Work Session

Agenda Item # 6

Meeting Date November 24, 2014

Prepared By Brian T. Kenner

Approved By Brian T. Kenner, City Manager

Discussion Item Dog Park Update

Background At the June 2 Public Hearing, City staff presented Council with options related to the location and next steps for development of a dog park. The determination was to move forward with feasibility studies and design elements for a dog park in a City owned wooded area opposite of Heffner Park. Since June, City staff have arranged for a topographic survey of the site, soil borings and tree identification. In conjunction with the City, Takoma Dogs and a local architect, Eric Saul, have developed a concept plan for the site that includes a proposed lay-out of the site including one small dog/low activity area of roughly 4,700 sq ft and a large dog/high activity area of roughly 12,100 sq ft. A brief presentation has been prepared to update the Council on progress and next steps related to the dog park.

Policy Council is concerned with the provision of community amenities.

Fiscal Impact Funding of $70,000 is in the FY 15 budget for dog park development.

Attachments Dog park update.

Recommendation To discuss progress and next steps.

Special Consideration

City staff began working on background information relating to the potential development of one or more dog parks in the late summer/early fall of 2013. City staff discussed potential locations and next steps for the development of one or more dog parks with Council most recently on May 19 2014 and June 2 2014. Six locations were evaluated. During the discussion with Council regarding the findings of the evaluations, two sites appeared to be easier and faster to develop than the others. Of these two sites, one site was selected to move forward with design and site work, the natural parkland portion of City-owned Heffner Park that is located at the end of the Darwin Avenue parking lot. For the June 2 Public Hearing, notice of the public hearing was made in a number of ways, including hand distribution of fliers at homes nearest the two top locations as well as via the City’s website, E-News and social media outlets. An article announcing the public hearing was on the front page of the May 29 Gazette newspaper.

Dog Park November 2014 Progress Report

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Takoma Park – Action to DateJune 2013 Takoma Dogs proposed Dog Park at City Council meetingAug - Sept 2013Site research/ analysis; City staff presented research on proposed

locations to City CouncilJanuary 2014 Site clean up of Heffner Park for MLK service day

City received letter of concurrence from State to use Program Open Space funds for dog park design/construction

April 2014 FY15 budget proposed with funds for design of dog park June 2014 City Council approved Heffner Park location July 2014 Site survey of land conducted by RK&KAugust 2014 Applied for funding via DNR Community Parks & Playground GrantSept - Nov. 2014 Worked with Takoma Dogs to finalize designNov - Dec 2014 Request for engineering analysis

3Dog Park – November 2014 Progress Report

Prop

osed

Des

ign

4Dog Park – November 2014 Progress Report

Prop

osed

Des

ign

Tree protection retaining wall

Low activity dog area

High activity dog area

Drainage

Drainage

Retaining wall

Retaining walls

5Dog Park – November 2014 Progress Report

Next Steps1. Bid for construction estimates (January/ February 2015)2. Evaluate cost proposals and propose any changes3. Council work session on cost estimates & final design

review 4. Execution date for construction

6Dog Park – November 2014 Progress Report

Program Open Space Update

1. City applied for and received letter of concurrence for Program Open Space funds in 2014. The Letter of Concurrence is not approval for a specific amount of funding. It only means that any money spent can be reimbursed via POS funds. 2. Due to economic recession in 2009 (and residual effects) MNCPPC is temporarily halting the municipal program and delaying County projects (FY2014 onward, seemingly). All POS money flows first through County level. They will continue to work on funding projects City submitted for approval prior (Colby Ave, Sligo Mill). 3. FY15 Budget

• City allocated $70,000 for design/construction• POS projected reimbursements of $52,500 (3/4) will likely not materialize

7Dog Park – November 2014 Progress Report

Outstanding Questions

? Mandatory Review – Montgomery County? Permits with MNCPPC for use of lot, curb cut out, etc. ? Engineering results - impact on cost and design

8Dog Park – November 2014 Progress Report

Discussion