HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 07/23/2001July 23, 2001
Vol. 36, Page 319
1 City of Petaluma, California
2 Minutes of a Special
3 .City Council Meeting
4
5 Monday, July 23, 20`01
6 Council Chambers
7
8 :...
9 ROLL. CALL 3:30 P:M.
10
11 Present: Vice Mayor Caller-Thompson., Healy, Maguire, Moynihan, O'Brien, Torliatt,
12 Mayor Thompson
13 Absenf: None
14
15 Assisfarit City Attorney Lisa Goldfien was. present...
16
17 PUBLIC COMMENT
18
19 Geoff Cartwright, 56 Rocca Drive, r,.ead from the final Environmental Impact Report.
20 (EIR) for t_he Water Supply and Transmission System and announced a July 24,
21 2001 meeting of the Sonoma County Board. of Supervisors to consider the appeal of
22 County Planning Commission's approval of the Shamrock Gravel Mining permit.
23 The. .:meeting will ,take place at 2:15. P.M. at 575 Administration, Drive Room 102,
24 Santa Rosa.
25
26 EMPLOYEE iSERVECE RECOGNITION AWARDS
27
28 Employee Service Recognition Awards to the. following:
29
30 Kenneth Burnett - 10 years
31 Robert Cochrane. - 20 years
32 Roy Toupin - 1"5 years
33 ,Peter Yung - 10 years
34 Tina Thomsen - 5 years
35
36 PROMOTIONS
37
38 Three Police Department''employees were recently promoted:
39
40 Promoted to .Captain: Shiiley Miller
41 Promoted to Lieutenant. Mike Cook,
42 Promoted t"o Sergeant: Joe Edwards
43
44 PRESENTATION
45
46 Sonoma County Assessor Jim Gallagher presented the Sonoma County Property
47 Assessment Roll Assessment-Roll for'P,etaluma'2001-2002.
Vol. 36, Page 320 July 23;,2001
1
2 PRO.CLAIVIATION
3
4 Mayor Tfornpson read 'a proclamation for Nati"onal Kds,Day, Sunday, August 5,
5 20,0:1.., and Council :Member Healy gaveCity of Petaluma pins to children attend'ing'
6 the meeting. ~ ~ ~~
7 ~ '.
8 ;EMERGEN,CY' MANAGEMENT TRAINING.
9
10 Council received Emergency ,Management `Traini'ng from community volunteer Bill
11 Dogle.
12 -
13 - RESO. 2001-129 N'.CS.
14 EMERGENCY_OPERATION"PLAN
1,5 _ ..
16 Resolution 2001-129 N.C:S. approving; `Emergency Operation Plan for the City of
17 Petaluma.
18
19 Ayes: Vice Mayor.Gader-Thompson, Healy; Maguire; `Moynihan, O'Brien, Torliatt;
2Q Mayor Thompson:
21 Noes: None
22 ,Absent' None
23
24
MINUTES -
25
26 The .minutes of March 4 and 18, 2000 were~approved as written. Council: Members:
27 Moynihan and O'Brien .abstained.
28
29 The minutes of February 24 ;and June 27, '2001 were, approved as writfen.
30
31 The minutes. ofi June; 25, 2001 were approved with -the addition of votes on
32 Commission appointments, and fhe word "respectively"changed to "respectfully"'on
33 page 3, line 22.
34
35 The minutes of July 9, 200'1 °were approved with the. following correction: page '4,
36 line 23, should read, "She Nice Mayor Cader=Thorn, psonJ supported sending. a letter
37 to the Sonoma .County Board of Supervisors opposing Shamrock. IVlateral's use
38 .permit, `until Council has held workshops and gathered more information on the
39 subject. "' ~ ~ -
40
41 Council: asked Ghat the minutes -for May 10 and May 21, 2001 be clarified and
42 brought back for approval.
43
44. Council Member Torliatt abstained'fr`om voting on the minutes of June 27, 200`1, as
45 she was not. presenf af;that meeting.
46 - ,
47 ~ r -
July 23, 2001
Vol. 36, Page 321
1 CONSEfNT CALENDAR
2
3 The following items, which are non-controversial and have been reviewed ,by the
.:
4 City Council and 'City' Management, were enacted in one motion.. introduced by
5 Council Member Maguire and seconded by Vice Mayor Gader-Thompson:
6
7 Ayes: Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson, Healy, Maguire, Moynihan, O'Brien, Torliatt,
8 Mayor Thompson.
9 Noes: None
10 Absent: None
11
12 RESO: 2001-1'.30 N:C.S.
13 MODIFYING THE APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT
14
15 Resolution 2001-130 N_.C.S. Modifying the Appropriations Limit for FY 200.0-
16 2001 and FY 2001-2002:
17
18 RESO.2001-1`31 IV:C.S. '
19 CONTRACT FOR THE "C" STREET STORM DRAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
20
21 Resolution 2001-131 N,C.S. Approving the Plans and Specifications Prepared by
22 Green Valley Consulting Engineers and Awarding the Contract for the "C" Street
23 Storm Drain Improvement Project to Bay Pacific Pipelines.
24
25 RES0:2001'.--1321V.C.S.
26 WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT
27
28 Resolution 20.01-132 N.C.S. Rejecting All Bids for the 2000-2001 Water Main
29 Replacement Project.
30
31 RESO. 2001-133 N:C.S.
32 SCRAPPED WATER METERS AS SURPLUS
33
34 Resolution 2001-133 N.G.S. Declaring Scrapped Water Meters as Surplus and
35 Directing, th'e City .Manager to Dispose of the Water Meters in Accordance with
36 Provisions of the Petaluma Municipal Code.
37
38 *****
39 The following. items were pulled from the Consent Calendar for Council discussion.
40 They were approved. in one motion introduced by Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson and .
41 seconded by Council Member Maguire. Council Member Torliatt abstained from
42 voting on the Caulfield Soundwall item.
43
44 Ayes: Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson, Healy; Maguire, Moynihan,. O'Brien, Torliatt,. .,
45 Mayor Thompson
46 Noes: None
47 Absent: None
48
Vol. 36, Page 322
July 23,:2001
1 ~ RESO.'2001-134, N.G.S.
2 CLAIMS AIVD BILLS
._
Resolution: 20.01-1.34 N,C:S. Approving Caaims and ,Bills. Council Member
Moynihan ,asked for clarification on a ,check. to ~ So1a Optical for .their water
conservation efforts, as he understood the company was to leave Petaluma.
(Response: Mr. Hargis .,pointed out that whatever company leased the space thaf
Sola will ~be vacating will continue tMe ..water conservation, thanks to Sola's efforts);
and to agendize discussion regarding efforts 'to limit litigation costs. (Response:
Risk Management is looking into this.)
RESO 2001 .1:35 N.C:S.
NON-RESI®ENTIAL OUTSIDE SANITARY SEWER SERVICE
Resolution 20,01-1:35: N.C.S: Allowing a. Non:Residential Outside ~$anitary Sewer
Service for Petaluma Golf and Country Club at 1..500 Country `Club Drive (APN 019-
220-033).
19 Council Member Torliatt asked the .diameter of the sewer Jne ,(Response; 4"), She
'20 also requested that the first sentence. of the resolution be amended fo read::: `to
21 include only connections for the clubhouse......." (Response: Council concurred).
22
23 Council Member Maguire asked if` specific water conservation. actions would be
24 required. (Response: The next step will be to draft a letter detailing water
25 conservation requirements:) He .also asked if ~#here was any concern about possible
26 INI (inflow/infiltration). (Response: No, since this is a fairly new sewer}:
27
28 STATU:S`~REPO:RT
29
30 Status Report Regarding the Payrao~ Flood Management Project. Council Member
31 Moynihan :asked to have this item removed from the agenda as he did not receive a
32 .status report in his packet:, (Response: Council Member Torliatt directed Council
33 Member Moynihan to the report).
~~ RESO. 2001-136` IV.C:S.
36 KELLERSTREET PARICIIVG :STRUCTURE=REPAIRS
37 .
38 Resolution 20.01-136 N.C.S. Approving Plans and Specifications Prepared by, Boyle
39 Engineering Corporation, Approving the Project Budget, and Awarding Contract for
40 -the I(ellerStreet Parking Structure :Repai'rs; Project No. 9993.
41
42 Council Member Torliatt noted that. this was a redevelopment budget. item and
43 _ asked if Council would have to approve it as the PCDC (Petaluma Community
44 Development Commission): (Response: City .Manager Stouder replied that if
45 needed, the item would be broughf before .the PCDC,)
46
July 23, 2001 Vol. 36, Page 323
1 RESO. 2001-1<36 N.C.S.
2 ICELLER STREET PARKING STRUCTURE REPAIRS, continued
3
4 She also noted some cost .overrun and changes in the contract. She asked if that
5 money would be coming from the CBD (Central Business District) as well.
6 (`Response: City Manager Stouder will come back to Council with that information).
7
8 RESO. 200.1-137 N.CS.
9 CAULFIELD LANE' SOUNDWALL PFIASE IV, PROJECT 9860
10
11 Resolution 2001-137 N.C.S. Approving the Plans and Specifications Prepared by
12 Public Facilities & Services Department and Awarding Contract for the Caulfield
13 Lane soundwall Phase IV, Project 9860.
14
15 Council Member Moynihan noted that he was not comfortable with property owners'
16 level of participation in this $367,000 program.
17
18 Vice Mayor Caller-Thompson .noted that the. residents had been waiting many years
19 for this soundwall and she wanted to move ahead with it.
20
21 Council Member Maguire described this as a "positive step that is less than perfect."
22
23 Council Member Torliatt mentioned a citizen's .request for a soundwall on Arlington.
24 She thought the request ,should be passed on to Caltrans. (Response; Vice Mayor
25 Caller-Thompson had spoken o Caltrans, and learned that a soundwall wilt be built
26 on Arlington when Highway 101 is widened.)
27
28 RESO. 2001 138 N.GS
29 WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM.
30
31 Resolution 2001-138 N.C.S. Authorizing ahe City Manager to Execute a
32 Professional Services Agreement with RMA Engineerir%g and Management, Inc., for
33 Development of th'e Capacity., Operation, Maintenance and Management Program;
34 to Maintain and Improve the Condition of the Wastewater Collection System and
35 Reduce Inflow/infiltration.
36
37 Council Member Healy asked if~the contract was sole sourced. (Response: Yes.)
38
39 Council Member Maguire asked for clarification of two different estimates for the
40 project included. in the staff report. (Response; The lower figure reflects the fact that
41 the City only pays fo_r work actually done.) He noted that 'the City of EI Cerrito has
42 de~e oiled a successful preventative maintenance program for their sewer system.
43
44 Council Member Moynihan noted that work on the pumps was completed last year.
45 He thought that stayed off the requirement for an extensive INI reduction program.
46 He asked. if it was necessary at this time, and if it could be handled in-house. He
Vol. 36, Page 324 _ ,July 23, 2001
1 RESO:. 2001=-1`38 IV:C'.S.
2 WASTEWATER COLLECTION ;SYSTEM, continued
3
4 also expressed concern about anticipated EPA. regulations. (Response: Thee
5 program is structured to assess and make repairs as needed, to protect the City's
6 $100.million asset. Effective maintenance results in reduced /Nl. Ideally, the work
7 would be done- in-house; Moweve,r, City employees do not have the time Ito do 'the
8 comprehensive work 5~eded. Regarding the' .EPA regulations; industry feeling is
9 that they willbe a reality and it is best to ,prepare ahead for this).
1p
11 ~ RESO'. 200:1,-1.39 N.C:S.
12 LUCCHESI SOCCER FIELD IMPROVEMENTS
13
14 Resolution 20.01-:139 N,G.S. Accepting Bid .and Awarding Contract to Union Pacific.
15 Construction in the Amount of $258,928 for Lucchesi Soccer f=ield
16 Improvements.
17
18 Council Member Torlia_tt noted that the bid was $108;000 over budget, and. asked if
19 other CLP projects would be affected. (Response: No) She also asked 'if the bid had
20 gone back to the Recreation, Music and Parks Commission. (Response: Yes.)
21
22 RfSO. 2001-1'40 N.C.S.
23 SHOLLENBERGER PARK RESTROOM
24
25 Resolution 2001-1.40 N.C.:S: Accepting Completion of 1Nork from West Coast
26 Confracting in the Amount of $71,436 #or the Shollenberger Park Restroorn.
27
28 Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson asked if the. portable toilet would be removed from the
29 park. (Response:. Yes. The company is ,being .called daily.)
30
31 PROPOSED ,AGENDA:
`32 MONDAY,.. AUGUST 6, 2001
'33
34 Council approved the proposed .Agenda for the Regular Meeting of Auguste 6,
35 2001, with the following additions/changes:
36
37 Presentation of Award-Winning Video by` Luis Hernandez, volunteer with :PGA.
38 • Receive more information: from staff regarding the ,professional services
39 agreements for Water Conservation Marketing and Evapotranspiration: (ET)
40 Pilot Program ~. "
41 • Remove the Bicycle Advisory Committee item from the agenda. _ .
42 -~
43
44
45 ******
46
July 23, 2001. Vol. 36, Page 325
1 WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM
2
3 (A) RESO.2001-141A N.C.S.
4 TEMPORARY SUMMERTIME IMPAIRMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
5
6 Resolution 2001-141A N.C.S. Declaring the Existence of a Temporary
7 Summertime Impairment of Water Supply and Requesting Customers to
8 Voluntarily Reduce Water Consumption.
9
10 (B) RESO.2001-141 B N.C.S.
11 PETALUMA WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR 20.01/2002
12
13 Resolution 2001-141~B N.C.S. Approving an Agreement for Funding and
14 Administration of the PetalumaW..ater Conservation Program for 2001/2002 with
15 the Sonoma County Water Agency:
16
17
18 (C) PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT:
19 WATER CONSERVATION MARKETING WITH COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY
20 TELEVISION
21
22 .Professional Services Agreement for Furnishing Materials and Services for Water
23 Conservation Marketing With Council for Community Television.
24
25 (D) PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT:
26 EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (ET) PILOT PROGRAM
27
28 Professional Services Agreement for Furnishing Materials and Services for
29 Evapotranspiration (.ET) Pilot Program with Network Services Corporation.
30
31 Several Council Members desired additional content and cost-effectives information
32 for the two professional services agreements (C and D).
33
34 Council Member Maguire moved,, seconded by Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson; to
35 adopt items A, B, and D, with more information regarding the cost-effectiveness of
36 item' D to come back to Council in memo form.
37
38 Ayes: Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson, Maguire, Torliatt
39 Noes: Healy, Moynihan, O'Brien,' Mayor Thompson
40 Absent: None
41
42 In a motion made by Council Member Maguire, seconded by O'Brien, Council voted
43 to approve items A and B.
44
45 Ayes: Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson, Healy, Maguire, Moynihan, O'Brien, Torliatt,
46 Mayor Thompson
47 Noes: None
48 Absent: None
Vol. 36, Page 326 July 23, 2001
1
2 ADJOURN
3
4 The meeting was adjourned:af 5.:4,0 P.M:.
5
6
7 ~ .
8 ~ ******
9 ~ J
10
11 RECONVENE 7;:00- P.M.
12
13 Present: Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson, Healy, Maguire, Moynihan, O'Brien, Torliatt,
14 .Mayor Thompson
15 Absent:. None -
16
17 Assistant CifyAttorney Lisa Goldfien .was present.
18
19 ~ _
20 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
21
22 At the request of Mayor Thompson, Dr. John Anderson led the Pledge of
-23 Allegiance.
24
25 MOMENT OF SILENCE
26
27 ~ ~ PUBLIC COMMENT
28
29 David Glass,. 41 Oxford Court, spoke in support of raising developer impact fees.
30
31 John Cheney, 55 Rocca Drive, requested a public hearing 6e scheduled regarding
32 Holmberg Roofing.
33
34 Kevin Callahan, 51 Rocca, thanked Council, Water Resources and Conservation
35 .Director Tom Hargis and City Manager Fred Stouder. for their hard work antl tireless
36 efforts on the Payran Reach Flood Control Project. He also spoke regarding
37 ongoing noise and weed problems on fhe Holmberg Roofing property.
38
39 CORRESPONDENCE
40
41 None
42
43
44
45
46 - ~ -
47
July 23, 2001 Vol. 36, Page 327
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COUNCIL COMMENTS, LIAISON REPORTS
Council Member Maguire:
• Concurred with Mr. Cheney and Mr. Callahan and asked City.Manager Stouder :.
to direct staff to determine if City noise ordinances are being violated.
Council Member Torliatt:
• .Asked for an update on the status of the Senior Citizen Center Expansion. City
Manager Stouder will provide a memo with that information.
Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson:
• Noted that Johnny Turner is retiring from the Police Department, and thanked
him for many years of service.
• Agreed that a public hearing should be held regarding the Holmberg property.
• Vacationed recently in .Arcata; where City Manager Houser escorted her on a
tour of their marshland, which is seven miles of trails and habitats. She hoped
Petaluma~could develop something similar when building a new sewer plant.
• Attended a reunion with her husband of the Petaluma High School and St.
Vincent's High School Classes of the 1960's. Fifteen hundred attended and she
thanked the Rotary Club, food vendors, and JoAnn Pozzi, who put the event
together and did a great job.
• Was pleased with the progress on the restoration of the Lynch Building, adding
that `phis is .what redevelopment is all about."
• Asked that 'the meeting be adjourned in memory of her neighbor, Charley
Anzore, a 51-year-old San Francisco police officer, who died of cancer last
week.
Council Member Moynihan:
• Attended the Library fundraiser on Saturday, July 21, and reported it a big
success. Money was raised for expansion of the Petaluma Library.
• Noted that the Traffic Committee, to which he is Council's representative, has not
met in 2~/2 yearn. He has heard from members of the community that they are
not happy about the way the City is handling traffic concerns.
PROCLAMATIOfV
Mayor Thompson read a proclamation regarding Russian River Cleanup Day,
September 22, 2001.
APPOINTMENTS
Recommendation to the Mayors' & Councilmembers' Association for Policy
Advisory Committee for the Solid Waste Management Alternatives Analysis
(Two Positions).
Vol. 36, Page 328 July 23, 2001
1 Mayor Thompson believed that this .had. already been done at the Mayors' and
2~ Councilrnembers', and Council concurred.
3 _
4 PUBLIC HEARING
5
6 RESO. 2001-142 N.C.S.
7 LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS
8
9 Re"solution 2001.-142, N.C:S: Setting of Assessments for' Fiscal Year 2001/2002
10 Landscape Assessment Districts Annual Assessments.
11
12 Ed Anehordoguy, Parks Maintenance Supervisor, described the process for
13 assessing the LAD's.
14
15 Council Member Torliatf stated that she would recuse herself from voting on the
16 Kingsfield Assessment District; due'to a conflict of interest.
17
18 PU,BLIG COMMENT
19
20 Hank Flum, 1721 Stonehenge Way, would ~ like the maintenance considerably
21 improved. in Sonoma Glen. An enormous amount of work was attempted., but. the
22 installation was poorly executed. There were ongoing problems with leaks., or
23 landscaping dying because the water was turned off. He thought the community
24 needed to be_ come involved.
25
26 Vice Mayor Cader=Thompson stated that it made no sense to have. LAD's if they .are
27 dying from over or underwatering: She asked Mr. Anehordoguy what could be-done:
28 (Response: The problem is being investigated. A neighbor may be pumping water
29 into the area.)
30
31 Introduced by Council Member Moynihan, seconded by Maguire.
32
33 Ayes: Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson, Healy, Maguire, Moynihan,: O'Brien, Torliatt,
34 Mayor Thompson (Torliatt abstaining on the Kingsfield LAD).
35 Noes: None
36 Absent: None
37 ;
38 NEW BUSINESS
39
40 RESO.2001-143 N.C.S.
41 OAK HILL. PARK
42
43 Resolution 2001-143 N.C.S. Accepting Recommendation of the Recreation, Music.:
44 & Parks Commission toRevise the Hours at Oak Hill Park When Dogs' May
45 Exercise Off Leash:
46~
47
July 23, 2001
Vol. 36, Page 329
1 RESO.2001-143 N.C.S..
2 OAK HILL PARK, continued
3
4 Parks and Recreation Director Jim Carr described the development of the City's
5 program which allows dogs to exercised off-leash at twelve of the City parks, the
6 letters received in September 2000 complaining about dogs in Oak Hill Park, and
7 the meetings the Recreation, Music and Parks Commission has held regarding the
8 complaints.
9
10 Council Member Maguire was pleased with most dog owners' responses to the
11 issues raised', but noted there were always some who, "would not play by the rules."
12 He wondered how it would be possible to effectively enforce the rules without
13 creating fights among citizens. ,(Response: Mr. Carr suggested that Animal Services
14 was very helpful, and that it was :important to solicit the. cooperation of those who
15 want to use that park). He also thought that. the noticing area for such issues should
16 be more than 300'.
17
18 Council Member Moynihan expressed concern about individuals loitering near the
19 bathrooms and, drinking.. He asked if the Police Department patrolled the area
20 regularly. (Response: If there are problems, patrol to the area can be increased.)
21
22
23 PUBLIC COMMENT
24
25 Craig Smith, 635 Baker Street, owns property on Howard and Pleasant Streets
26 urged Council fo consider all users of the park -especially property owners on the
27 perimeter of park.
28
29 Mary Crawford,. 1.2 Parkside Terrace, displayed a parcel map showing Parkside
30 Terrace is private property, and two more pages of petitions opposing dogs off
31 leash in Oak Hill'. Park, in addition to those Council received in their packets. The
32 Recreation, Music and Parks Commission recommendation reducing off-leash
33 hours from 112 to 100 per week was inadequate.
34
35 Jim Mobley, 143 Acorn Drive, Recreation, Music and Parks Commissioner regarded
36 this as, "one citizen's issue." The Commission has worked very hard to arrive at a
37 reasonable solution.
38
39 A.J.. Levis..,. 12 .Parkside Terrace, thought that meetings were inadequately noticed.
40 He complained. that he had not been paid for work he did for the City. He proposed
41 a sustainable fenced .area. for off-leash dogs. He felt that unleashed dogs excluded
42 others from using the park, and that a unique Oakland meadow was being
43 sacrificed. Things are not noticed adequately. He gets picked ori. Doesn't get paid
44 for work he did for Parks and Recreation Department. He urged Council to prohibit
45 off-leash, unfenced dogs in the lower area of Oakhill Park.
46
Vol. 36'; Page 330
July 23, 2001
~ RESO. 2001-143 N.C.S.
2 OAK HILL PARK, continued
3
4 PUBLIC COMMENT, con#nued
5
6 John Graham, former .resident of Stanley Lane, thought dog owners should have
7 right to enjoy their pets but not to intrude on other citizens.
8
:9 Connie Peabody, 325: Kuck Lane, former coordinator of Project Acorn restoration
10 project, which in 1992 and 1993, planted acorns and care for oak: saplings at Oakhill
11 Park. In the .last. two or three years she has seen lots of damage to the. trees. She.
12 encouraged Council to mediate use of Oakhill Park for all users without sacrificing
13 future oak groves.
14
15 Theresa Mahoney, 22 1Nooddale Drive, spoke in favor of a fenced area for dogs.
16 She ,has two young children and they can't walk in the park without stepping in dog
17 "mess. "
18
19 Peter Cohen, 315 Keokuk Street, thought children should be able to enjoy public
20 parks as he ;did as child' without fear of attack or bite. He understood there was .not
21 a lot of data on citizens being bitten.
22
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John Kinsella,. 532 ,Howard Street, spoke "in support of the Recreation., Music and
Parks Commission proposal. He .attended a number of their meetings and is
.convinced their unanimous vote on the matter reflects the community at large. He
thought the opposition to unleashed dogs in the park was, coming from a small
group. He participated in a recent voluntary clean up of the park. Only one dog'
"mess" was found, but there was a lot of trash around playground. He thought it
absurd to compare .house. pets with trained attack dogs. He saw it as an attempt to
polarize the community' into opposing, factions: He asked Council to consider
eliminating restricted hours on weekends.
32
33 Paul Strauss, address not given, thought dogs should be required to complete
34 obedience training before being allowed offi leash in the park.
35
36 Sheri Cardo; :501 Bryce Canyon Court, member of Animal Services Advisory
37 Committee, spoke regarding Petaluma's population growing human and. dog
38 population,. and the need for :more off-leash exercise areas. An exercised dog is a
39 good dog and less likely to be relinquished. to the Shelter. Every dog that remains in
40 the owner's :home saves the City money. She advocated a community group
41 enforcing good, dog .behavior. 'She thoughts the fenced-.area:. proposed by A:J. Leyis
42 was too small. She encouraged Council to either approve the Recreation, Music:
43 and Parks Commission's:•recommendation~or leave off-leash hours as they are:
44
45
46
July 23, 2001
Vol. 36, Page 331
1 RESO. 2001-143 N.C:S.
2 OAK HILL PARK, continued
3
4 PUBLIC COMMENT, continued
5
6 Elaine. Ramirez, 611 West Street, Recreation, Music and Parks Commissioner, said
7 #hat closure was needed for the. community, which is divided on this issue. She has
8 lived in the neighborhood for twenty-five years and the lower section of Oak Hill
9 Park has~riever looked better than it has the last seven years.
10
11 Andrew Hathaway, .440 Amber Way, encouraged Council to vote for the
12 recommendation of the Recreation, Music and Parks Commission. He noted that
13 many people, those who own dogs and those who do not, seem committed to
14 keeping the park an enjoyable place to be.
15
16 Chris Lyrich, 320 1Nalnut Street,. Site Plan and Architectural Review (SPARC)
17 member, and father of three .boys under age of five, uses the park quite a bit. He
18 noted that one of his sons is very afraid of dogs. Children should be completely
19 comfortable in the park. He did not like the idea of fencing the playground area.
20 Some dog owners appeared to be unclear on where dogs are allowed off-leash and
21 where they are not He asked dog owners to use peer pressure to insist that people
22 walk their dogs on-leash. when they are out of the off-leash area. He added that
23 better signage was needed, and he thought the hours on the weekend should be
24 more restricted.
25
26 Jim Power, 535 Laurel Street, walks his dog in Oak Hill Park every day, and
27 cherishes it. He implored Council to keep the 'park open to dog owners. He had
28 never seen a dog attack anyone there.
29
30 Stacy Larson, 324 Howard Street, has two small children, and is opposed to off-
31 leash dogs in an unfenced area. She believed that, "once the pressure was off"dog
32 owners would not behave responsibly.
33
34 Claire Jennings, 525 Oak Street, mother of five-year-old twins and a dog owner.
35 She was frightened by activities in the park bathrooms. She supported the park
36 remaining. open to off-leash dogs.
37
38 Kay Andre,. ,336 Cortez. Drive, owns a barbershop in West Petaluma. She lives in
39 East Petaluma ,but las, heard about the issue. When she acquired a puppy, a
40 neighbor infroduced her to Prince Park, and she #ourid it a great stress reducer,
41 both for her and her. dog. She thought Petaluma needed more areas where dogs
42 could run off leash. Dog owners need to remember that their dogs must be on leash
43 going to and from the park.
44
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46
Vol. 36, Page 332 July 23, 2001,
~ RESO.2001-143 N.C.S.
2 _ OAK, HILL PARK, continued
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4 PUBLIC COMMENT, continued
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7 David Griffin,. 420 .Howard, Street, moved to Petaluma .a gear ago from the East
8 Coast, and said. he, "started to hear grumblings -about a .neighbor who was giving
9 people a hard time about their .dogs." Throughout the process.; the individual's
10 claims of damage caused by dogs in the park have been debunked. He saw no
11 reason to compromise to make one family happy.
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13 Susan McEvers, 520 Howard Street, thought that having off-.leash hours for dogs
14 restricted would lead. to the parK becoming a .dangerous place:
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16 Michael Christie, 535 Maria Drive,, urged Council fo respect the recommendation of
17 the Recreation, Music and: Parks Commission. He has two dogs that get two. walks
18 per day, and thinks other parks in town need extended hours for off-leash dogs.
19 Parents and dog owners need to be responsible. He wished dogs and people could
20 coexist in all City parks.
21
22 Roberf Ramirez, 611 West. Street, gave Council a booklet called Friends of Oakhill
23 Park, which contained pictures. of dog owners in the park. He recommended a 1Neb
24 site, http://www.Dogpark:com; which contains a wealth of information about dog
25 parks. He believes Petaluma needs more dog park areas. Everyone involved with
26 this issue as worked extremely hard. to appease a very small .:number of people: He
27 saw no evidence fo suppo,rt the need. for any changes. He pointed out that many
28 dog owners can only use the park on weekends.
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30 Alan Sterling,. Walnut Street, takes his dog to the park, "so he can play with his
31 friends,"and supports Oak, Hill Park remaining open to dogs off-leash.
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33 Trish Kinsella,. 532 Howard Street., stated she is very tired of hearing about Oak. Hill
34 Park. but it does mean a lot to her and her family. At stake is a very vital community
35 of people who. come together to see each other and exercise #heir ,pets, She
36 emphasized that household. pets are not trained attack dogs, and added that no one
37 in the park need worry that, "Crazed poodles will jump out of the bushes" She
38 explained thafi she no longer goes to the park with. her daughter and dog becaase
39 she has been harassed by the neighbor who opposes off-leash .dogs in the park and
40 was frightened. She urged, .Council and the community to, "end this battle .and get
41 back to the business of using the. park."
42
43 Recess: 9:02 P.M.
44 Reconvene: 9'.t2 P.M.
45
46
July 23, 2001,
Vol. 36, Page 333
2 COUNCIL .COMMENT
3
4 Council Member O'Brien thanked everyone who came out on both sides of the
5 issue.
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7 Council Member Healy thanked everyone for- their patience in dealing with this
8 matter. He noted that he first became involved in City government because of an
9 issue yin his neighborhood.
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11 Oak Hill Park is the closest to his house, His kids have not.. had any issues with dogs
12 there, but he thought concerns expressed by those on both sides of the issue were
13 valid. He stated he would support the recommendation of the Recreation, Music and
14 Parks Commission. He believed that'the great majority of dog owners using Oak Hill
15 Park. were responsible and were obeying the rules. There were a small number of
16 dog owners who-:did not, and he was happy to hear that peer pressure was being
17 applied. He thought there might, be a` need for better signage. The wording on the
18 current signs is ``arguably ambiguous." He affirmed the Commission's decision and
19 suggested the issue come before them again in six to twelve months for review.
20
21 Council Member Torliatt stated that aside from the dog issue, she thought it good
22 that everyone in the neighborhood got to know .each other. She thought more
23 signage was needed. She supported the Recreation, Music and Parks
24 Commission's recommendation. She agreed that the matter should come before the
25 Commission again in six to twelve months. She thought it important to give
26 adequate notice for sensitive issues such as this one.
27
28 Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson noted that she is the Council representative on the
29 Recreation, Music and Parks Commission. She thought it positive that the issue
30 brought the community together. She pointed out that the neighborhood residents
31 had made a huge difference to Oak. Hill Park.. She supported the Commission's
32 recommendations. She understood that there was controversy about the hours
33 during which the Commission recommends dogs be allowed off-leash in the park.
34 This could be changed .later if the need became apparent. She believed. adequate,
35 consistent signage was very important in all parks. fettering on the signs should. be
36 large, and perhaps the wording should appear in more than one language. -
37
38 She stated that the City needs .more dog parks -Rocky Park has become very
39 crowded. She supported the idea of community bulletin boards in the City's parks.
40 She wanted the City to adopt a 500' noticing. policy. She did not support fencing the
41 playground. She hought if there were~continued debate aboutthis, a partial split-rail
42 fence would be a possibility. She added that 'it was important for dog owners to
43 remember that their dogs were to be on leash going to and from the park.
44
45 Council Member Maguire had heard lots of .good input from both sides. He was very
46 proud of the way the community had organized to address the issue. He wanted to
Vol. 36, Page 334 - July 23, 2001
' RESO. 2001-143 N.C.S.
2 OAK HILL PARK, continued
3 -
4 - COUNCIL COMMENT, continued
5 - .
6 (Council Member Maguire, continued)
7
8 see the `personality issues and .rudeness stop."He supported the Recreation,, Music
9 and .Parks Commission's recommendations. Clear,. precise signage is needed at the
10 entrance to the park and along the perimeter of the upper path. Dog owners need to
11 know that it is not o. k. to walk:. to and from the park.-with ..dogs off leash..
12 -
13 He noted that, "Justification and rationalization are one of the.human art forms."He
14 encouraged anyone having trouble. with dogs 'in~.the ,park to document, it and report
15 it. Oak Hill Park "could have something for everybody with a little bit of effort."
16 ,,
17 Council Member Moynihan also supported the Commission's recommendations. He
18 wanted to see. fencing reconsidered in six months.. He noted that peer pressure is a
19 .great tool. He encouraged the Commission to reevaluated hours for dogs off leash.
20 in all City parks - if more parks had extended hours,, dog owners-would not gravitate
21 to the: few that currently do.
22
23 Mayor `Tnompson thanked Mr. Carr .and Parks Maintenance Supervisor Ed
24 Anchordoguy and their staff for their time and effort on the issue, which. he added
25 was a "big, unexpected hit on the budgef."' He "thanked those on both sides of the
26 issue for coming. He supported the Recreation, Music and Parks Commission's.
27 .recommendations.. He wanted to see. a tim.elrie for signage. He thought the matter
28 should come back to the Commission in .six months for a progress report. Three or
29 four times over the next six months. he will. take his`dog to. the park; but will keep him
30 on .leash, because if he, "came home without a d_og, the] mightas .well not bother to
31 come home."
32
33
34 Ina .motion made kiy'Council Member Healy, seconded by Council Member O'Brien,
35 Council voted to adopt Resolution 2001-143 N.C.S. with the amendment that the
36 matter be brought before the Recreation, Music and Parks C'ornmission. in ix
37 months-time to determine if'the hours during which dogs are allowed off-leash in the
38 park are appropriate.
39
40
41 .
42 Ayes:. Viee Mayor Cader-Thompson,. Healy, Maguire, Moynihari, O'Brien, Torliatt,
43 Mayor Thompson ~ -
44 Noes: None - -
45 Absent: None
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July 23, 2001
ADJOURN
Vol. 36, Page 335 -
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 P.M.
E. Clark Thompson, Mayor
ATTEST:
Claire Cooper, Clerk Pro T
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