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Home My WebLink About04/20/1999, C7 - OFF-LEASH DOG PARK COUnC1L j ac En as Report C; CITY OF SAN L U I S O B I S P O FROM: Paul LeSage, Parks & Recreation Director v Ci SUBJECT: Off-Leash Dog Park CAO RECOMMENDATION 1. By motion, authorize a contribution of $5,000 to the SLO-4-PUPS organization for the purpose of assisting in the construction of an off-leash dog area at El Chorro Park. 2. Direct the CAO to execute a formal agreement with SLOB-PUPs that includes a provision that City funds will not be dispersed until the project is fully funded and ready to proceed to construction. DISCUSSION Currently there is not a suitable location in a City park for a fenced off-leash dog area. This is the case in other cities within the County as well. SLO-4-PUPs is a volunteer group working to promote off-leash dog areas in the County. The group is now under the non-profit umbrella of SLOPOST (San Luis Obispo Parks, Open Space and Trails Foundation). Working with the County, SLO-4-PUPs is developing a regional off-leash dog area in El Chorro Park. The group has requested that the City become a partner in the project by contributing one-half of the estimated construction cost (see attached letter). Staff supports the request. El Chorro is a good regional location. Since about one-half the park users are City residents, SLO-4-PUPs' request for 50% of the construction money is reasonable. The funding requested will go entirely for fence construction. This partnership is an excellent way to address an unmet need for people who enjoy recreating with their dogs. This need was articulated by SLO-4-PUPs during the City Council's goal setting process. Because of the relatively small request, and the availability of funding, it makes good sense to move forward with the commitment now. FISCAL IMPACT The total project is budgeted at $30,000; $20,000 of the amount is in the form of a contribution of land from County Parks. Improvements are estimated to cost $10,000, to be supported by a $5,000 contribution from the City and $5,000 raised privately by SLO-4-PUPs. Funds are available within our existing budget to support the City contribution. With Council's support for the contribution, as with all grants, staff will negotiate an agreement with SLO-4-PUPs for the use of the money. The agreement will include a provision that City funds will not be dispersed until all needed funds have been raised and the project is ready to be constructed. C7-1 Council Agenda.Report--rceport Title Page2----- - — ------ — — --- - --- — CONCCRRENCES The Parks and Recreation Commis sion.has.previously reviewed and acknowledged the need for an off-leash dog area. AT TACE MENTS 1. SLO 4-PUPs letter .2. SLOPOST Resohitio_n 3. Letter of support 4. Letter of support 5_. Design of off=leash'area C7-2 ----------------------- ----------SLO-4PUPs-------. .-------------------- March 30, 1999 Mr. Paul LaSage City of San Luis Obispo Park and Recreation Department 1341 Nipomo Street San Luis Obispo CA 93401 Subject: Proposed Off-Leash Dog Area Partnership Dear Mr. LaSage: SLO-4-PUPS is a volunteer group working to promote off-leash dog areas in this county. The group is now under the non-profit umbrella of SLOPOST (San Luis Obispo Parks, Open Space and Trails Foundation). We invite the City of San Luis Obispo to partner on the creation of the fust off-leash dog area in the county. Though this is not a new idea, it is new for our county. San Luis Obispo County Parks and Recreation, under the direction of Pete Jenny, is willing to provide the land at El Chorro Regional Park. Starting small,with one-half of an acre,the size and number of acres can grow if public usage indicates additional unmet recreation needs. This is truly a pilot effort. The project is estimated to cost approximately $30,000. The land is valued at about$20,000 and improvements will cost about $10,000. Improvements will include perimeter fencing (4 foot high), double entry gates, signage, groundcover, and limited perimeter plantings. SLO-4-PUPS is requesting the City contribute $5,000, with the remainder to be raised by SLO-4-PUPS. Attached are copies of a map of the area, SLO-4-PUPs' SLOPOST paperwork, and letters of support from Mr. Jenny and Ms. Pandora Nash-Kamer(Chair, County Park Commission). If you agree to participate,a check for$5,000 can be made out to SLOPOST and sent to SLOPOST Foundation, PO Box 86, Arroyo Grande, CA 93421. Please note on the check that it is for SLO-4-PUPs. We are planning to have the area up and running (no pun intended) no later than December 31, 2000. If we are unable to meet this time frame we will return to City staff to see if they want to continue with the project or have the funds returned to the City. Please call me at 528-1537 if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation. Sincerely, NANCY CONANT SLO-4PUPs Attachments ATTACHMENT 1 C7-3 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SAN LUIS OBISPO PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS FOUNDATION WHEREAS, San Luis Obispo Parks, Open Space and Trails Foundation ("SLOPOST") was formed for,among other purposes, the establishment and development of recreational parks; and, WHEREAS, "SLOPOST" desires to support the establishment and development of a public off leash dog park within the County of San Luis Obispo. NOW THEREFORE;the Board of Directors of SLOPOST-does hereby resolve: 1. To establish a "committee" known as SL0 4-PUPS, comprised of committee chair, Ellen Sturtz, and at large members appointed by her in accordance with the qualifications set forth in the Bylaws. 2. "SLOPOST" shall establish and maintain separate and restricted funds raised by and committed to the goals of the committee; which funds shall be under the sole direction of the committee. Funds donated to "SLOPOST" for the SLO-4- PUPS committee shall be earmarked for and managed by said committee. Approved and enacted by the action of the Board of Directors, this 16"day of February, 1999. Steve Shaw, PresidentAV_4?�— � Cj Jeanne Goldman, Secretary 1141 (o q ATTACHMENT 2 C7-4 COL NTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO _ atpautment of c,EneKal scuvIces COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER•SAN LUIS OBISPO,CALIFORNIA 93408•(805)181-5200 DUANE P. LEIB,DIRECTOR December 28, 1998 Nancy Conant _ SL04PLTPS f 1385 181h Street Los Osos, CA 93402 OFF-LEASH DOG AREA San Luis Obispo County Parks is committed to providing diverse recreational opportunities for the county's residents and visitors. To that end,we have included a variety of potential locations for off- leash dog areas in our draft update of the County Recreation Element. We are also interested in establishing a pilot program to pave the way for those proposed sites. To that end, we are very interested is working with SL04PUPS to establish such a project at El Chorro Regional Park. Located near the City of San Luis Obispo and relatively close to the Los Osos-Monro Bay area, we believe El Chor ro provides a good setting to test the idea of an off-leash dog area. As we have discussed at the park, we have a small site of approximately %acre which should prove suitable and I am prepared to recommend the project to the County Parks and Recreation Commission if we can satisfy a few basic conditions. Because of our limited financial resources, County Parks must limit its assistance to providing a location. However,we do endorse the project and support your attempts to raise the funds necessary to implement and maintain this facility. We look forward to working with you in the future. Good luck with your fund raising efforts. 4 PETE Parks Manager ATTACHMENT 3 C7-5-5 01 27 Pandora &Corrhpan4 Januar) 9, 1999 Graphic Design Allen Settle, Mayor Cin, of San Luis Obispo 990 Palm Srrr-r San Luis Obispo, C—A, 93401 Re: Of(leash dog and people parks Dear Honorable Mayor: The San Luis Obispo Couniv Park and Recreation Division is in the process of updating The COL111r)? Recreation Element. To do that, we have held public comment workshops in every community in rhe Count), and heard hundreds of residents express their opinions for park and recreational opporrunicics. A high percentage of people speaking at those workshops were in favor of off-]cash dog parks. Allen. I must confess I was one of the people who just didn't "ger-ir" at First. I'm a dog owner, yer as a Count%, Park Commissioner I kept hearing the word "dog" and thinking Of the unmet needs for People! Durina i a presenra- rion by S1.011PUPS to the Counry Park Commission I finally "heard" the point: dog parks are really, PEOPLE parks. We don't have "Frisbee parks" or "'Volleyball parks" or "Picnic parks," we just have parks where pCOPIC go TO play, frisbee, volleyhall or have a picnic. The same is true for off-leash dog parks, They are recreation areas for people who like to recreate with their dogs, off-leash. As you know, I am a strong advocate for public/private "partn6rships." San Luis Obispo Counry Parks is vet, supportive of Off-leash dog parks and we have provided for them in our draft update of the County Recreation Element. We have been impressed with the organization SL04PUPS, and The Park staff under The direction of Pere Jenny is working with them to establish a pilot project at El Chorro Regional Park. However. the Counry Parks Division has not had an increase in General Fund support since The early '90s and Nvc have very limited financial resources. We are able to provide the physical location for the off-leash dog park, but no funding. The estimated cost of this project is $30,000 for land and improvements. The land the Counn, will be provid- ing is valued at about $20,000, leaving about $10,000 to be raised for site developments, such as fencing, ground cover, signage, etc. SL04PUPS has agreed to raise $5,000, leaving them $5,000 short. We've learned recently through a survey, of day users that well over 500 Of The users are residents of the City of San Luis Obispo. Like Bishop's Peak, this may be the perfect opportunity for another Ciry/Counry project. If the City can assist Financially, in this project, it will maximize the use of limited amounts of resources. The Count), Park Commission has endorsed this project conceptually and we are looking forward to finalizing the details in the near future. IT it my personal hope that we can create another effective "partnership" and work together to move forward an this project. lo 004�� 2andora Nash-Korner Chair, San Luis Obispo ATTACHMENT 4 County Park Commission f.`,.tchc-l: Clr-ve cc: PcEc Jenny 805.528-7014 C7-6 605.528-7033 -Mot.! oandorcsfix.net ■■■■■■■■■■�■■■■■■■■■■■�■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■L?■■■■ ■■■■■■N■■®■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ir■�■■ilii ONE mom ■■tri■■■®■■®■■l�r�%�' �■N■►�. \\\■■N■■ BaN■�■■■®N'a : ■■®■■M±NONE■■■ ■■■NCS■■■■■■■■%J.l!r■t�,!!. ._ ■■A■■■■i_c�,llf■■■■■■ ■■■N■��■■��■C�J�■i�lrii■■■■■■■■:Fill■■■■■■ ■■■■■■\7N►�lJri�l�l�!!9 ; . t��■■ir,!\I1i■i■■■ ■■■■■■■■1MEM 1®■■■■■■■N■■■■I■■■■■L�i�\�■■ �■■®■rte■■®■■■a■�®■■�Yu�a� MENOMONIE OR NN■■�i Imo■■■■■■�■�N®I:R�1\\ ■■■M■■BME ■■i;`fJii�i�■■■■■■■■■®N■■I ■ ■■■■■■■N■■■ N■■E■■■N■■N■ ■■■■■i�N■®■N®■■■®■■■®■■INNIN ■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■ii■■■i■■■■N■■N■■■■ ■■■■ ■■�■■■®■■i®i■■■i■■■N■■■ii■■■■ ■■N■■■■i■■�■■■®CiQN�ii ^� ■■i■■■ii■