Meeting Agenda - City of Phx - Dog Park Committee Jan 13th, 2011
Thursday, January 13th, 2011Click HERE to see the Agenda for the January 13th committee meeting.
Archive for the ‘Dog Park Blog’ Category
Meeting Minutes - City of Phx - Dog Park Committee Jan 6th, 2011
Thursday, January 13th, 2011Click HERE to see the minutes to the January 6th committee meeting. Please post your comments here.
Attachments from the Dog Park Committee
Friday, January 7th, 2011AD-HOC DOG PARK COMMITTEE UPDATE-January 6, 2011
Friday, January 7th, 2011AD-HOC DOG PARK COMMITTEE UPDATE-January 6, 2011
During a 3 hour meeting on January 6, the Committee reviewed 17 sites, with new information on acquisition and operating costs.
Much of the discussion concentrated on the site at 1st Street and McKinley, between Matt’s Big Breakfast and the Pasta Bar restaurants. This site is surrounded by 2000 higher density living units, which do not have back-yards. It would also promote pedestrian activity downtown and benefit adjacent small businesses. Currently, it is used as a parking lot for ASU on a 25 year lease. It is owned by the City’s Community and Economic Development Department, and was purchased through a Bond Issue. Repayment of the bond proceeds is estimated at $1.7Million, which handicaps the site. Sean Sweat presented a decision matrix that compared key sites on a dozen criteria that favored this downtown site. A motion to concentrate on this site was defeated by a narrow margin.
The Committee adopted a subsequent motion to initially focus on 4 sites (sites L, M, N, and O on the City list): Site L is The 1st and McKinley site; site M is in Hance Park between the Burton Barr Library and the Center for the Arts; site N is in Hance Park East of 3rd Avenue and South of Culver, near the Japanese Garden; site O is at 5th Avenue and Fillmore, a site acquired by the Community and Economic Development Department with bond monies for residential development-bond repayment cost estimated at $.7Million).
The Committee’s mandate is to recommend sites that have no cost to the public, and recommend sustainable operating costs.
The next meeting will be on January 13 or 18 (see the encantopalmcroft.org dog park blog for updates).
My perspective as a Committee Member with 4 years of experience on the Phoenix Parks Foundation Board, having worked closely with the Parks Department/Parks Board during Bond Planning and City Budget discussions, is the following:
* It is difficult for the Parks Board and City Council to justify new Capital Expenditures when existing facilities like Libraries, Parks, Police and Fire Stations have seen major cuts in hours of operation and staff;
* Bond covenants and related contractual agreements (for sites L and O) are difficult to amend and these negotiations create major delays;
* Existing Parks have infrastructure to accomodate new uses (bathrooms, accessibility for the handicapped) and allow rapid creation of a dog park. The best parks have a variety of offerings, which creates high usage. And high current use is the best predictor of future use for a new facility. Encanto Park, as a large regional park with many users in District 7 and beyond, is likely to come up again as a possible future location.
* Each location will have opponents: The Committee will have to recommend sites that have the greatest good for the largest number of residents in the overall Downtown area.
Martin Vogel
Next Dogpark Update
Saturday, January 1st, 2011Click HERE to see the latest summary of potential dog park sites from the Park’s Department. Please post your comments here for all to share. The email from Karen Williams says:
“Thank you for your participation at the December 14 Dog Park Ad Hoc Committee. Staff presented eight potential dog park sites throughout the downtown study area and committee members suggested nine additional sites. The attachment lists all 17 sites. There are some challenges (and opportunities) with a number of the sites being considered and these issues will be fully discussed with the committee at our Thursday, January 6, 2011 meeting, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Happy Holidays!
Karen Williams, Deputy Director City of Phoenix
Parks and Recreation Department - Parks Development, Planning and Downtown Division”
Dog Park Powerpoint Proposal by the Committee
Thursday, December 16th, 2010Attached is the slideshow staff presented at Tuesday’s meeting. [click here]
“Downtown Dog Park”: Chronology
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010E-Mail to Residents from Martin Vogel: December 3
Subject: [Everyone] Downtown Dog Park: Which Site Would You Support?
Dog Park at Encanto Park, Hance Park or Elsewhere?
After a flurry of recent publicity, an Ad Hoc Dog Park Committee has been
appointed by the Phoenix City Council. Its mission is two-fold: Select a
location for a Downtown Dog Park by the end of January 2010; and determine
future funding for the new park. 68 Members have been appointed, and have been asked to select a site at the first Committee meeting, on December 14.
appointed by the Phoenix City Council. Its mission is two-fold: Select a
location for a Downtown Dog Park by the end of January 2010; and determine
future funding for the new park. 68 Members have been appointed, and have been asked to select a site at the first Committee meeting, on December 14.
The Committee was appointed after a proposed dog park at 1st Street and
Taylor (former Ramada Motel) was rejected by the Phoenix Board of
Adjustment.
Taylor (former Ramada Motel) was rejected by the Phoenix Board of
Adjustment.
Here are three sites that have been proposed, and the City Parks Department staff is vetting other possible locations:
* Mayor Gordon has mentioned Hance Park as a logical future
location. A dog park was listed as a Visioning Opportunity for Hance/Deck
Park by Parks Department planners, but as yet no further consensus has been
established by the adjacent neighborhoods.
location. A dog park was listed as a Visioning Opportunity for Hance/Deck
Park by Parks Department planners, but as yet no further consensus has been
established by the adjacent neighborhoods.
* Jay Murphy had proposed the addition of a dog park in Encanto Park, near
15th Avenue and Holly, just south of the large Encanto Sports Complex
Parking Facility. Jay’s design has been published in an earlier Newsletter.
Based on initial feedback from residents, Jay has changed the proposal to be nearer Encanto Boulevard, east of 15th avenue. It’s about 1.4 acres for the big dog park north of Encanto Boulevard and .3 acres for the small dog park south of Encanto Boulevard. Please check out the site: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111410343357601827214.000496df84975c885e60a&ll=33.473075,-112.089963&spn=0.001633,0.002411&t=k&z=19
15th Avenue and Holly, just south of the large Encanto Sports Complex
Parking Facility. Jay’s design has been published in an earlier Newsletter.
Based on initial feedback from residents, Jay has changed the proposal to be nearer Encanto Boulevard, east of 15th avenue. It’s about 1.4 acres for the big dog park north of Encanto Boulevard and .3 acres for the small dog park south of Encanto Boulevard. Please check out the site: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=111410343357601827214.000496df84975c885e60a&ll=33.473075,-112.089963&spn=0.001633,0.002411&t=k&z=19
Encanto Park is widely known to dog owners who have been to the Phoenix
Field and Obedience dog classes held at Encanto Park on Monday nights for
many years-these owners have already invested in training and may help to
keep Encanto Park clean.
Field and Obedience dog classes held at Encanto Park on Monday nights for
many years-these owners have already invested in training and may help to
keep Encanto Park clean.
* Sean Sweat proposes 775 North First Street, between Matt’s Big Breakfast and Pasta Bar/Sense. He has a fascinating explanation of why this site is best for Downtown Phoenix: it stimulates pedestrianism, encourages small business, and promotes quality of downtown life. While it is not within walking distance for us, it is an easy drive that will bring us downtown with accessible parking. Please take time to read his arguments:
http://bloomingrock.com/?p=1434
http://bloomingrock.com/?p=1434
Which of the three sites would you support?
It would be beneficial if the downtown neighborhoods support a single venue
that is convenient to Downtown, has good facilities, and gets adequate
funding and support for essential maintenance. Funding will be a critical
component: Existing park facilities, such as Hance/Deck Park or Encanto
Park would presumably reduce costs to establish and maintain the park. If
there is early agreement on the best location, the Committee Members can
concentrate on getting funding to open and maintain the new facility.
that is convenient to Downtown, has good facilities, and gets adequate
funding and support for essential maintenance. Funding will be a critical
component: Existing park facilities, such as Hance/Deck Park or Encanto
Park would presumably reduce costs to establish and maintain the park. If
there is early agreement on the best location, the Committee Members can
concentrate on getting funding to open and maintain the new facility.
Since my 3 dogs frequent Washington Park Petsmart Dog Park on 23rd Avenue
and Maryland, a new DOWNTOWN Dog Park would be a convenient
blessing. Many pet owners in the neighborhood feel the same way.
Nationwide, more than half of homeowners have pets. For Encanto-Palmcroft,
that means that more than 150 families have pets.
and Maryland, a new DOWNTOWN Dog Park would be a convenient
blessing. Many pet owners in the neighborhood feel the same way.
Nationwide, more than half of homeowners have pets. For Encanto-Palmcroft,
that means that more than 150 families have pets.
I have been appointed to the Ad Hoc Committee. At this point I remain open
to the best location, and would like your input. Which would YOU prefer? Please send your comments to Martin Vogel: macvogel@bigplanet.com .
to the best location, and would like your input. Which would YOU prefer? Please send your comments to Martin Vogel: macvogel@bigplanet.com .
Follow-up email on the distinction between Encanto Park North (new proposal) and Encanto Park South (original proposal by Jay Murphy published in Newsletter): December 13
NB: The Newsletter article and subsequent emails refer to two different designs for the Encanto Park location. After initial comments by residents, Jay Murphy changed the design to concentrate on a more remote, underused area of Encanto Park:
Encanto Dog Park North.
It’s about 1.4 acres for the big dog park and .3 acres for the small dog park across the street. It has many of the same positives and fewer residents to bother i.e. some of the buildings across 15th are businesses and there’s no Holly to worry about.
Personally, I found the arguments in favor of a Downtown location (First Street) compelling and recommend reading the reasoning of Sean Sweat. His calculations/methodology as a transportation planner should inform any decision making about the final location:
More news will be circulated after today’s meeting.
Martin Vogel
December 14: First Meeting of the Ad Hoc Dog Park Committee: Notes by Martin Vogel, Committee Member.
Prior to the meeting I circulated a request for neighborhood feedback on possible locations for a dog park.
The totals at the time of the meeting were:
In favor of any of the 3 locations: 1
Encanto Park: 16
Hance/Deck Park: 6
Downtown: 3
No Dog Park or Not in Encanto Park: 2
Total of 30 answers at the meeting, with a slight majority for Encanto Park. I did not cast a vote, although I lean to the Downtown site on 1st Street and Filmore.
Meeting results: You didn’t miss much at the meeting The City Parks Department proposed 8 locations, including Encanto Park South and Hance Park, the only two public park locations. Other sites included open lots in scattered locations, generally on the outskirts of the “downtown” boundaries.
I indicated that a number of neighbors preferred Encanto Park North rather than Encanto Park South, but that a majority of poll respondents prefer EP over Hance Park or a downtown site.
The committee members were allowed to propose other sites. A number of other downtown sites were proposed, including 1st Street and Filmore. A vote was postponed until the following meeting. It seems that the Committee may recommend more than 1 location for a Dog Park.
At the Public Comment session, Clyde Granderson and Mike March spoke in opposition to Encanto Park South. Mary Ellen Buttrick and Jill Mandeville registered a card in opposition to Encanto Park but did not stay to speak.
As more news becomes available to the Ad Hoc Dog Park Committee members, I will post updates.
Martin Vogel
Dog Park Blog
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010Here you will find updates on the dog park question…