HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.3 Dougherty Hills Dog Park
CITY CLERK
File # D[I][I]llJ-~~
AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: May 6,2008
SUBJECT:
Dougherty Hills Dog Park
Report by Diane Lowart, Parks & Community Services Director
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Overview of Dog Park
2) Photos of Large Dog Area
3) Park Rules Signs
RECOMMENDA TION,:i/1.,.o.
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1) Direct Staff to prepare a Higher Service Level for Park
Maintenance in the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Budget to replace
the turf in the large dog area with Bermuda sod.
2) Direct Staff to modify the Dog Park rules signs and to pursue
revisions to the Dublin Municipal Code related to the Dog Park
rules
FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
Turf replacement options range from $5,510 - $332,880.
Annual maintenance cost of Dog Park is $31,500.
DESCRIPTION: At the November 20, 2007 meeting, the Dublin City Council
received a petition seeking "safety and improvement revisions" to the Dougherty Hills Dog Park related to
the following areas:
· Artwork Currently Inside the Dog Park
· Agility Items Currently Inside the Dog Park
· Lighting - Nonexistent
· Parking - Congested "Boxed In" Vehic1es
After testimony, the Council directed Staff to take the following action:
. Artwork - relocate the artwork from the large dog area to the parking lot adjacent to the entry gate
(complete)
. Agility Items - remove the wooden poles for the hurdle and the metal poles for the maneuver
training (complete)
· Lighting - no action; Council did not support lighting
· Parking Lot - paint curb red and post "No Parking" signs (complete)
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COpy TO:
Page 1 of 4
ITEM NO.
7.?J
G:\COUNCIL\Agenda Statements\2008\5-6 Dougherty Hills Dog Park.doc
[1/
Additionally Staff was to return to the Council with options related to alternative surfacing for the large
dog area, improved signage and additional rules, and options related to supervision of the Park.
ALTERNATIVE SURFACING: As noted in the November 20,2007 report, the Dougherty Hills Dog
Park is a popular destination and receives a great amount of use. As a result, the turf in the large dog area
has been severely impacted. Additionally, the area near the entrance gate is narrow thereby concentrating
the traffic in one area. This accelerates the wearing of the turf and compaction ofthe soil in that area
The Park recently reopened after a three-month closure period during which time the turf was reworked
with the addition of gypsum, turf blend soil and fertilizer. The area was also top dressed with hydroseed
fiber mulch and irrigation modifications were made. Despite this work, within one month of re-opening,
the turf in the large dog area has become worn as can be seen in Attachment 2. One reason is that the
timing of the closure period (January through March) is not the optimal time for turf to be re-established;
ideally, the months of March through May would be best.
Staff has identified a number of surfacing options for the large dog area for consideration by the City
Council.
1) Replace existing turf with Bermuda. Bermuda is a heartier and more durable turf surface and may
hold up better to the high use. However, Bermuda goes dormant in the winter months and turns
brown. Additionally Bermuda is invasive and may eventually overtake the no mow fescue around
the perimeter of the Park. The estimated cost for Bermuda ranges from $5,510 (seeded) to
$61,990 (sod).
2) Replace existing turf with Decomposed Granite. Two alternatives are proposed. The first
alternative is to replace the existing turf with decomposed granite only in the high wear area as
shown in pink on Attachment 1. The estimated cost for this alternative is $9,660. The second
alternative is to replace the existing turf with decomposed granite in the entire large dog area. The
estimated cost for this alternative is $276,970.
3) Replace existing turf with K9Grass. K9Grass is an artificial grass designed specifically for Dog
Parks that allows for immediate urine and water pass through. Staff has contacted two sites where
K9Grass has been installed and learned that the turf wears well and that there is no problem with
urine smells. The estimated cost to replace the existing turf in the large dog area with K9Grass is
$332,880.
Given the current fiscal constraints facing the City, Staff recommends that the existing grass in the large
dog area be replaced with Bermuda as opposed to the more costly options of decomposed granite or
K9Grass. If funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Budget, Staff would recommend that
Bermuda sod be installed as opposed to seed. Sod can be established in a shorter time period then seed
which would allow a shorter closure period for the park. Staff recommends this be done in spring 2009
and that the large dog area be closed from March through May, which is the best time of year for new turf
to establish and grow. Staff would point out that the spring is also the time when the dog park starts to see
more use as the days get longer and the weather is warming up. However, ifthe turf is installed during the
winter months, it would be too cold for it to properly establish before opening in the spring. Allowing
dogs on the turf before it is properly established would quickly lead to failure of the turf again in high
traffic areas.
Page 2 of 4
Staff will continue the current level of maintenance and evaluate whether it is feasible to systematically
close off sections of the large dog area for periodic turf repairs. While the turf has already become worn,
Staff has not received complaints about the condition ofthe turf and the Park continues to get used.
SIGNAGE/RULES: Staff has received complaints related to children in the Dog Park. The first
complaint is that children are in the Dog Park with their parents but are using the Dog Park as a
playground (i.e. playing catch and using the agility equipment). Excepting the crawl tube, all of the agility
equipment has been removed so use of the agility equipment should no longer be a major concern. The
second complaint is that children enter the Dog Park without parental supervision.
The Dog Park was monitored by facility attendants over a two-week period in order to assess the amount
of use that the Park received and to determine if use of the Park by children was a problem. Staff did not
observe that children were in the Park unattended and in most cases, the number of adults to children was
at least three to one and in many cases, there were no children in the Dog Park.
Attachment 3 shows the two existing park signs that are posted at the Dougherty Hills Dog Park. The
rules sign is approximately 24" by 36" and the warning sign is approximately 18" by 12". Both are posted
on the fence between the large and small dog areas. As noted on the existing sign, children under 12 years
of age must be accompanied by an adult; children ages 5 and under should not enter the Dog Park.
Regarding use of the Dog Park as a playground, Staff proposes adding the following language to the sign:
"Use of Dog Park is limited to dogs and handlers only; use of the Dog Park for play unrelated to dogs is
prohibited" (or something to this effect). Staff also proposes putting the warning sign on the entry gate of
both the small and large dog areas so that it is more prominent.
It should be noted that revisions are underway to Chapter 5.100 of the Dublin Municipal Code relating to
park and recreation areas. Staff intends to incorporate the dog park rules as part of the revision to Chapter
5.100 of the Municipal Code so that they are legally enforceable.
SUPERVISION: At the November 20th meeting, Councilmember Hildenbrand asked
whether an attendant could be scheduled to supervise the Dog Park in order to enforce the rules and to
monitor the number of dogs that enter the Park. For two weeks in April, facility attendants were
scheduled at the Dog Park during the following hours:
Monday through Friday
Saturday and Sunday
5:00pm -7:00pm
9:00am -7:00pm
A count of dogs, adults and children was taken every one-half hour. During the evening hours, 5:00 _
6:30 p.m. was the most popular time in the large dog area. The average number of dogs was 13 with a
high of 19 dogs and a low of four dogs. On weekends, there were only four occasions when the numbers
of dogs in the large dog area exceeded 15 dogs. On average, there were 10 or less dogs in the large dog
area however, the use during the day was steady.
At this time, Staff does not recommend daily monitoring of the Dog Park. While the monitoring period
was only for two weeks, Staff does not believe that the number of dogs in the large dog area at anyone
time is the problem. Instead it is the steady use of the Park by the large dogs that contributes to the wear
and tear of the turf.
Page 3 of 4
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council direct Staff to prepare a
Higher Service Level for Park Maintenance in the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Budget to replace the turf in the
large dog area with Bermuda sod. It is further recommended that the City Council direct Staff to modify
the Dog Park rules signs as discussed above and to pursue revisions to the Dublin Municipal Code related
to the Dog Park rules.
Page 4 of 4
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CONSULTANTS
REVISIONS
APPROVALS
PROJECT
Dougherty Hills Park
Dog P~rk
Amador Valley Blvd
Dublin, CA
DRAWN BY: LB
CHECKED BY: PN
DATE: 07.14.06
JDR NO
FILENAME:
06-001
PLOT DATE:
08.25.06
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NORTH\ SCALE: 1" = 20'-0"
SH E ET TITLE
PLANTING
PLAN ) I
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ATTACHMENT 1
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City of Dublin
.Dougherty Hills Park-Dog Par~'
A. Dog Park Hours 7:30 am - Dusk Daily
B. This Dog Park is separated into two areas. The area designated foF' large
dogs is for dogs over 20 pounds. The area designated for small dogs is
limited to dogs 20 pounds and less.
C. The Dog Owner Must:
1. Have dog(s) properly licensed and tagged. license must be worn by any
dog within the park or on public property. including City sidewalks.
trails and in any parks.
2. Have dog(s) properly vaccinated and current with their vaccinations.
3. Be with their dog(s) within the fenced area at all times, have' the dog(s}
under voice control at all times and carry the dog(s) leash. Owners are
responsible for dog(s) behavior.
4. Keep dog(s) in designated enclosed area when off leash. Dog(s} must
be leashed before leaving the Dog Park per Dublin Municipal Code
Section 5.100.130. A substantial leash may not exceed six feet in
length per Dublin Municipal Code Section 5.36.220'.
5. Do not use Park' if your dog(s) is aggressive towards people or other'
do.gs, antl.socia~, in heat. unruly or barks excessively. Agg,essive'
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d~s are NOT welcome in the Dog Park. If an owneli"s dog begins 'I;:' .
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. ",to pl~y too rQugh or Sh~WSlsl'9'ns of aggressive behavior; own~r.lJlu!
c," immediately remove the dogfs):Oogs musfbe.at least four mon~hs~~
'of age to' use the Park.. ',~:~ ,.;, 'f
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,~. ResPectth:e neighbor's privacY,an.d right to a quiet'neighborhood.
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D. .,Dog owners are responsible to cl'ean up dog(s) feces with scoopel"S ,! ,,,,.
',~rovid~.,ancI place. in tra.sh receptacles provided. Should the owne,r:s;."'€ -
.'not take responsibiILty for this Park and cleaning up after their anima/(s)
, ~e City will close the Dog PClfk., .' :,t)
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. E. Do~r.owners are respol'Isibl'e and liable for the ac:tions and behavioifof,(;~'
their"d09{$) under t'heir s.u'pervisiQn at all til!li'lI!s\~;hi~";n the Dog Park' .
o more than 3 dogs:per owhe;' allowed at oneti~&in the parle.
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",,.,"..~r;>> use 'h~ !,ar~ at)~eir.~wJi' risk.,!he ~Ity~;~ '. ",$:!~!-
,esp,C?,~~ibtljty for injur.y,'o.r}U{le~s to dogs~ p"er.s~,. ~P.',or"
'" h.i1e'u:s!!"g th.ts f~Cility.l?~g~,a,!p))erson~ en,li':...~g.~
~~~!r,~~n, nslt. ,~ar~n.t;"'l'U!itb, responS:lble;Ji tfv
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