[Vision2020] Aug 10 Update on Dog Park

[Steve Lindsey]

The truly frustrating thing is that the developers and the School district
had all but decided they were going to take over the dog park, gave an hour
notice to most other parties involved in the planning committee meeting,
including members of the committee.  Then pressured the city to approve the
plan with "minor" adjustments so they could get the project started and the
new asphalt down to accommodate the new school year. The developers and/or
school district are in the back pocket of someone with enough power to push
this big of a project through in less than a month.  I'll be sure to
remember all these events come election time, hopefully others will as well.

Steve
  -----Original Message-----
  From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of Art Deco aka W. Fox
  Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 3:17 PM
  To: Vision 2020
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Aug 10 Update on Dog Park


  Steve,

  I am at a loss to see why the city needs to accommodate the developers.
Why can't they just say "No."  I thought the results of last election was to
get rid of this kind of good ol' boy/girlism where developers rule.  I guess
I was wrong.

  Wayne

  Art Deco  (Wayne Fox)
  deco at moscow.com

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Steve Lindsey
    To: Kit Craine ; 2020 Vision ; hsop at moscow.com
    Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 2:09 PM
    Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Aug 10 Update on Dog Park


    Kit,

    Thanks for the information, however, the statement "there will be no
major losers" is a bit out of line.  For one the "New" area of the dog park
in the Southeast corner will be if not directly connected very close to the
existing outdoor dog kennels on the south side of the shelter.  The Humane
Society staff, when meeting with the city engineers, specifically asked that
a concrete or cinder block wall be built to separate and obstruct the view
of the shelter dogs and the dogs in the park.  This request has been ignored
as have many other requests the Humane Society has asked for.  Who will be
responsible should a dog from the public jump the fence into the Humane
Society kennels or vice versa, and one of the dogs is injured?  Who will be
accountable when the poor dog or dogs that stay in the kennel closest to the
dog park become "kennel crazy" due to watching all the other dogs in the
park run free, and therefore being at the shelter for a much longer time?
Thankfully the Humane Society is a no-kill shelter, and spot will not be
euphonized because he has been there for months.

    There will be major losers in this and it will be the users of the dog
park, the Humane Society of the Palouse, and the dogs.

    Steve Lindsey



     -----Original Message-----
    From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of Kit Craine
    Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 1:05 PM
    To: 2020 Vision
    Subject: [Vision2020] Aug 10 Update on Dog Park


      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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