The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2018-01-22; Parks & Recreation Commission; ; 0118-4 POSSIBLE RELOCATION OF A FUTURE DOG PARK AT POINSETTIA COMMUNITY PARK Meeting Date: January 22, 2018 To: Parks & Recreation Commission From: Chris Hazeltine, Parks & Recreation Director Staff Contact: Kyle Lancaster, Parks Services Manager Subject: Possible relocation of a future dog park at Poinsettia Community Park Recommended Action Advise the City Council of the Parks & Recreation Commission’s support to pursue relocation of a dog park at Poinsettia Community Park in the segment of this community park initially envisioned for a multigenerational community center. Executive Summary The Aviara Community Park - Phase II Construction Project and the Poinsettia Community Park - Phase III Construction Project were designed together and intended to be bid as one unit. The design of the Poinsettia Community Park - Phase III Construction Project includes a dog park. During the bidding process, multiple residents, and representatives of homeowners’ associations, requested that the dog park not be constructed in the master planned location of Poinsettia Community Park. While staff was administering the designing and bidding of the Aviara Community Park – Phase II and Poinsettia Community Park – Phase III Construction Projects, staff was also conducting a feasibility study for a master planned multigenerational community center at Poinsettia Community Park. A multigenerational community center was ultimately found to be not feasible as envisioned at this community park. As a result, the segment of Poinsettia Community Park that was master planned for a multigenerational community center could be considered for other potential uses. Based on the findings of that feasibility study, and in response to the requests received from the public, staff recommended revising the Poinsettia Community Park – Phase III Construction Project plans and specifications to remove the dog park, and exploring its relocation to the segment of Poinsettia Community Park initially envisioned for a multigenerational community center. On September 12, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2017-185, approving the above action recommended by staff. Staff subsequently sought public input on the concept of relocating the dog park to the segment of the community park initially envisioned for a multigenerational community center. Based on the results of the survey, staff is recommending the Parks & Recreation Commission advise the City Council of its support to pursue relocation of the dog park to the segment of Poinsettia Community Park initially envisioned for a multigenerational community center. Discussion The Aviara Community Park - Phase II Construction Project plans included in the bid documents consist of a large passive outdoor community gathering space with a stage, individual picnic areas, and a group picnic shelter that contains restrooms and a catering support room. The Poinsettia Community Park - Phase III Construction Project plans included in the bid documents consist of a dog park - with separate areas for large and small dogs, a multi-sports arena field, a new larger playground - with equipment for two age groups, and six pickleball courts. The receipt of public input occurred throughout the development of these projects, beginning with stakeholder interviews and open public meetings for these parks in 2014. This early public input contributed to the development of the Aviara Community Park and Poinsettia Community Park Master Plan Updates, from which the projects were designed. The projects were designed together and intended to be bid as one unit, in order to take advantage of soils export/import needs associated with the respective amenities; the close proximity of the parks; and the available economies of scale in construction. On Sept. 27, 2016, the City Council approved the contract documents, plans and specifications for the Aviara Community Park - Phase II and Poinsettia Park - Phase III Construction Projects (Capital Improvement Program Nos. 4604 and 4605), and authorized the City Clerk to advertise the projects for public bidding (Resolution No. 2016-199). On October 7, 2016, the projects were advertised for bids. On Nov. 10, 2016, three bids were received for the projects. All three bids were subsequently determined to be non-responsive. On Jan. 10, 2017, the City Council rejected the bids and approved of staff’s recommended action to revise the bidding provisions/forms, extend the advertisement period, and re- advertise the projects for bids (Resolution No. 2017-005). On Feb. 2, 2017, the projects were re-advertised for bids. On March 21, 2017, seven bids for the projects were received. After the apparent lowest bidder withdrew its bid, the next lowest responsive and responsible bid received was in the amount of $6,797,556. During the bidding process, multiple residents, and representatives of home owners’ associations, requested that the dog park not be constructed in the master planned location of Poinsettia Community Park. The master-planned location is a grass-laden drainage detention basin, referred to as “the grassy bowl” by many of the requestors. The predominant reason for the requests to not construct the dog park in the master planned location was the desire to leave “the grassy bowl” as an unstructured play area. While staff was administering the designing and bidding the Aviara Community Park – Phase II and Poinsettia Community Park – Phase III Construction Projects, staff was also conducting a feasibility study for a master planned multigenerational community center at Poinsettia Community Park, titled “Big Idea No. 1.” On Aug. 1, 2017, the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Senior Commission jointly accepted the findings of that feasibility study. On Aug. 22, 2017, the City Council accepted the findings of that feasibility study (Resolution No. 2017-172). In specific, the resolution states: “…while a smaller facility; i.e. 35,000 square foot or less, could certainly be possible at Poinsettia Community Park, it is not recommended since it does not fulfil the intended vision of the Big Idea in serving the community’s diverse needs to the greatest possible extent at this site…” “…with Poinsettia Community Park deemed not to be a feasible site for a multigenerational community community center as envisioned, the same segment of the park can now be considered and studied for other potential uses…” Based on the findings of that feasibility study, and in response to the requests received from the public, staff recommended revising the Poinsettia Community Park – Phase III Construction Project plans and specifications to remove the dog park, and exploring its relocation to the segment of Poinsettia Community Park initially envisioned for a multigenerational community center. In conjunction with that recommendation, staff also recommended the rejection of all bids received for the Aviara Community Park – Phase II and Poinsettia Park – Phase III Construction Projects. On September 12, 2017, the City Council approved the above actions recommended by staff (Resolution No. 2017-185). Staff subsequently re-engaged the design team to revise the Poinsettia Community Park – Phase III Construction Project plans and specifications to remove the dog park. Staff also subsequently sought public input on the concept of relocating the dog park to the segment of the community park initially envisioned for a multigenerational community center. From Oct. 31, 2017 – Nov. 30, 2017, staff solicited public input on this concept via a two question survey. The two questions in the survey were: Q1. Do you support this possible location for a dog park? Q2. Why or why not? The survey was distributed to those who signed up to receive city email notifications, through a list of key stakeholders, mailers to 3,249 owners and occupants living in the area around the park, and promoted through the city website and social media channels. 619 responses to the survey were received online. Input was also solicited from park patrons and neighbors during on-site visits at Poinsettia Community Park on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 - from 4 to 6 p.m., and on Saturday, Nov. 18 - from 9 to 11 a.m. Approximately two dozen individuals provided verbal feedback to staff, and all of them were invited to respond to the survey online, or on-site. 12 responses to the survey were received on-site. In addition to the above responses to the survey, 44 individuals responses were received via social media and 3 responses were received via email. A total of 678 responses to the survey were received. Of the 678 responses to the survey received, three individuals skipped Question No. 1, leaving 675 responses to this question. The results were as follows: Q1. Do you support this possible location for a dog park? Answer # of Responses % of Responses Yes 526 80 No 149 20 Total 675 100 Of the 678 responses to the survey received, 101 individuals skipped Question No. 2, leaving 577 responses to this question. The significant themed results were as follows: Q2. Why or why not? Support for possible relocation of a dog park • Dog friendly community; dog park very welcome • A place to help dogs learn socialization with people and their dogs • Needs for a dog park; large population of dogs • Much better than previous proposed location; responsive to resident input • Close to the street and away from kids’ playing areas • Close proximity to parking lot; dogs do not need to be walked across the park • Less impact to the whole park; not near the playground • Near entrance and level ground; away from the grass area where children play Opposition to possible relocation for a dog park • Impossible to play in a clean park; dogs are allowed to play everywhere • Dog park should not be in the community park; dog owners in area are irresponsible • Posted that dogs are not allowed in the community park, but there’s no enforcement • People walk their dogs off-leash; dogs chase birds and make messes on grass/play areas • Parking and traffic to/from community park is overwhelming, with sports and events • Lack of parking now; dog park congestion would push traffic into local neighborhoods • Location should be used for more pickleball courts; reserve for expansion of courts Input from this survey should be considered in a similar way to input received during public comment at a City Council meeting, during a public workshop, or provided via email to city staff. Due to the manner in which survey participants were identified, the survey sample may not be representative of all project stakeholders. As a result, unlike a scientific study, the responses cannot be generalized to the larger population with a known margin of error. Based on the results of the survey, staff is recommending the Parks & Recreation Commission advise the City Council of its support to pursue relocation of the dog park to the segment of Poinsettia Community Park initially envisioned for a multigenerational community center. If the City Council concurs with the recommendation, staff would prepare documents to amend the Poinsettia Community Park conditional use permit, and master plan, reflecting the dog park located in the subject segment of this community park. Staff would then seek approval of those documents from the Planning Commission and the City Council, respectively. If those documents are approved, staff would then administer the designing of a new capital improvement program project for the dog park to be located in the subject segment of this community park. These processes would be carried out separately from the bidding and construction of the other amenities presently master planned for the Aviara Community Park - Phase II and Poinsettia Community Park - Phase III Construction Projects. Exhibits 1. Public input survey for possible relocation of a dog park at Poinsettia Community Park EXHIBIT 1 Background The City of Carlsbad has decided not to build a new dog park in the central area of Poinsettia Park. A location has recently become available just to the south of the main entrance of Hidden Valley Road (see map), where a community center was previously proposed. Previou sly Proposed Location Possible New Location (_ City of Carlsbad Input Wanted The City of Carlsbad is seeking input from park users and neighbors on this possible location for a dog park. Visit www.carlsbadca.gov/input or scan the code below to answer this question: Do you support this possible location for a dog pa rk? Why or why not? www.carlsba dca.gov/input Quest ions/More Information 760-434-2826 parksandrec@carlsbadca.gov (_ City of Carlsbad 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 www.carlsbadca.gov Prsrt Std U.S. Postage PAID Permit #1488 Carlsbad, CA