LTC 089-2011 Status Update '' • f
[BEACH'
- Z 1 APB 18 FM 4V 28
OFFICE OFJHE CITY--MANAGER
LTA N0.089 -2011 i LE fEk ��� � SiON
:
TO:*"* Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez City Manager
DATE: April:18, 201.1:
SUBJECT:. Status Update.of the'North- Beach Dog -Park Project
The - purpose of this LTC is to provide you -with a status update on the. North Beach Dog Park
Project. As yo.0 are. aware, over the' past several our. residents'. requests. for dog parks
within the city has increased and our current inventory is challenged to' meet there. The
proposed ' North .Beach Dog Park would provide an off- leash area for residents to exercise -their
dogs within a contained area, while socializing with other dog enthusiasts.' Currently; the closest
access to this type of facility for the numerous dog owners in the` North Beach Area lies within.
Pi (45t and.Pin Dr.) i n Mid - Beach:
proposed project 'is funded , in the amount of $91,875,as part of- the adopted 2010- 2014.•
Capital Budget; Capital Improvement Plan dollars construction funds; $4,375
contingency- Quality of Life Fund).
J order to• determine the most suitable Location within the. North Beach Area of the City, the
Parks - and, Recreation Department, with the assistance .of .,Caroline .DeFreze.. _Community
Resource Coordinator, Office of. the City Manager,' contacted I representatives of the North
Beach community, including the North Beach Development Corporation and .the North Beach
homeowners associations. Mr. Daniel -Veitia also assisted thru the utilization" of his resident
database.
Last t August ann informal electronic survey', was conducted to help assess the residents'
preferred location for .the proposed dog park, along with other site amenities that might be
desired. We received 43 responses, and -the information: obtained was .quite informative. Several
site criteria .and amenity, desires were developed from this process, along with those from our
professional ex erience and ;research. Namely..
p
• . S pace: the proposed location requires adequate room. The American Kennel Club
(AKC) recommends a minimum of one . acre for off-leash. dog parks with - a
benchmark capacity.of 25 dogs per acre where possible:
• Centralized the site should be well within the North •Beach'Area.
Parkin :users want ade uate available arkin that would not tax existing p arkin g
q p 9
p atte rns.
• Pedestrian - friendly ADA sidewalk access and road crossing signals, that provide the
opportunity to walk the dogs to the facility were highly. desirous. ,
• Shade tree canopy" within and adjacent to the off- leash area, is - important to provide
temperature relief:
Page 2 of 2
NB Dog Park Project Update
Additionally, the list of requested samenities identified in the informal survey included: two
separate double gated enclosures, one for dogs under 25 lbs. and the other for larger dogs; dog
friendly seating benches; dog drinking fountains; trash receptacles;. dog waste stations; and
nearby restroom facilities. Skill and training equipment was also listed as a desire, but they were
not high demand items. .
On September 28, 2010, a publicly, noticed community meeting was held to review the outcome
of the informal survey results. During the meeting it was apparent that the majority of those
surveyed wanted the off -leash area to be located at either:
• The Southern entrance to North Shore Open Space Park (NSOSP) between 79th to 81 St
Street to the West of the Miami -Dade County Operations location; or
• The Dickens Avenue and 73rd Street site surrounding the existing Community Gardena
Based on the applied criteria, informal survey results and community meeting, North Shore Open
Space Park was deemed the better 'of the two locations. This Location can accommodate a dog
off- leash area of over 1.3 acres, allows for user parking, provides safe pedestrian access, is
shaded and restrooms are located nearby.
At this time the Parks & Recreation team has moved forward with. the. preliminary design phase
of the project, with a site _survey completed and preliminary . sketches of a conceptual dog off -
leash park plan in process.. This project would be designed and the construction managed in
house by the Parks and Recreation Department's Greenspace 'Management Division. Rhonda
Gracie, Landscape Projects Coordinator, will act as the Designer /Project Manager. We, are also
working, with the Planning Department to ensure the design meets their criteria. The
construction will . follow the receipt of all required approvals of final design. The physical
construction timeline is approximately 90 days from the final. approvals.
A Community . meeting to present the draft plan. and seek input and comments .from, our
residents is currently scheduled for 6:00 PM April 28, 2011, . at the North Shore Park and Youth
Center (See attached flyer).
The results of the Community meeting will be presented to the Neighborhoods /Community.
Affairs. Committee for a discussion and final direction.
Please advise if there are questions,- comments or concerns.
;J MG /H MF /KS /JO /rg
F: \rcpa \$ALL \Previous \KEV1N\LTC's 2010 -11 \LTC - North Beach Dog Park- update - Revised.docx
Attachment
c: Hilda M. Fernandez, Assistant City Manager
Kevin Smith, Parks & Recreation Director
John Oldenburg, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director
MEETING'NOT-ICE.
NORTH BEACH, DOG PAR, K
WHO.SHOULD ATTEND?
Residents interested . i n reviewing providing input to .the proposed plans for
the North Beach Dog Park. Residents will have the opportunity to provide input
regarding design site space planning; materials and amenities.
DATEG' Thu rsda Y p - A . ri1 28. 201 l
TIMEO 6:00 PM
North Shore ,Park & Youth Center
501 72nd Street
FOR,MORE INFORMATIO.NG,
Ci t of Miarni Beach
Parks and Recreation
Department Greenspace Management Division:
305.673.7730
To request thismaterial in accessible format, sign language interpreters, information on access for persons with disabilities and /or
any accommodations to review any document or- participate in any city- sponsor proceeding; please contact .305- 604 -2489 (voice)
or 305-673-7118 (TTY) five days in advance to initiate the request. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Services.