to address this minimal cost increase.
Stakeholder Engagement
On May 4, 2022, a community meeting (via Zoom) was held with 26 attendees. The PRC
discussed the Mitchell Dog Park expansion project at its June 28 and July 28, 2022 meetings.
Staff also engaged the Palo Alto Dog Owners group (which represents several hundred Palo Alto
residents advocating for more space to safely exercise and play with their dogs off-leash) to
discuss the project and obtain their feedback.
A project webpage (https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/dogparks) was created to help provide
more information regarding the proposed Mitchell Park Dog Park renovation.
Policy Implications
The proposed recommendations are consistent with:
- Policy C-26 of the Community Services element of the Comprehensive Plan that
encourages maintaining park facilities as safe and healthy community assets;
- Policy C-22 that encourages new community facilities to have flexible functions to
ensure adaptability to the changing needs of the community;
- Policy C-3.2 Reinvest in aging facilities to improve their usefulness and appearance.
Avoid deferred maintenance of City infrastructure; and
- Program C3.3.1 Periodically evaluate how parks and recreational facilities are being used
and develop strategies for improving their use overall.
The proposed recommendations are consistent with the Parks Master Plan Policy 2.D.
Environmental Review
The proposed expansion of the Mitchell Park Dog Park is categorically exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Title 14 California Code of Regulations
Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), Section 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction), Section
15303 (New Construction of Small Facilities or Structures), and Section 15311 (Accessory
Structures) because it consists of the redevelopment of an existing facility.
Attachments:
• Attachment A - Ordinance Approving and Adopting a Plan for Facility Improvements at
Mitchell Park
*NOT YET APPROVED*
1
256_20220818_ts24
ORDINANCE NO.
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Approving and Adopting a Plan for
Facility Improvements at Mitchell Park
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and Improvements. The City Council finds and declares that:
(a) Article VIII of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto and section 22.08.005 of the
Palo Alto Municipal Code require that, before any substantial building, construction,
reconstruction or development is commenced or approved, upon or with respect to any land
held by the City for park purposes, the Council shall first cause to be prepared and by ordinance
approve and adopt a plan therefor.
(b) Mitchell Park (the “Park”) is dedicated to park purposes. (See Municipal Code
section 22.08.180)
(c) The City intends to authorize the renovation and expansion of the dog park area.
(d) The plan of improvements shall comprise as follows:
(1) Expand the size of the existing dog park area with new 5’ tall chain link fence
(2) Install a new small dog park area with 5’ tall chain link fence
(3) Replace existing irrigation system
(4) Replace existing mowed turf with ‘no mow’ grass to reduce maintenance
(5) Add new site amenities including: bench seating and waste receptacles
(6) Establish 10’ set-back along Adobe Creek
(7) Install new area drains
(8) Plant new native trees
(e) Exhibit A depicts the expected implementation of the plan of improvements.
(f) The plan of improvements described above is consistent with park, playground,
recreation, and conservation purposes.
(g) The City Council desires to approve the plan of improvements described above.
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby approves the plan of improvements in the Park
described in this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. The City Council finds that this ordinance falls under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions found in Title 14 California Code of Regulations
*NOT YET APPROVED*
2
256_20220818_ts24
Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15303 (New Construction of Small Facilities or
Structures).
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the date of
its adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
Assistant City Attorney City Manager
Director of Community Service
EXHIBIT A