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Home My WebLink About0414.095i TO: ATfElliTlON: FROM: ,.;'-'" ... . --,--. ., -, ~, ~-.' .. , City of Palo Alto City Manager's Report HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL POLICY AND SERVICES COMMITfEE CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: Commn~ityServlc .. aDd Polic. AGENDA DATE: September 21,1995 CMR: 414:9S SUBJECJ: APPROVAL OF AL TERNA TIVE MfTIGA TION MEASURES AT MITCHELL PARK DOG RUN RF.Q!fEST 'Ibi> report is alO!low-\lj) report to CMR: 111 :95, reganijng the Stevenson House concerns about noise and odor ass.x:ialed with the Dog Run at Mitch<:1l Pari<. This report addresses questio.'1S raised by Council at their May 15, 1995, "'gular meeting. Since then staff has developed altematives 10 mitigate noise and odor problems at the curren! site that would preclude the need fur relocation. Staff reqllelltS Council approval of these measures. RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends !hat the Dog Run remain in As presentlocatioo, with modifications and thaI Council approve the mitigation measute5 associated "'ith the noise and odor problems. POLlCYIMi'J JCATIONS This agreement does no( represent any change 10 existing poIioy. The improvements outlIned in this report wlIl DOl require sub.-tantial reconstroctioo and, then:fure, will not require • Park Improvement Ordinance, Palo Aho Munk:ipal Code 22.04.030, Compliance RequiTed, allows fur !he resIriction of use of the Dog Run 10 certain activities and posted bouni at the direction of the City Manager or her designee, Administrative regulations (Attachment A) become effective fifteen days after being posted, CMR:414:95 lage 1 0" _.', ,OO: __ ;1!"- "'"-... "; -' .-! .' '. -- .. ' '" "-. -. ~ -'~··::-L . .:2:.._~~~ IXECllTIVE S1lMM ARY A5 I resw'l 0( oomplainls from residents of the Stevensoo House about noise and odors from the Mitchell Park Dog Rl1l'~ staff bas made attempts 10 improve sanitation at the Dog Run and provide <jukk response 10 <JllIs..fc<·servlce Ie quiet barl:cing dogs. Staff has worked with citizen groups comprl,ing Stevenson House residents, l>og Run u."''''' and neighbors ofMitchefi Part 10 investigate possible remedies 10 boll! the problelJlS identified by Stevenson House residents and pari< =-Because of the cngoing problems, staff presented. proposal for relocating the Dog Run within Mitchell Park to Council May IS, 1995. AtIh3! meeting, the Council det<nniI!<d Ibe proposed relocation would have • negative impact 00 other Park usage, and directed staff to return to lIle porK:Y and Sen-ices Ccmmittee with aIternaIlve solutions thai would m<:et the foIklwing criteria: preference should be given 10 • Dog Run in Ibe south Palo Alto area; the dog mil would be comparable in siu 10 the present run; and I eonsideratioo woold be given 10 limiting the effect 00 neighboring properties. Staff "'as also asked 10 coosider an ocdinance or other regulations thai would restrict the hours of the dog run use. Staff has worked closely ... ith Dog Run users and representatives from Stevenson House 10 revie-,r; possible alternative dog run sites boll! at Mitchell Park and other locations. Due 10 the proximity of residential homes, lack of ade<j,uate av.., lab!e space 10 situate a run, or serious impact 10 the current use 0( pari< sites, JOOSI 0( lIlese alternatives were unacceptable. The Site Sekction Committee again reviewed all o(the site options at M"rtcben ParI< and concluded that if the site which was recommended 10 Council were not acceptable because 0( its location in the center oftbe park, other loCations woo/d not work because 0( impact OIl tennis courts or playing fields. ThereiOre, staff and the Site Selection Coounittee concur thai !he present!ocafion o(!he Dog Run in Mitchell Park is the best site, if improvements can be made I<> alleviate tile noise and odor problems. Staffmet with the Stevenson House Residents' Association on August 3, 1995,10 rev'.ew tllese improvements. The respoose from residents was positiYe. Many commented that the improvements would be beneficial \0 Stevenson House. C<xnmunity Services staff,.,iIJ continue to periodically meet with Stevenson House residents 10 evaluate !he improvements. Nnw and Odm'.MitigltioD,. Measures: The alternative improvements and minor modilications thai could be made 10 the area 10 buffer noise, diminish \he odor, and Ihm:e fue bub of activily are as rollows: (Refer to Attachment C 1br. site map .. '>owing tile proposed improvements.) NOiSE: • insta/Iation 0(. seven fOot, wooden fence along !be bor'der between Stevensoo House and tile Dog Run, subject \0 the approval 0( the Architectural Review Board; Pag<lofC , • , ., ~:--:--:.-. • reconfiguraOOn of1he Dog Run perimeter cyclone fence to move the run fift .... feel from 111. Stevenson Hoose property r"", and 10 move !he entrance and safety gate 10 !he far oo<th end of the run; • relocation of resting benebes to !he north end of the Dog Run 10 encourage usen 10 CODgrcgalc further away &om Stevenson Hoose; • eooslruClioo of III inform.tiro kiosk near \he entxan<:e to \he Dog Run to improve ongoing communkati<xts !>elwoon neighbors and Dog Run users_ ODOR.,.RESllLIINOFROMSIANDINGWAlER: • re\ocaOOn of the dog's drinldng fountain 10 the east end of the Dog Run where it can have adequate drainage; • installation througoout the ron of new drainage lin .. 10 prevenl stan<fmg water; • turf improvements to fin depressions and improve drainage. I)[X)R=-lXXiWASIf.S: • installation of. lateral sewer line or s..-pti<: tank roo: the sanitary disposal of dog wastes ",ill be investigated and. if feasible, brought back 10 <:00"001 as part of the Capital Improvement Program proposed budget. Dog Rorn Rev>lalimu Although rules for the use of the Dog Run are currently in place and posted at both en= of the run, staff proposes runivng the hours &om !:OO A.M untl1 dark (ODe-half flour after sunset). Signs would !>e posted 10 Iha! effect Enfon:emenl of the hours would be accomplis.'wl<l on. oompIainI basis. Ibcre would oot be patrols of the Dog Run by the police and staff dce5 DOt propose 10 lock the Dog Run area, due 10 !he staffing requirements needed to ensure the security of the facility. FISCAl. IMPACT The coot of installing the mitigaOOn measures and other improvem.:nls to the Dog Run at its . present Iocatioo in MitclIeU POrir. is 520,345. (Refer 10 Attachrnen! B roo: a breakdow.> of costs.) $15,000 will come &om the Animal Senices Donatloo Aeooont and S5,34S will come from the City Manager's Contingency Account. ENVIRONMENTAl. "SSFAAMENT This project is • Class J categorical exempt'"", of the California Enviroomenta! Quality Act (CEQA) under section IS3033 (eJ oftl1e CEQA Gmdelme.. CMIUi4:9S ".';;: STEl'SFOI,IOW(NG APPRQYAL Improvements CIlIlined in this report ,.,ill req,uire review and 'WtO"aI from !he Architectural Review Board. Once approved, improvenrents would commence immediately. Plans for irnpro\'ements for a sew .. system 10 dispose of <log wastes .... iIl be i:lvc:stigated and, if ~ihle, will be submitted for review with other Capital Impr",'ement Program requests. Administrative rules governing !he usc or the run would be po5ted and enforced fifteen days after they have been reviewed by CounciL ATIA.CHMENTS/EXUmlTS: Attacl>met!I A -Proposed Admini",1rative Park Regulations Attaobment B -Project Costs Attachment C -Site Map With Proposed Improvements Greg Iktts, C<>mmunity SeMces Lynne Jobnsoo, Police Deparunen; Head Review::-::= j:e kS--:; PAULTHILTGEN Director of Community Servkes Cily Manager Approval: Page 40( 4 Attachment A ADMINlSTRA T1VE REGULA noN • MITCHELL PARK DOG RUN The DirecIor O{Community Serrlces, at the rec:uesI oftlle City Manager, hereby creates the following rules of conduct for the MiI<heU Par'< Dog Run: I. The hours ofusc <>lthe dog run ,ball be restricted 10 !he hours 0{ 8:00 AM. until dark (one balfhoor after sunset). 2. No unattended dogs .bolI be allowed when other dogs are present 3. No childrea less !han eight (8) years of age shall he aflowed in the run. 4. No aggressive dogs shall be allowed wi:hout a muzzle. s. Dog owners .ball be rec:uired 10 clean up .fter their dogs. 1). YJOIatioo of these rules ma~ result ir.. dtationor!he limiting of"se at the Dog Run. 1. Dogs must be 00 a leash at all times outside of the Dog Run. PIWJECTCOSrS The rosI ~IS ollbis projecl include: A Fencing B. G<Wng C. Benches, Trash R~lcs D. Orilinage improvements E. Dog Water Fountain f. Demo!ltioo Contingency @ 15% Leo. ABImal &n-kes Donatio ... o S 10,875 1,300 500 4,000 1,2$0 500 SIM2S $ 1,920 $ %0,3<C5 -15,000 $5,34$ , " " , , ,,, ~ r' CIl .... g 8' a ~ 8: -('l> g: ~ 1 ~I i l"1 ~' ... p,qposed cyclone fenclt extf!f1S/on ~ ... ;: ------ ---"",--------------" -~ ~, ~ ~ ~1 .. t~ ..., .. t>l ~ ~~ g, 0Jl ~ ~ ~ .. /'>l !.. 01 ~ !!. " " b.-....... --_. Cumn! fence line ,. ~ -ori O::c "lit ,.. ,.,.. c~ %> ,. ~ PropoSt!d 4 fOOl c.vclolle fence -~Qr~ ~ a ~~ a N .. /'>l " ~ " ,., .. A ~ [oi :0 .JIt/C.' P,op<1sed 7/001 WOodell fence --~------~~-----~~-----------. ---- Current fence line Stevenson House '. e :> f go [ Q ::. 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