[Vision2020] Aug 10 Update on Dog Park

[Kit Craine]

Here's the latest on the Dog Park:

Yesterday (August 9, 2004) staff presented what they feel is the best 
solution to the encroachment into Dog Park to the Public Works/Finance 
committee. This was a report so no decisions were made.

According to the City Engineer, the proposed route through the park is, 
in fact, the only viable solution to the school district's requirements 
for a bus\-compatible driveway. The following actions will be taken in 
order to mitigate the damage to the park:

\-> The school district will trade land that is currently a landscaped 
buffer along the east boundary of the park for the land they need.

\-> The east side of the park will be expanded into that area, plus a 
chunk on the south\-east corner of the existing park; roughly, this 
chunk goes along the east side of the shelter to the south side of the 
shelter. The result will be an L\-shaped area that is approximately 
5,000 square feet larger than the current park.

\-> The park expansion will eat four parking places. To replace these, 
five spaces will be built on the west side of the shelter's driveway.

\-> The estimated cost for this project is $25,000\-$26,200. The 
Salisburys will pay this by foregoing the city's contribution (approx. 
$25,000) for upgrading the sewer main from 8 inches to 12.

\-> The city will try to do the work in stages so the park can remain 
open.

At this time, the drawbacks appear to be:

\-> The Humane Society has raised funds and purchased materials to 
build two outdoor dog runs where people can meet prospective pets. 
Their plan was to put these runs on the west side of the shelter; the 
city engineer feels there will be enough space south of the new parking 
spaces for these runs; the Humane Society isn't sure whether that is 
true. The city and Humane Society are still looking into that.

\-> The school district's driveway will take the best\-drained area of 
the park. The users are concerned over the park becoming a mud\-hole 
during the rainy seasons. That issue is being evaluated.

\-> The suggested solution will make it impossible to expand the 
already at\-capacity animal shelter. As a result, when the shelter must 
expand, it will have to be relocated to a new site.

The city is working with all involved parties, including the Humane 
Society, so it doesn't appear that there will be any major losers.

That's all for now.

Kit Craine
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