November 12, 2025 – Study Session Minutes Page 1
NOVEMBER 12, 2025 – CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Cajulis called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: M/Cajulis, MPT/Wu, C/Freedman, C/Law, C/Tragarz ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Also present: City Manager Weiner; Acting City Attorney Mann; Public Works Director Barcelo, Finance Director Merkel; Community Services Director Bumia; Community Development Director Vasquez; Finance Manager Meza; Senior Management Analyst Munoz; Senior Management Analyst Markel, City Clerk De Dios, and Administrative Services Specialist Cortez.
DISCUSSION ITEM:
1. Dog Park Site Evaluation and Cost Discussion
City Council will discuss the potential development of a dog park in the City of Walnut. Staff is seeking direction on whether to proceed with the project and input on potential site locations.
PWD/Barcelo provided a presentation on the discussions that have taken place at the Parks & Recreation Commission as well and the City Council regarding a potential dog park.
The most recent discussion held on September 10th, staff proposed two parks for the City Council to consider along with the costs associated with the maintenance of the parks. She provided a recap and shared how staff conducted several outreach activities to obtain public input and feedback from the public and noted that Council voted to remove Snow Creek Park and Walnut Ranch Park from being considered for dog parks. She requested direction from Council in regards to a potential dog park.
C/Freedman said she is an advocate for the dog park and feels it is important for the City and a great opportunity to bring an amenity such as the dog park for the residents to enjoy.
MPT/Wu stated that he would like to hear from the public before he makes his decision on the dog park.
C/Tragarz expressed her opposition and said there doesn’t seem to be a good location for a dog park in the City. She has visited dog parks outside the City and does not like what she has seen. She does not want our parks to be destroyed and expressed concerns regarding the environmental impacts posed by dog parks and their pet waste.
C/Freedman requested staff to provide response to some of the concerns raised by C/Tragarz.
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PWD/Barcelo shared some information on the watershed and explained that staff is working on educating the public on fostering good housekeeping of the parks; she noted that if the City moves forward with a dog park, staff will maintain the creeks to keep them safe as they do will all creek systems.
C/Law provided some comments and said she has heard those who support and oppose the dog park. She explained there are other projects that are more of a priority such as deteriorating fences along trails.
C/Tragarz said there were emails received in past from dog owners who were not in favor of having a dog park in the City.
M/Cajulis agrees in having an amenity for the community to engage with other dog owners.
He heard his colleagues this evening and asked if there were any other comments or emails received from the community.
CC/DeDios stated there were some emails received prior to the meeting and were distributed to all the Councilmembers. She shared two emails received, one with a 9-page petition and the second with 2-page petition with signatures opposing the dog park.
M/Cajulis inquired on the funding.
PWD/Barcelo gave a brief explanation on how the funds could be used. She mentioned that staff could be creative and use grants but it is too premature to take a guess. She explained that the location has been difficult and now staff is seeking direction from the City Council; we began with three sites, then to two and now staff is looking for direction.
MPT/Wu inquired on how many people opposed and supported the dog park.
C/Tragarz shared numbers from previous meetings of emails that were opposed and supported and some that she gathered on her own.
C/Freedman spoke of the highly used parks by teams and she doesn’t understand the question of residents not using the amenity. She mentioned that Country Hollow is the lowest utilized park and could be a potential site and this is her recommendation.
C/Wu suggested that based on the feedback and comment to stop the dog park discussion.
C/Tragarz added there is no good location for a dog park.
C/Law explained there were residents in the past expressing concerns for having Country Hollow as a proposed location.
CM/Weiner explained that this discussion has been taking place at the staff level, council level and parks & recreation commission level. He explained all the sites that have been explored in the past years. He would like specific sites recommended by Council.
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C/Wu explained his reason for his statement to stop the discussion was the residents from Country Hollow have expressed to him that they do not want the dog park.
C/Tragarz stated there was no good location for a dog park and staff has spent a substantial time on this matter.
M/Cajulis asked if the item could be tabled for another time since there is no location.
C/Law inquired to see if the Parks & Recreation Commission could review this item and have it possibly brought back.
CM/Weiner responded that he has heard three options: stop; table the item until Parks & Recreation Commission brings suggestions; or bring back consideration of country hollow park. He asked that the majority of City Council provide direction so staff may proceed and act accordingly.
PWD/Barcelo explained that the Parks & Recreation Commission looked at it and provided the three locations, staff brought it to the Council for funding.
C/Tragarz stated there was no task given to the commission asking if the City needed a dog park.
C/Freedman inquired if Butterfield Park was considered.
PWD/Barcelo explained there was no parking at this location.
After discussion amongst the City Council, there was no consensus in bringing back the discussion of the dog park.
PWD/Barcelo said if the City Attorney agrees she is hearing that there is no majority direction on how to proceed at this time.
C/Freedman asked that she would like to send back to Parks & Recreation Commission to see if there are any additional locations for a dog park.
MPT/Wu asked if there is a majority.
C/Freedman says she is advocating for the community.
CA/Mann explained that a Councilmember can bring an item for discussion any time in the future.
PWD/Barcelo stated that at this point staff will leave it at the Parks & Recreation Commission level.
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ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
A speaker shared her personal experience of attending dog park outside the city and she feels that our City does not have a large area to accommodate a dog park. Her main suggestion was to have a park for senior citizens.
A speaker shared an email from a Walnut animal group president, who was unable to attend this meeting; she is in support of having a dog park in the City.
Lindy Rzonca expressed her support of having a dog park.
Laurie Jimenez expressed her support for having a dog park. She expressed her appreciation for having dog bags for dog waste.
Libby Rzonca, expressed her support for a dog park, especially for the youth.
A speaker expressed that Snow Creek Park appears the best location for a dog park.
Mr. Harrison expressed his opposition to having a dog park due to noise, dog waste, and dog bites. He felt this was for Councilmember Freedman’s legacy.
Mr. Osaki made comments in opposition of a dog park due to high costs that may be utilized for other projects.
Vijay Vakil expressed his opposition to having a dog park and the cost is too high for maintaining.
There was no other person wishing to speak.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED on the 10th day of December 2025.
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Ritchie Cajulis, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Teresa De Dios, City Clerk
PREPARED BY:
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Jackie Cortez, Admin Services Specialist