City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2023-01510 12/12/2023 Consent Item 6.
Establish and Fund Capital Improvement Project for Community Outreach and Pilot Dog Park Program at William Land Park.
File ID: 2023-01510
Location: District 7, Represented by Councilmember Jennings Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution: 1) establishing a new capital improvement project for the Land Park Dog Park Project (L19301000); 2) authorizing YPCE to research and pilot a designated area for an unfenced, off-leash dog park within Willam Land Park; and 3) authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to increase the expenditure budget in L19301000 by appropriating $200,000 from the Citywide Park Development Impact Fees (Fund 3204) available fund balance.
Contact: Jason Wiesemann, Park Planning, Design and Development Manager, (916) 808-7634, [email protected]; Jackie Beecham, Director, (916) 808-1041, [email protected], Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment (YPCE) Presenter: None.
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment Department (YPCE) is recommending that City Council pass a resolution establishing a CIP for Community Outreach and Pilot Dog Park Program at William Land Park (L19301000) and appropriate $200,000 from Citywide Park Development Impact Fees (Fund 3204) available fund balance to L19301000.
The scope includes funding for community outreach and potential site plan for permanent dog park location within William Land Park. Funding will also be used to research and pilot a designated area for the City’s first unfenced off-leash dog park within Willam Land Park during the outreach period.
The cities of Davis, CA and Portland, OR have been successful with this model of dog park. The location for the pilot program is being identified and staff will implement it in early 2024.
Implementation will also include pedestrian safety measures in and around Land Park.
Improvements to the designated pilot dog park area would include, drinking fountain with dog bowl,
File ID: 2023-01510 12/12/2023 Consent Item 6.
benches, and signage to designate the area and rules. The pilot dog park area will be evaluated on a regular basis during the outreach period. Approval of the pilot program would allow dogs to be off- leash in the designated area only, and all other park use and animal control regulations would apply.
Policy Considerations: As stated in City Council Resolution No. 2023-0205, Section 10.2, City Council approval is required to establish (and cancel) CIP projects. Staff is also recommending a budget transfer be approved in order to save administrative authority limit of $250,000.
Utilizing Park Impact Fees (PIF), Fund 3204, to augment project budgets is consistent with Sacramento City Code Section 18.56.230, as these funds will be used to: “Finance the design, construction, installation, improvement, and acquisition of regional and citywide park facilities located anywhere in the city.”
Providing parks and recreation facilities is consistent with the City’s strategic plan to enhance livability in Sacramento’s neighborhoods by expanding park, recreation, and trail facilities throughout the City.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations: This report concerns fiscal activities that do not constitute a "project" pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(4)(excluding the creation of government fiscal activities from the definition of a “project”) and 15301 (excluding the minor alteration of existing public or private facilities involving negligible or no expansion of the existing use).
Sustainability: Not Applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: Not Applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: YPCE staff have been working with the community and council office since October 2022 to address concerns of off-leash dog use at Sierra 2 Park. Detailed information is available in the background section of this report. Through this process staff agree there is a need for additional dedicated dog park areas within the community. Staff developed and shared several alternative location options in close proximity to Sierra 2 Park and solicited feedback from residents in-person at an Open House and online. Staff also implemented a temporary designated dog park area at Sierra 2 Park and evaluated use and impacts over an 11-month trial period beginning December 2022. Dog parks are typically a minimum of 1.5 acres with separate areas for both small and large dogs and usually located within regional or community parks. William Land Park was selected by constituents as one of the top options at the Open House. Funding request will allow further community outreach to explore a permanent dog park option within William Land Park. Additionally, feedback received during the Open House and temporary dog park trial
File ID: 2023-01510 12/12/2023 Consent Item 6.
period recommended the city to consider a designated unfenced, off-leash dog park similar to models in other cities. Funding will also be used to research and pilot this model of dog park in William Land Park on a trial basis.
Financial Considerations: There are adequate financial resources in the Park Development Impact Fee (Fund 3204) available fund balance to support the recommended budget transfer of $200,000 to the Land Park Dog Park Project (L19301000).
This is an existing park; the annual maintenance and utilities costs are covered in YPCE’s operating budget for maintenance, water, and utility costs.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not Applicable.
Background
The City of Sacramento is committed to providing access to the City’s extensive parks and recreation system for all to enjoy. The Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment (YPCE) maintains over 4,265 acres of regional, community and neighborhood facilities. Sierra 2 Park is a neighborhood park that features a soccer field, playground, basketball court and other amenities.
More than 20 years ago, the City agreed to allow a dog training group from the Sierra2/Curtis Park neighborhood to use the park for dog training activities during specific hours.
Over the years, the City has received multiple reports regarding off-leash dog use happening at all hours in the park, including concerns of park access and safety for children. The current design of the park, including the size and other amenities do not meet the requirements of a dog park for off-leash use and continued use presented health and safety issues. To address these concerns and ensure Sierra 2 Park remained a safe space for all residents to enjoy, off-leash dog use was discontinued in November 2022 under the existing configuration of the park. YPCE solicited preliminary feedback on park use to inform potential renovations and amenities in the Sierra 2/Curtis Park neighborhood through an online survey conducted December 2022 to January 2023. The survey results indicated a significant interest and demand for more off-leash dog areas and reiterated safety concerns related to off-leash use and the lack of a designated dog area at the park. In December 2022, staff installed a temporary popup dog park at Sierra 2 Park to allow residents to continue using the space safely while opportunities were further researched. The temporary dog park was reconfigured during the trial period after receiving feedback from users of both the dog park and other park amenities.
The temporary use was evaluated over an 11-month trial period. During the trial period, staff hosted an Open House as outlined in the action plan. Eight concept plans assessing the potential of a dog park near the Sierra 2/Curtis Park neighborhood were presented at the Open House and online, and 520 community members provided feedback and input in-person and electronically.
Staff reviewed the feedback received at the Open House and during the trial period and recognize the need for additional dedicated dog park space in the City. Results from the Open House indicate
File ID: 2023-01510 12/12/2023 Consent Item 6.
Sierra 2 Park, Land Park option #3, and Belle Cooledge received the most support for exploring a dog park location. As funding is available, staff will continue to evaluate additional locations throughout the city for off-leash dog parks, including the expansion of Partner Dog Park at Belle Cooledge Park and further exploration in the Curtis Park neighborhood.
After evaluating the temporary popup dog park at Sierra 2 Park over the 11-month trial period, staff determined that the available area is too small to meet City standards for a dog park and has become a significant maintenance burden during its implementation; as a result, the trial period has ended.
Dog parks require approximately 1.5 acres and are typically located within community or regional parks.
From October 2022 to September 2023, a total of 488 311 calls were logged at Sierra 2 Park. More than half of the reports referenced off leash dog activity outside the temporary dog park and noise complaints. Other reports were related to maintenance of the temporary dog park and surrounding turf, including holes and dog feces.
Additional feedback from the Open House also included the recommendation for shared use at Sierra 2 Park. However, historical shared use of Sierra 2 Park has presented safety and maintenance issues, and research of other cities that have implemented similar programs has indicated the same; shared space for off-leash dog use and other recreational purposes like youth sports, community events and open play has shown to be unsuccessful.
In consideration of several criteria including community input, evaluation of the temporary popup dog park, industry design standards, availability of space and research of other dog park programs, staff recommend further community outreach to explore the option of a permanent dog park at William Land Park. Staff also recommend to research and pilot a dog park program that includes an unfenced off-leash designated dog area in William Land Park, to be implemented during the outreach period and evaluated on a regular basis. The pilot dog park may also include pedestrian safety measures in and around William Land Park, such as signage and speed bumps.
Establishing a council approved capital improvement project will support continued and robust community outreach to various stakeholders in the exploration and development of a new dog park.
This includes meetings with community members, the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission and the Sacramento Youth Commission.
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
December 12, 2023
Establish and Fund Capital Improvement Project for Community Outreach and Pilot Dog Park Program at William Land Park.
BACKGROUND
A. Department of Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment staff have been working with the community and council office to address concerns of off-leash dog use at Sierra 2 Park. A temporary dog park was configured and evaluated over an 11- month period. Staff have determined that it is not compatible for dog park use due to size constraints, significant maintenance burden and safety concerns with the adjacent amenities. Sierra 2 Park is a neighborhood park. Dog parks are typically a minimum of 1.5 acres with separate areas for both small and large dogs and usually located within regional or community parks.
B. City staff provided an action plan which included community surveys and an open house meeting to gather input. Through this outreach it was determined that additional off leash dog areas are needed within the community. William Land Park was selected by constituents as one of the top options to further explore for an off-leash dog park.
C. A capital improvement project (CIP) needs to be established to continue community outreach and implement a Pilot Dog Park Program at William Land Park. City Council approval is required to establish CIP projects.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee is authorized to:
1) Establish the Land Park Dog Park Project (L19301000);
2) Research and pilot a designated area for an unfenced, off-leash dog park within William Land Park; and
3) Establish the expenditure budget in the Land Park Dog Park Project (L19301000) in the amount of $200,000 (Fund 3204) from Park Impact Fees (Fund 3204) Available Fund Balance.