HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/2/2020 Item 2, McKenzie
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Scott, Shawna
Sent:Monday, August 31, 2020 2:14 PM
To:CityClerk
Cc:Avakian, Greg; Hyfield, Devin; Andrews, Jeff; Stephenson, Lindsey; Bergam, Aleah
Subject:FW: PRC meeting
Attachments:PRC 9-2-20 Meeting.pdf
Good afternoon,
Please post the attached correspondence for the September 2, 2020 Parks and Recreation Commission hearing.
Thank you,
Shawna Scott
Senior Planner
Community Development
919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218 E sscott@slocity.org T 805.781.7176 slocity.org
-----Original Message-----
From: John McKenzie <
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2020 2:10 PM
To: Scott, Shawna <sscott@slocity.org>
Subject: RE: PRC meeting
Hi Shawna,
This has happened before when I try to respond via your website and Outlook. I'll just need to use my personal email in
the future. I have attached my letter regarding this Weds PRC meeting. Please distribute to the Commissioners. As
always, thank you for your prompt attention and help.
John McKenzie
-----Original Message-----
>From: "Scott, Shawna" <sscott@slocity.org>
>Sent: Aug 31, 2020 11:51 AM
>To: John McKenzie <
>Subject: RE: PRC meeting
>
>Hi John,
>
>I have not received your letter, would you like to forward to me directly and I'll make sure it's posted?
>
>Thank you,
>Shawna
>
>-----Original Message-----
1
>From: John McKenzie <
>Sent: Monday, August 31, 2020 11:14 AM
>To: Scott, Shawna <sscott@slocity.org>
>Subject: PRC meeting
>
>Hi Shawna,
>
>Just confirming you and the PRC received my letter regarding Wednesday's meeting. Thanks.
>
>John McKenzie
>
2
August 28, 2020
RE: Parks and Recreation Master Plan and General Plan Element Update – 9/2/20 PRC Meeting
Dear Commissioners,
We would like to continue thanking the Commission, staff and their consultants for your collective
continued efforts on the update of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Our focus continues to be on
establishing enclosed dog parks within the City. We were very pleased to see, in the spirit of walkability,
that the City is being broken out into sub areas. Representing Friends of SLO City Dog Parks, it is our
ultimate goal to see that serious consideration be given to establishing at least one enclosed dog park
within each of these subareas to address our unmet need of 13,000 dogs.
As dog parks have been identified as one of the high priority recreational needs, it was great to see this
carried across as one of the capital improvement items in the Draft Capital and Operation Costs
Attachment. While it is understood that the dog park items shown and their costs are of a general
nature, I have the following comments about the currently proposed spreadsheet:
A. The spreadsheet should be reorganized to focus on the essential elements to establish a dog
park, and then also recognize additional important elements for later funding, as follows:
1) The following items should be considered essential to establishing each dog park and should
be the basis of the general capital improvement cost estimates to establish a dog park:
a. Adequately sized (one acre is the minimum recommended by the American Kennel Club,
other communities have used ½ acre as a bare minimum)
b. Fencing (the proposed 1000 LF will provide about an acre with a small/big dog
separator)
c. Double-gate dog entries (very important to minimize dogs escaping park/reduce initial
introduction stresses)
d. Big and small dog separation (essential to allow small dogs to safely use park)
e. All-weather material (essential to make it a year-round use park)
f. Provide water source
g. Provide poop bag dispensers and trash receptacles
2) The following items are also important to recognize for later additions but not essential to
initial park establishment:
a. Benches
b. Tables
c. safety lighting (if park will be open before dawn or after dusk)
d. agility equipment
e. shade trees with protective fencing
f. utility shed
g. internal separation shrubs/hedges
h. water tubs
i. information kiosk
j. ADA compliant pathways
k. bathrooms
l. parking
To better understand what capital improvement is being funded it would be helpful if there is a
generalized description or footnote added that can be connected to the cost spreadsheet, such as:
Dog Park assumptions used to determine general costs of the essential basics include: dog park
size may be up to one acre; provide enough fencing to enclose the dog park; provide separated
areas for large and small dogs; provide all-weather material within enclosure (if grass, irrigation
system needed and would be an additional cost); provide water source; provide poop bag
dispenser and trash cans.
Additional elements not included in this cost assessment that should be considered/ added later
include: benches, tables, safety lighting (if park will be open before dawn or after dusk); agility
equipment, shade trees, utility shed, internal separation shrubs/hedges, water tubs, information
kiosk.
B. Within each of the dog park items listed in Attachment 1, the following changes are suggested:
1) For ‘Agility Equipment’, as it is a ‘non-essential’ item, either remove it (and put the $$ into a
new line item titled ‘All-weather Groundcover’), or put into a ‘non-essential/misc.’ category;
2) For ‘Gates’, should a) add one more PED gate, so there are 2 for the big dog area and 1 for
the small dog area; and b) clarify PED gates are double gates;
3) For ‘Hose Bib’ should add at least one more so there is at least one each for big and small
dog areas;
4) For ‘Lighting’ as it is a ‘non-essential’ item, either remove it (and put $$ into a new line item
‘All-weather Ground cover’), or put into a ‘non-essential/misc.’ category;
5) Add a new line item #6 for ‘All-weather Groundcover’ and estimate for a one acre coverage;
6) Add a new line item #7 for “Misc’ to include poop bag dispensers/trash receptacles, and
possibly the other items mentioned above.
Thank you for your consideration of these changes – we hope you agree. We look forward to working
with you in the future towards making the City of San Luis Obispo a better place for our active and
friendly canine companions.
Sincerely,
John McKenzie
Friends of SLO City Dog Parks