City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 08/06/13 Item Number: A-2
PRCS COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM:Consideration of a Recommendation to the
City Council Regarding Designating Certain Sidewalks/Walkways within Veterans’
Memorial Park as Dog Paths (as illustrated in Attachment A).
Contact Person/Dept.: Dan Hernandez,
PRCS Director
Phone Number: (310) 253-6655
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: (Postcard Mailing) Owners, Occupants and Businesses within a 500
foot radius of Veterans’ Memorial Park (extended to the end of the block where
appropriate; 734 postcards; 07/17/13); (Email) Subscribers of Culver City News and
Events, Parks, Recreation & Community Service Department Updates, Meetings and
Agendas – Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission, Senior Citizens
(07/18/13 and 08/02/13); (Website Posting) Culver City Highlights & PRCS Department
Homepage (07/22/13); (Cable Slide) Channel 35/37 (07/31/19 through 08/06/13); (Posted
Notices) Veterans’ Memorial Park (07/31/19 through 08/06/13).
Department Approval:Dan Hernandez
(07/30/13).
City Attorney Approval: N/A
Chief Financial Officer Approval: N/A City Manager Approval: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS)
Commissionconsider making a recommendation to the City Council regarding
designating certain sidewalks/walkways within Veterans’ Memorial Park as dog
paths (as illustrated in Attachment A).
BACKGROUND:
Culver City Municipal Code Relating to Dogs and Designated Dog Paths
For reference, the following is an excerpt of theCulver City Municipal Code relating
to the prohibition of dogs within Culver City Parks:
§ 9.10.055PROHIBITIONS
Within the limits of any public park it shall be unlawful for any person:
A. Having charge, care, custody or control of any dog, except as permitted
by § 9.10.400 or § 9.10.600, or other animal, fowl, or reptile to cause,
permit or allow the same to be within the limits of any public park within City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
the City, unless such person shall have obtained a special permit from the
City Council to conduct an entertainment or exhibition in which an animal
is a participant.
§ 9.10.400 relates to the Culver City Dog Park within Culver City Park; § 9.10.600
relates to the designated Pooch Paths within Culver West Alexander Park and
Culver City Park. § 9.10.600 is excerpted below:
§ 9.10.600 DESIGNATED DOG PATHS.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Code, a person may have
charge, care, custody or control of any dog upon the designated dog paths in
Culver West Alexander Park and Culver City Park; provided such dog is at all
times restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six (6) feet in
length, in the control of a competent person.
B. For purposes of this Section, DESIGNATED DOG PATHS shall mean the
pathways in Culver West Alexander Park and Culver City Park that are
identified by conspicuously displayed signs indicating that they are
DESIGNATED DOG PATHS, and where the pathways themselves are
marked with pictures of paw prints.
C. Nothing in this Section shall permit or allow any person having charge,
care, custody or control of any dog to permit or allow that dog to be in any
portion of any public park, except as permitted by § 9.10.400, other than on
the designated dog paths in Culver West Alexander Park and Culver City
Park.
The PRCS Commission’s Role in the Development of Designated Dog Paths
In its role as an advisory body on matters pertaining to parks, the PRCS
Commission has previously made recommendations to the City Council on both the
topic of allowing dogs in Culver City parks and on the creation of designated Pooch
Paths within the parks. At the February 9, 2009 meeting, the following action was
taken by the City Council:
THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CONTINUE THE EXISTING LAW AND
PRACTICES THAT DO NOT ALLOW DOGS IN PARKS, EXCEPT IN THE
CULVER CITY DOG PARK OR WHERE THERE IS A DESIGNATED DOG
PATH, AND AUTHORIZE STAFF AND PARKS, RECREATION AND
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION TO CONSIDER
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL FOR DESIGNATED DOG PATHS IN
OTHER PARKS WHEN A NEED IS IDENTIFIED, AS RECOMMENDED BY
THE COMMISSION.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Designating Sidewalks/Walkways within Veterans’ Memorial Park as Dog Paths
This Agenda Item is before the PRCS Commission because staff has noted that
conditions exist in Veterans’ Memorial Park that are similar to those that warranted
designated dog paths in Culver West Alexander Park and Culver City Park.
Specifically, it appears that many members of the public do not realize that
sidewalks within the Park are on park property (and are not public right-of-way) and
that walking dogs in these areas is prohibited just as it is in other areas of the park.
Therefore, dog walkers have no compunction about taking their dogs through the
park on the sidewalks, unwittingly violating CCMC Section 9.10.055(A). Designating
the sidewalks/walkways within Veterans’ Memorial park as dog paths will both
eliminate this type of misunderstanding and provide a convenience to the public. In
addition, it will further enable PRCS Department staff and Park Patrol to adequately
and appropriately enforce the “no dogs in parks” policy.
DISCUSSION:
An aerial view of the proposed dog paths within Veterans’ Memorial Park is provided
as Attachment A. These areas where chosen because community members often
take their dogs on leashes through the Park on these sidewalks/walkways. Staff
believes that allowing leashed dogs under the control of competent persons in these
areas will not disrupt the activities within the park or disturb park visitors.
As noted in the Public Notification section of this report, extensive public outreach
was done to notice this evening’s discussion; a map detailing the postcard mailing
area is provided as Attachment B. All public comment received by 5:30 p.m. on
Tuesday, July 30, 2013 regarding this issue is provided as Attachment C. Any
public comment received since that time will be placed on the dais for the
Commissioners and/or be read into the record at this evening’s meeting.The table
below summarizes the public comment detailed in Attachment C:
Designating Certain Sidewalks / Walkways
Within Veterans’ Memorial Park as Dog Paths Total
Support 1
Oppose 3
Should the PRCS Commission take action at this evening’s meeting to recommend
to the City Council that certain sidewalks/walkways within Veterans’ Memorial Park
become designated dog paths,staff will confer with the City Attorney’s office to
explore the feasibility of also presenting suggestionsto the City Council regarding
streamlining the procedure for designating dog paths (i.e. amending the Culver City
Municipal Code to allow for the establishment of designated dog paths by resolution
of the City Council). Regardless of any change in procedure; however, it is staff’s City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
recommendation that the PRCS Commission’s central role in the process of
designating dog paths continue (including public outreach, consideration, discussion
and recommendation to City Council).
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The postcard notification of this PRCS Commission Agenda Item cost approximately
$260.00 (excluding staff time). If, based on the Commission’s recommendation, the
City Council takes action to designate dog paths in Veterans’ Memorial Park, costs
associated with marking the route as a “Pooch Path” are expected to be
approximately $1,500.00 for signage, paint and stencils. It should be noted that
“paw prints” marking the dog paths will only be stenciled at the beginning, end, and
at random intervals within the designated sidewalks (as opposed to along the entire
route). Funds for this expenditure are available in PRCS Parks Division Account
10130300.514100 – Departmental Special Supplies. Staff time devoted to the
project will be approximately twenty (20) hours and will be posted to PRCS Parks
Division Account 10130300.411100 – Regular Salaries.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Aerial view of the proposed Pooch Paths at Veterans’ Memorial Park
B. Map detailing Public Notification postcard mailing area
C. Public comment regarding designating certain sidewalks/walkways within
Veterans’ Memorial Park as dog paths received by 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July
30, 2013.
MOTIONS:
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
1. Make a recommendation to the City Council to designate certain sidewalks /
walkways within Veterans’ Memorial Park as dog paths (as illustrated in
Attachment A);
OR
2. Provide staff with alternate suggestions.