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Written CommunicationsPRC 09-05-19 #2 Jollyman Park Unfenced Dog Off-Leash Area (DOLA) Trial Survey Results Written Communications 1 | www.opentownhall.com/7693 Created with OpenGov | September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area Trial Period September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM Contents i. Summary of responses 2 ii. Survey questions 8 iii. Individual responses 10 PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 Summary Of Responses As of September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM, this forum had: Topic Start Attendees:795 July 29, 2019, 11:44 AM Responses:618 Hours of Public Comment:30.9 QUESTION 1 Is your household located within City of Cupertino limits? % Count Yes 90.9% 562 No 9.1% 56 QUESTION 2 How far do you live from Jollyman Park? % Count Adjacent 7.8% 48 Within 2 blocks 18.1% 112 Within 1/4 mile 14.2% 88 Within 1/2 mile 12.0% 74 Within 1 mile 21.0% 130 Farther than 1 mile 26.9% 166 2 | www.opentownhall.com/7693 Created with OpenGov | September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area Trial Period Give us your feedback on a proposed 10-month trial off-leash dog area. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 QUESTION 3 Do you visit Jollyman Park? % Count Yes, frequently 53.1% 328 Yes, occasionally 36.2% 224 No 10.7% 66 QUESTION 4 What time of day do you typically visit Jollyman Park? % Count Early morning 6.5% 40 Mid-morning 6.8% 42 Mid-day 5.3% 33 Early evening 31.1% 192 Late evening to dusk 39.8% 246 I do not visit Jollyman Park 10.5% 65 QUESTION 5 What types of activities do you enjoy at Jollyman Park? (Choose up to three) % Count Recreational Play 20.9% 129 Playground 20.1% 124 Sports/Fitness 19.3% 119 3 | www.opentownhall.com/7693 Created with OpenGov | September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area Trial Period Give us your feedback on a proposed 10-month trial off-leash dog area. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 % Count Walking 59.9% 370 Walking with dogs 64.1% 396 QUESTION 6 Do you or someone in your household own a dog? % Count Yes 69.7% 431 No 26.9% 166 Prefer not to state 3.4% 21 QUESTION 7 Would you take your dog(s) to the Jollyman Park Off-Leash Area and run them off leash if the proposal is implemented? % Count Yes 66.2% 409 No 6.8% 42 Not sure 3.9% 24 I do not own a dog 23.1% 143 QUESTION 8 Do you feel the location of the proposed dog off-leash area is appropriate? 4 | www.opentownhall.com/7693 Created with OpenGov | September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area Trial Period Give us your feedback on a proposed 10-month trial off-leash dog area. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 % Count Yes 75.2% 465 No 17.3% 107 Not sure 7.4% 46 QUESTION 9 What days of the week would you most likely take your dog to the off-leash area? % Count Weekdays: Monday - Friday 15.7% 97 Saturdays 5.5% 34 Sundays 2.6% 16 Every day 42.7% 264 Not sure 6.6% 41 I do not own a dog 26.9% 166 QUESTION 10 What time of the day would you prefer to take your dog to the off-leash area? % Count Early morning 16.8% 104 Mid-morning 11.2% 69 Early evening 26.9% 166 Late evening to dusk 45.1% 279 5 | www.opentownhall.com/7693 Created with OpenGov | September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area Trial Period Give us your feedback on a proposed 10-month trial off-leash dog area. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 QUESTION 11 Based upon your knowledge of park use and this proposal, do you support establishing the dog off-leash area on a trial basis at Jollyman Park as proposed? % Count Yes 78.0% 482 No 19.6% 121 Not sure 2.4% 15 QUESTION 12 What is your greatest concern about having off-leash hours at Jollyman? (Choose up to three) % Count No concerns 51.5% 318 Safety 26.2% 162 Dog conflicts 20.1% 124 Dogs getting loose 21.7% 134 Noise 3.2% 20 Overuse 5.2% 32 Field conditions 6.5% 40 Cleanliness 25.1% 155 Other 7.1% 44 QUESTION 13 I don’t fully support the dog off-leash trial but in the spirit of community and cooperation, I would be o.k. with running the trial during these times: 6 | www.opentownhall.com/7693 Created with OpenGov | September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area Trial Period Give us your feedback on a proposed 10-month trial off-leash dog area. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 % Count Early morning 12.1% 75 Mid-morning 4.9% 30 Early evening 2.9% 18 Evenings - close to dusk 9.5% 59 I fully support the trial 70.6% 436 QUESTION 14 Please share any additional comments. We want this to be a positive endeavor for the entire community, your feedback is important to us! Answered 232 Skipped 386 QUESTION 15 Please provide your email if you would you to receive updates regarding this issue. Answered 215 Skipped 403 7 | www.opentownhall.com/7693 Created with OpenGov | September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area Trial Period Give us your feedback on a proposed 10-month trial off-leash dog area. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 Survey Questions QUESTION 1 Is your household located within City of Cupertino limits? • Yes • No QUESTION 2 How far do you live from Jollyman Park? • Adjacent • Within 2 blocks • Within 1/4 mile • Within 1/2 mile • Within 1 mile • Farther than 1 mile QUESTION 3 Do you visit Jollyman Park? • Yes, frequently • Yes, occasionally • No QUESTION 4 What time of day do you typically visit Jollyman Park? • Early morning • Mid-morning • Mid-day • Early evening • Late evening to dusk • I do not visit Jollyman Park QUESTION 5 What types of activities do you enjoy at Jollyman Park? (Choose up to three) • Recreational Play • Playground • Sports/Fitness • Walking • Walking with dogs QUESTION 6 Do you or someone in your household own a dog? • Yes • No • Prefer not to state QUESTION 7 Would you take your dog(s) to the Jollyman Park Off-Leash Area and run them off leash if the proposal is implemented? • Yes • No • Not sure • I do not own a dog QUESTION 8 Do you feel the location of the proposed dog off-leash area is appropriate? • Yes • No • Not sure QUESTION 9 What days of the week would you most likely take your dog to the off-leash area? • Weekdays: Monday - Friday • Saturdays • Sundays • Every day • Not sure • I do not own a dog QUESTION 10 What time of the day would you prefer to take your dog to the off- leash area? 8 | www.opentownhall.com/7693 Created with OpenGov | September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area Trial Period Give us your feedback on a proposed 10-month trial off-leash dog area. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 • Early morning • Mid-morning • Early evening • Late evening to dusk QUESTION 11 Based upon your knowledge of park use and this proposal, do you support establishing the dog off-leash area on a trial basis at Jollyman Park as proposed? • Yes • No • Not sure QUESTION 12 What is your greatest concern about having off-leash hours at Jollyman? (Choose up to three) • No concerns • Safety • Dog conflicts • Dogs getting loose • Noise • Overuse • Field conditions • Cleanliness • Other QUESTION 13 I don’t fully support the dog off-leash trial but in the spirit of community and cooperation, I would be o.k. with running the trial during these times: • Early morning • Mid-morning • Early evening • Evenings - close to dusk • I fully support the trial QUESTION 14 Please share any additional comments. We want this to be a positive endeavor for the entire community, your feedback is important to us! QUESTION 15 Please provide your email if you would you to receive updates regarding this issue. 9 | www.opentownhall.com/7693 Created with OpenGov | September 3, 2019, 8:28 AM Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area Trial Period Give us your feedback on a proposed 10-month trial off-leash dog area. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 1 This is a half cooked proposal. Either have a fully fenced solution or not allowing unleashed dogs there. 2 Dog parks are an excellent way for communities to bond. I've met some of my best friends as our dogs played at a dog park in another city. I live near Jollyman Park, and my neighborhood is surprisingly antisocial. A dog park should help provide some social lubricant. 3 I think this trial is a great idea and I really hope that it generates a positive response from the community. 4 I live just over the border of a neighboring city but would love to see off-leash hours in early AM as well as early evening. Thank you for sharing the park - our dogs need to run, socialize and learn behavioral norms! 5 I liked the idea when discussed over 10 years ago, and I still like it. I hope the trial goes well and the idea is expanded to all City parks 6 During mid-morning, the proposed off-leash area is not being used, especially during school time. I suggest mid-morning be allowed off-leash too. 7 I think this is a great initiative. Perhaps cordoning off a part of the field with some kind of short fencing would also be great, just in case a novice dog doesn't go running to areas where people walk or kids play. 8 Thank you for trying to get this through again. We've been hoping for this for years! :) 9 In San Jose, the area for off-lease is split into small dog and large dog areas that are separated. I prefer this split area as I have smaller dogs 10 This would be so great for my dog! 11 We bring small children to the park and safety is a huge concern for us. Any off-leash area needs to be within an enclosure. 12 I support trial period. It's about time that dog owners have some use of the parks instead of only child concerns. 13 Not Safe for Kids playing 14 Any specific complaints should be handled by a city worker 15 Please make sure the poop filled bags get picked up daily. Nothing would tick off the neighbors more than a smelly dog run. Also, I would suggest putting the dog run in a more open area so that it isn't on the other side of the fence of a resident. 16 This dog park would alleviate the stress a lot of dog owners feel about finding ways to exercise their dog. A lot of dogs have so much energy that taking them on a measly walk will do them no good. Having a park ”like Jollyman” where there is a designated off-leash area for dogs would be perfect. Allowing the dogs to expend their energy and keep everyone safe. 17 I think it is worthwhile to have shared community off leash areas in neighborhoods - social gatherings for dogs and people. 18 My son, and other kids, and I use the baseball field to practice. The dog owners often congregate near the field. They look bothered that we want to play on the field while their dogs are there. It's the only time we have to practice, (early evening). They should move away from the baseball field. 19 I live near other off-leash areas, so want to share my experience. Please be sure the area chosen has barriers to keep the dogs off-leash contained. For their own safety, and also for safety of those walking dogs on-leash nearby that do not want their dog harassed. I witness dogs running all over outside our un-fenced areas and am forced to walk my dog on-leash far away, yet still have occasional encounters. 20 20,000 people are killed by dogs annually in India (largely from rabies). We need to educate everyone that dogs here are safe. 21 Please start the trial as soon as possible! 22 I'm not sure that people living further away would drive to Jollyman for the off-leash area. I see off-leash dogs all the time at Hoover, especially in the evenings. This is an issue if an off-leash dog approaches an on-leash dog. I have fallen at Hoover when my on-leash dog was approached by an off-leash one when my dog started to chase the other dog with her leash wrapped around my legs. 23 They should section the area, one for small dogs and the other one is for big dogs. 24 As a new dog owner, I have been meeting more people in our community by taking our dog to the park. The off leash area will definitely build more of a community feel. 25 Thank you for trying to accommodate all Cupertino residents - I appreciate this community being inclusive. 26 We definitely need more off leash areas for dogs. 27 If dogs are allowed off leash, there must be enforcement of the rules or that area of the park will become unsuitable for other use. Dog owners can find dog parks to have pets go off leash 28 I dont support setting an off-leash dog park due to safety concerns. We have small children who play at park everyday. Jollyman is a heavily used park.Having dogs off-leash is a real concern. Will the city be responsible if anything untoward happens due to off-leash dogs. Comments Received (Proposed Dog Off-Leash Area Trial Period) PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SUCCESSFUL OFF-LEASH DOG EXERCISE AREAS Produced by: Program in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine Center for Animals in Society School of Veterinary Medicine 1 Shields Avenue Davis, California 95616 vetbehavior@ucdavis.edu Director: Benjamin L. Hart, DVM, Ph.D., DACVB Co-directors: Melissa J. Bain, DVM, DACVB Lynette A. Hart, Ph.D. Sponsor: Rathmann Family Foundation RFFoundation@aol.com GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SUCCESSFUL OFF-LEASH DOG EXERCISE AREAS General Comments There are many perspectives and types of information that need to be taken into consideration when developing and managing off-leash dog parks that are successful in terms of harmony with the surrounding community as well as with the park users. Community support and involvement is integral to this process, especially in promoting a harmonious relationship with the neighbors of the park. Maintenance, along with the proper selection of a location, is essential in the continued success of a park. Indeed, our research, based on a study of 17 off-leash dog parks, profiles maintenance of the park as probably the single most important determinant of success. Although our research did not show a statistically significant correlation of dog park club involvement and perceived success, the correlation was positive. Managers of parks repeatedly stressed the importance of an active dog park club, and we strongly recommend that these clubs be involved in the planning process, as well as helping to maintain an ongoing relationship with the management of the park. The lines of communication must remain open between the municipality or organization managing the park and the community to promptly address actual or perceived problems, and to profile the benefits that a dog park can bring to the community. Under various headings below, we describe suggested guidelines that should be considered in establishing and managing an off-leash dog park. The specific recommendations are a reflection of conclusions from data analysis of our study of off-leash dog parks, as well as a reflection of repeated comments from interviewed managers and park users. The topics discussed first involve the primary concerns expressed by community officials, namely safety to humans and other dogs, noise generated from a concentration of barking dogs, and sanitation problems from the build-up of feces. As it turns out, these concerns do not represent the issues deserving of the most attention, because problems in these areas appear to be relatively infrequent, at least in the dog parks that we visited. Some community decision-makers and park managers mentioned a concern about possible disturbance of wildlife or native plants. Our study focused mainly on urban parks and disturbance of wildlife in these parks did not appear to be an issue. This topic could be addressed in a study that includes more parks established within natural reserves or nature areas. Finally, in the way of general comments, we strongly encourage communities seriously considering establishing or modifying a dog park to retain a professional consultant knowledgeable in helping to prevent and resolve problems or concerns about off-leash parks. Safety Park managers and community officials ranked the safety of people and dogs as a primary concern in dealing with dog parks. However, our study, as well as those conducted elsewhere, reveal that injuries to people and dogs from dog bites at legal off-leash areas are rare. One possible reason for the low risk of a dog bite may be that park users almost always do not bring dogs that are likely to bite other dogs or people. However, overly assertive, overly unruly, and undersocialized dogs can negatively impact the behavior and welfare of other dogs visiting the park. To help ensure that this does not become an issue, the following suggestions should be implemented: 1. Overtly aggressive, overly assertive, overly unruly, and undersocialized dogs should be discouraged from visiting the parks. Park users should be educated in the signs that dogs display when performing these behaviors. While not aggressive to the point of fighting with other dogs, a dog that displays these types of behaviors can cause other dogs to become excessively fearful. 2. Park users should be discouraged from bringing young puppies or fearful dogs to parks, as they may be made more fearful by highly assertive dogs, highly interactive dogs, or rough play. A fearful dog may snap or bite as a way of defending itself, and perhaps develop problems that can be seen outside of the confines of a dog park. 3. The park users must have their dog under voice control. 4. Children should always be closely supervised by a responsible adult. 5. Owners should carry their leash on them at all times. 6. One activity for a dog park club is to help monitor interactions between dogs and other dogs and between dogs and people. The best option for an organization is to obtain indemnification from potential liability from their local government. If a local government has this sort of expectation from a dog park user group, then the governmental entity should be required to indemnify the group and absorb any legal liability (and legal costs) that might ensue. Noise This is another frequently mentioned concern of community officials. The noise level at parks invariably increased over baseline in the area of the highest concentration of activity during peak use. The degree that the surrounding community will notice this depends upon the degree to which the noise level potentially reflects an increase in ambient noise from such things as noise from increased automobile traffic. It should be kept in mind that sound level declines exponentially with distance from the source of the sound. Our research revealed no correlation approaching significance between the increase in noise level at dog parks during times of heavy use and ranking of park success. In park locations where noise from dogs may be an issue, we suggest the following: 1. Do not establish a dog park immediately adjacent to residential property lines. 2. If the dog park must be located immediately adjacent to residential property lines, create sound buffers with plants, fencing or earthen berms if needed. 3. If an established park shares a border with residential property lines, move the area of heaviest usage away from that boundary. Sanitation This is the third most highly profiled concern of community officials and park managers. However, our study found no significant correlation between fecal counts and success. The absence of a correlation may indicate a rather low occurrence of residual fecal droppings in parks. The median was 1 fecal dropping per 100 square meters (120 square yards). Clearly almost all users of dog parks are conscientious about picking up after their dogs. We did find a correlation between the number of signs reminding users to pick up after their dogs and a lower fecal count. The posting of signs highlighting the rule of picking up feces appeared to be more important than the number of refuse cans available – as long as the cans were accessible and not overflowing. To help assure compliance with community expectations of a clean park, we suggest the following: 1. Plan and budget for an appropriate maintenance and cleaning schedule, done by the municipality or organization managing the dog park. 2. Place signs stating the rules at the entrance(s) to the park, as well as within the park, profiling the rule that owners must pick up the feces of their dogs. Be sure that the signs are well maintained. 3. Provide adequate disposable bags, or other means of removing feces, and refuse cans for feces cleanup. 4. Suggest that an active dog park club help monitor the sanitation of the park. Location Our research indirectly points out the important role that the location of a park can have in its perceived success. In some instances, good use may be made of areas that are not in high demand for human-only use. As an extreme, one park was located underneath a freeway. In other instances, a location previously used by transients was upgraded as a community resource by the presence of off- leash dog use. The establishment of a well-maintained and responsibly-used dog park may actually improve the value of some neighborhoods. Another benefit for a well-located park, according to park managers, is that the availability of an off-leash park reduced the tendency for people to allow their dogs off-leash in areas where it is not legal. Park size is important. We found a correlation between the size of the park and ranking of park success, with larger parks being ranked as more successful. Even for parks less than 3 acres, the larger the better. If everything else is equal, choose the larger of 2 possible locations. As observed by our study investigators, and verified by the manager interviews, it was not uncommon for users to allow their dogs off-leash when coming to or leaving a dog park, even though there were rules against allowing dogs off-leash away from the park. Locating a park close to convenient parking spaces for cars may reduce or eliminate this problem. The following are specific suggestions regarding location: 1. The size of the park should be as large as feasible. However, the municipality or organization managing the park needs to be able to adequately maintain the space. 2. Utilize alternate or nontraditional locations, if needed, to help decrease the chance for conflict with other community users. 1. Locate the park so that it is not directly adjacent to residential property lines, to help decrease the chance of actual and perceived problems between park users and the neighbors. However, the park should be close enough to a residential area that dog owners will take their dogs to the park and not allow them off-leash elsewhere. 2. Provide adequate parking for the dog park users, as most users (95%) drive to them. In addition, locate the off-leash area close to the parking lot as possible to discourage owners letting their dogs off-leash between the dog park and parking. 3. If applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must be taken into consideration. Maintenance If asked about the three things that influence how well an off-leash dog park works, one could answer maintenance, maintenance, and maintenance. This is a factor that proved to significantly correlate with ranking of park success, regardless of park size or whether dog-exclusive or multiple-use. The bottom line is that before establishing on an off-leash park, the community must plan ahead and commit resources for maintenance. The monetary costs and time for maintenance should be budgeted and taken into consideration prior to approval of the park. The factors that are part of maintenance include, but are not limited to, are: frequency of emptying refuse cans; re-supplying disposable plastic pick up bags; replacing or fixing broken, bent, or weathered signs displaying rules; filling holes dug by dogs; irrigation and maintenance of vegetation and turf; repairing fencing. Maintenance also includes cleaning restrooms and other park user amenities, such as benches. One perspective is that, as in reducing the occurrence of graffiti in urban areas by promptly removing graffiti, promptly removing fecal droppings encourages people to follow the rules about cleanliness. The following are our recommendations: 1. Plan and budget for appropriate maintenance and a cleaning schedule, which includes adequate sanitation procedures, filling of holes that are dug by dogs, proper maintenance of the substrate, and proper maintenance of fencing and amenities. 2. It is suggested that an active dog park club help advise the municipality as to the needed resources to maintain the park, and to help monitor their condition. However, do not rely on the club to handle the required maintenance. Substrate While the substrate within a park is undoubtedly important and correlates with park success, this is often the most difficult topic for which to make specific recommendations. All substrate types, whether turf, ground tree bark, decomposed granite, or heavily compacted base rock, may be appropriate for some parks or some areas in parks. It is important to choose an appropriate substrate for the location and resources available for adequate maintenance. Some thought must 29 PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 30 I do not currently own a dog but I have in the past and support the off-leash dog trials. 31 Thank you for caring about our best friends and finding a workable solution 32 Anything to get us outdoors is a good thing, especially those of us who have active dogs who need to run 33 Please create an enclosed area like dog park on Mary avenue next to highway 85, opposite to De Anza college. That will be safe for others. 34 I am very excited about this. There is a dog park in Sunnyvale at Las Palmas, but it is far and not nice for big dogs (all gravel, few trees). My favorite is Stulsaft park in Redwood City, which is very far and just goes to show there is a lack of off-leash recreation areas. And I find dog owners are great community builders because we get out and see each other daily. It is in our interest that we all get along and take care of our parks. 35 There is a great community of dog people and their dogs already using this area and we occasionally join in. Not sure what this will do to improve it? 36 I would use it if there were parking nearby since there is no way we could walk to a park that far from us. 37 Agressive dog breeds should not be allowed to be off leash. If people/dogs get hurt, city will be responsible. 38 Having a DOLA at Jollyman Park would add to community togetherness as most dog owners use the park as a gathering place for their dogs to socialise as well as socialise them selves catching up on the commings and goings of the community. 39 I don't understand what the big deal is about having a DOLA at Jollyman Park, there is plenty of space and many dog owners use the park regularly to walk thier dogs and to enjoy the park. 40 I think being off leash is good for dogs. And it promotes people in the community coming out and meeting each other. I am concerned about any irresponsible dog owners who will not pick up after their dogs or will not restrain them when necessary. I'm not sure how the rules for having this area will be enforced. 41 Folks with their dogs need the freedom,to run and play. It creates much needed happiness and contentment for each. Espe iallt these days with all the high stress in,our lives 42 Responsible dog owners should have the right to freely use Jollyman Park for the their dog's to socialize with other neighborhood dogs 43 Survey is flawed. On one question I answered I don't own a dog. The next question asks me what time I would like to take my dog to Jollyman Park. Who designed this survey? Is this deliberate to gather indirect Yes? Please don't sell the city to dogs. If needed, make a FENCED dog park in Jollyman Park. Unfenced area will invite trouble. 44 No concerns 45 Jollyman Park is a heavily used park for both adults and children. Our family members prefer not to have dog off-leash area in the park. We've seen many dog owners do not follow the rule: including off-leash dog in the public park area, not picking up dog waste with plastic bags, etc. I am afraid that using this off-leash area will cause further damage to the field, as well as more safety concerns to the children. If the city ultimately decides to take this off-leash trial, I STRONGLY recommend to have secured facility (including fence) in that area to avoid any accidents! 46 I personally would not take my dog off-leash there, as she's just 11 lbs and not trained to be off-leash. But, I support responsible dog owners (especially large dogs) being able to exercise their dogs in that area. 47 I understand that dog owners want to give their pets more freedom, but coyotes have moved into the Cupertino area in the last two years and they are in the residential areas of Cupertino. Having a pet off-leash at any time in an open area like a park will be bad for the coyotes and also for the pets. The coyotes will run off with small dogs and will chase big dogs. Having the loose dogs may encourage the coyotes to start hanging around the park area. People may also leave dog kibbles and other pet food on the ground which would encourage coyotes to come and find free food. Having this off-leash situation only sets up problems for the dogs and the coyotes. also, other dog walkers who walk their dogs on leash at the park could be at risk because the coyotes may start seeing the park as a place to look for food. 48 Jollyman park is a great place for all to enjoy a peaceful time in our City. This proposal goes counter to what the park is for for the children and adults. Impact will not only be in the area shown, but the whole park and walking/recreation areas.. Also why such a long trial (10 months)? What are you going to monitor or measure during the trial and are you going to report the feedback and concerns to the public? 49 Dog parks help bring neighbors together who may not normally have met and socialized. It is a great community builder. also be given for what is best for the dogs. The following are some guidelines: 1. Turf. This is a favorable substrate if the location is appropriate and the municipality is able to undertake fairly intensive maintenance. If turf is planted, it must be adequately maintained to help prevent degeneration into dirt or mud, which includes irrigation, mowing, and weeding. Some parks are closed periodically for reseeding/resodding the grass. Feces may be hard to detect in turf, especially if it is long. 1. Bark or wood chips. This substrate is easily maintained. It needs to be replenished periodically, but does afford adequate drainage. Care should be taken when selecting a wood product so that dogs do not get splinters. Wood chips that are used for playgrounds are a good choice. Feces may be difficult to detect on the wood chips, but are easily removed. To some people wood chips are not very aesthetically pleasing. 2. Decomposed granite. As with wood chips this is relatively easily maintained. It needs to be replenished periodically. If deep enough and graded well, it allows adequate drainage. Feces are easily detected and removed from this substrate. Maintenance of holes dug by dogs needs to be addressed, because if there is not an adequate depth dogs may dig down to dirt, resulting in muddy holes. 3. Sand. This is the natural substrate in parks at the waterfront or on the beach. There is no worry about refilling holes dug by dogs, unless they are extremely large. It affords adequate drainage, and feces are easily detected and removed from this substrate. However, it is difficult for municipalities to maintain and keep clean, often requiring specialized equipment. Sand may become too hot for dogs’ feet during warm weather. 4. Heavily compacted base rock. This may be the only option available, depending on the location. If used there are precautions to observe. First, pavement may get very hot if in direct sunlight. Secondly, users should be made aware that a dog might develop abrasions on the pads of their feet if they are not accustomed to spending a fair amount of time on this substrate. It is very low maintenance, and feces are easily detected and removed from this substrate. To help decrease odors, an enzyme-based disinfectant/deodorant can be sprayed on this substrate. 5. Multiple different substrates used together. Turf, bark, and concrete/asphalt trails may be used in different locations within a park. This offers dogs the opportunity to encounter and choose different types of footing. Trails encourage park users to walk with their dogs, therefore decreasing the density of dogs in one particular area. This also allows the human users the option to exercise themselves more easily. Rules We found that invariably all parks had rules. However, there was a wide disparity in how visible the rules were. The rules must be highly visible, so that everyone is well informed as to what is expected. We found a significant correlation between the number of signs posting fecal cleanup rules and the fecal count per 100 square meters (120 square yards). Short versions of the rules emphasizing clean-up should be posted in locations throughout the park, as well as at the entrance(s). This is an area where an active dog club may be very helpful by helping self-patrol the area. Park managers mentioned that “self-policing” and peer-pressure by park users helps the other users be more aware of the stated rules. A charged issue about rules is placing a limit on the number of dogs allowed per user. The main concern is with regard to dogwalkers who may bring in as many as 15 dogs at a time. Our observations, reinforced by comments from users of the park, suggest that dogwalkers, and others with more than 3 dogs, are less conscientious about picking up fecal droppings or monitoring interactions with other dogs or people. In light of these observations it seems that limiting the number of off-leash dogs to 3 per adult user is not unreasonable. Here are our suggestions regarding rules: 1. Post rules in several visible locations; keep the signs well-maintained. 2. Rules should profile user responsibility, especially regarding clean-up. 3. Limit the number of dogs per adult allowed in the park. We suggest no more than 3 per adult user. 4. The park users must have their dog under voice control. 5. Do not allow dogs that are aggressive to other dogs or people into the park. 6. Unsupervised children under the age of 14 should not be allowed into the park for safety reasons. 7. Enforce leash laws in areas surrounding the dog park to decrease the number of dogs illegally off-leash going to and from the park. Dog Park Clubs The parks visited in our research had a range of dog park club involvement characterized as: none, currently inactive; moderately active with little financial or club newsletter involvement; quite active with a newsletter, and/or dues and meetings; and very active, involved with park management, self- policing by users and with dues, a newsletter and meetings. Clearly, an active dog park club is important to the success of a park and the more active the better. We suggest the following on this topic: 1. Suggest that an active dog park club participate in the planning of a dog park. 2. Suggest meetings of dog park club officials and the park management to review success and address any problems, or when serious problems arise. 3. Suggest that the dog park club sponsor an on-line and/or paper newsletter, and potentially an e- mail listserve, and charge reasonable dues. 4. Encourage the dog park club sponsor fundraiser with park users and periodically contribute proceeds to non-dog related functions, such as science and biology teaching in schools, to help increase harmony with the surrounding community. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 50 I currently drive up to one of the several parks in Mt. View that have large grassy off leash areas. Seems Cupt. could be way more dog friendly like Mt. View is. 51 I hope the city is planning on enforcing the rules and that they will be responsive to complaints if any. 52 Pet owners show no regard to safety of runners and small children. My family will have to stop using the park during the trial period. Strongly oppose this trial. 53 We need grassy areas for off leash dog parks. The dirt lot at Mary is not desireable unless grass (real or artificial) is installed. 54 Note that one of your questions (what time of day) above does not allow me to say that I do not own a dog. This park is not large enough for the number of dog ownerss that will be attracted to it. On leash rules are more easily enforced. Off leash requires more owners to train their dogs, and to take responsibility for them. Leashed dog owners comply well. There are some dog owners even now who run their dogs off leash. And dog owners who do not pick up after their pets. With a growing population, and a dwindling amount of park space per person, this is not the time to change the rules to allow off-leash dogs. 55 An off leash dog in jollyman park bit and popped my son's soccer ball near the proposed area. The owner did not apologize. 56 My friend on a business trip to here got bitten by an unleashed dog at an SF park. Spent his whole day at hospital and then insurance paperworks. No I don't think any dog should be without leash. 57 People with miss behave it dogs are not tolerated by other dog owners so the remaining dogs will pose a very low risk of impacting those who do not understand how to behave around dogs. 58 The dogs would be cleaner than the geese! Those who are against this need realize that there are others in our community with different needs. 59 There is a group of dogs and dog owners that already socialize there every evening. So dont know what this trial period means. Having a fenced area to have dogs play offleash would be a good thing given I have two dogs. But otherwise many dogs just run off and scare the people and children who are walking around. I am worried about older people who may stumble and fall when a dog runs to or near them. Given how many dogs we find lost everyday we know dogs aren't always trained to stay with their owners. So keeping in mind these safety issues I am against keeping offleash hours at jollyman Park. Please consider having a fenced area and then I would welcome the dog offleash in the park. 60 Most cities have off least 61 Question 10 makes no sense to non-dog-owners. 62 I think it's worth a trial run, and think it's a thoughtful idea. 63 My daughter takes her dog to a dog park in Philadelphia. The city just provides an enclosed space within a blogger park. Users have formed a committee, raise money through memberships and maintain the park themselves. It is very popular and in the summer they have local bands play at Woofstock...sell beer at the event to raise $. The bands get exposure and make a little $ too! Great way to build community. We should try it! 64 If the plan doesn't go through. Lte have a dog park at Jolty man. 65 Casper Walter The ghost is a emotional support dog for me Leila he has been with me through this year and this is the only place where he can be off leash so please make this happen love and light from Leila 66 I believe the city spent significant $$ in creating an off-leash area already -- dog owners need to be using that 67 A kid was bitten by a dog in the park recently. There are too many kids below the age of 10 playing in the evenings in the park area and letting the dogs off leash will prevent these kids from playing freely. Dog owners are not near the dogs off leash and do not clean after the dog. We often step on dog poop. There is a fenced dog park on Mary Avenue in Cupertino for dogs to be off leash. The dogs could go there 68 It's important to keep the park as a quiet, peaceful place for everyone to walk around. Also, there is a dog park in Mary Ave already. 69 There is simply no way that owners can contain dogs to an unfenced area. the dogs will roam through much of th epark and this is simply unacceptable. 70 This is a ridiculous, highly biased survey. Please get someone to run a survey who knows how to create non-biased questionnaires 71 I do not own a fog but will not be comfortable with a dog running loose in the park with my kids playing 72 i am really frightened of dogs that are not on a leash. 73 I would suggest to have a fenced area in a few parks in Cupertino where dogs can be off-leash at any time. This way others also feel safe. I have seen some conflicts between dogs and just don't feel comfortable walking or leaving th kids around there. 74 I oppose a dog park. I was raised with well adjusted dogs who did not have a dog park. People come first and the safety of the public must be considered. All it takes is one dog to bite a child and their will be additional problems. I also heard that some people come from Saratoga and other cities. Let them fund their own dog park. 75 Love this idea 76 Please aspartame dogs and kids area. A park is for human. Build another park for dogs to limit the City's liabilities. 77 I support DOLA in a fenced area and far from residential houses. The proposed area is not fenced and is very close to houses. The dogs will make noise and when running loose how do you know if they will stop or not. This will be hell to the neighboring residents and the park users. DOLA (or OLA) in the parks was discussed in the past and it was determined that Jollyman and other Cupertino parks are too small to have an OLA as they are too close to residential houses. It was also determined that it's not safe to have an unfenced OLA. As far as I know there is a fenced DOLA in Cupertino. 78 With all of the green space available in cupertino there is nowhere to go except the dirty patch that is currently called our dog park over on Mary. Its a horrible place for both pet and owner. 79 I think this is a great idea! This will allow the community to interact with each other versus walking dogs individually. 80 Nobody leashes their dogs there,NOBODY. Most don't even bring a leash. After their dog craps, then they look around to see if anyone is watching. They don't bring a bag to clean up. They act like they're surprised their dog poops 81 Great idea and effort, thought it would be good to run the trial at more than just Jollyman Park 82 Currently the area is not fenced off. Several older residents use the park and i have seen tje 83 Currently the area is not fenced off. Several older residents use the park and i have seen tje 84 I don't support the dogs out all your survey is biased. All dogs are dangerous and should not be in our parks parks are for people people. You should have police in park to protect people from dangerous dog dog.No dogs at all no dogs. 85 Concerned about dogs running away. 86 Great idea!!!! 87 Do not own a dog, but fully support the idea and location proposed. I enjoy seeing the dogs run freely and interacting with other dogs in a designated area. 88 I think it's great that you are considering a trial for people to bring their dog(s) for off-leash play @ Jollyman! Most dog owners are responsible & would clean up after when necessary, as well as watch their dog to make sure all was ok, thus being able to stop any inappropriate behavior that might occur. I hope the trial goes well, with owners bringing only dogs who follow voice commands. This ensures that all the dogs are are safe & that both owners & dogs have a good time. I myself will go observe a few times before bringing my older dog to play, so that I can see that all the dogs playing are friendly, as I've seen some people who are not able to control their dogs & I'm not willing to put my dog in jeopardy of being in a dog fight. Growling to let another dog know to back off is fine, but I don't want to put my dog in an unsafe environment. Again, most dog owners act responsibly so I am expecting to see a safe, fun way for dogs & owners to interact. I am so thankful to have an opportunity to take my dog someplace safe to play off-leash! PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 89 I feel that Jollyman Park is a great spot for an off-leash dog area. Dog owners will be responsible and very happy! 90 Children and off-lead dogs do not mix. This is a facility without enough separation between the two play areas and the proposed off-lead area. A park without playground structures would be a much more appropriate venue for this endeavor. 91 People in the neighborhood are very classy people that have well behaved dogs 92 Would be better for me if the dog area were fenced off and limited to the SE corner section of the park 93 I am not against the use of the back area of the park, but dog owners do not respect rain closures and deep dog prints are always left in the dirt baseball field. This causes a safety issue if a ball pops into a kids face. This has always been a problem at Jollyman. When we are on the field, there is no issues, just afterwards and before when owners allow dogs to dig in the baseball dirt field or leave deep tracks. 94 Folks like me are very scared of dogs and having dogs off leash in public areas would make it very uncomfortable for us to even walk past the park. However if the DOLA is fenced off from the other public areas it may be OK. 95 The main concern will be who will be responsible to care for the DOLA? Who will pick up after the dogs or who will clean up the fields to if they have feces on them? I also don't like the fact that we are forced into a trial of the off leash area. The dog owners in this park have been breaking the leash law for years so I don't see the point in having a trial. We know what it will be like already -- dog fights, runaway dogs and danger to children and pets. 96 Please look at Faria Elementary park too. Dogs are off-leash on a regular basis, especially on weekends. I go there often and get annoyed and scared because I don't know what this off-leash dog is going to do next. Dog owners simply don't care anyone other than their dogs and fellow dog lovers. This makes it unfair to people like me. 97 I don't think it's a good idea to have dog off-leash area in Jollyman park. Lot of elderly and small kids play in this park. Personally at least 4 times off leash dogs have came running to me. Dog owners are nowhere in site or way far to control their dog. Every dog owner thinks their dog is Innocent and won't bite. They don't understand how so many people like me are actually scared of dog. 98 Good initiative , need some more like these for our furry friends 99 I would prefer off leash all day long. 100 Dogs also struggle with loneliness when they are not able to meet other dog companions just like humans but they do not have a voice of their own. 101 It's important for our dogs to get excersise and socialization. It important to meet and know our community neighbors. We can help teach others tips for our pets and one another to better our lives. 102 It's important for our dogs to get excersise and socialization. It important to meet and know our community neighbors. We can help teach others tips for our pets and one another to better our lives. 103 My friends and I go to park regularly, up to everyday from evening to dusk and sometimes during midday and the morning. We play in the second field regularly where the dog-off-leash-area is proposed to be. For example, when we are playing, dogs run near us and sometimes at us and take our ball. This has happened on numerous occasions when we play. In addition, dog owners already let their dogs free in this area as if it is already an off-leash area which it is not. In a few instances, my family, friends, and I have personally seen dog owners let their dog off-leash in the main field as well, where many kids play. Many of the kids are scared of the dogs for the dogs chase after them. Even when we tell dog owners that their dogs are not aloud to be off-leash in either field, they don't even acknowledge us and continue letting their dogs off leash. Additionally, in the field where the dog-off-leash-area is proposed to be, some dog owners even have the audacity to tell us to get off that field so they can let their dogs run free without any disturbance. In conclusion, I would greatly appreciate it if dogs were not allowed off-leash in Jollyman Park. Thank you so much for your consideration. 104 Love the idea , it'd be so rewarding for our pups and their humans ! 105 Why is there a dog park if we are going to let dogs off leash at the park 106 This issue keeps coming up every year and a vocal minority (some dog owners) keep making it a burden on others to say no. There was a dog park at a cost of 350k cost to the city made recently - Jollyman is a heavily used park and letting dogs run amok is just crazy. 107 Keeps community together and safer 108 I prefer frequent policing of area to know the rules are being followed. Person & phone number to contact when rules are not followed. Dog owners often let their dogs off leash before arriving at the park. 109 I am a disabled senior with medical issues. My dogs are family and therapy. I cannot walk my dogs for even short distances and even then I need my rollator. I am within 1 block of Jollyman. For seniors like me this is an important initiative and a matter of equity 110 It would be great to have a dog park closer to home. It's a good idea, plus that area is hardly used. 111 Please pass this - it would mean a lot to my family. 112 I fully support this proposal. 113 Dog owners need to all comply by the rules. I am not sure how compliance will be monitored. I would support having cameras during trial period. 114 Our puppy Noah is looking forward to this trial . 115 I think this is a great idea! I don't usually go to off leash parks, simply because there's none that are convenient. But Jollyman is an ideal location for this! So many people with dogs walk around this area. 116 Hello Cupertino City officials, I have 2 kids who uses the Jollyman park on a daily basis. They play in the park with their friends from 4 pm until it gets dark. Currently we see more dog owners leaving their dogs unleashed to play already and calling that their dogs are friendly and will create no harm... I see how the kids are scared and stop playing until the dogs move away. Last week one dog owner couldn't catch his unleashed dog and the dog was chasing people around the park and scared everyone… This is not healthy for a community where the kids have only their Park playground to play… Jollyman park is heavily used by kids for playing and having dogs off the leash would stop kids coming and playing at the park. So I sincerely request the city to seriously consider for the health and the happiness of the kids to not support this dog off leash trial. Thanks! 117 Will this be only dog park in Cupertino? Seems area might not be sufficient for all dogs in Cupertino and possibly from other communities (who will control access?) 118 A large off leash dog park will be a welcome addition for our city. Dog owners are responsible that they will bring only well trained and friendly dogs off leash. I'm sure it will NOT cause any safety issues for other park users. 119 Cupertino should have a dog park like Sunnyvale 120 This brings the community together. We have waited a long long time for this! 121 I strongly object to this DOLA idea at Jollyman Park. We have too many irresponsible dog owners here. Off-leash dogs present MANY safety and noise problems. Our city paid about $500,000 to set up a Dog Park (Mary Ave.), so the dog owners can go there or use one of the other nearby dog parks. Also, they can take their LEASHED dog to any of our city parks. 122 While most dog owners are responsible, I have experienced many cases of people being overconfident of their control over their dogs. Many feel that they can let their dogs off leash at the park now (not just Jollyman). I avoid my neighborhood park (Hoover) whenever I see a dog off leash because I've had numerous bad experiences while walking my dog. I don't believe having a DOLA will make it better. It will definitely keep me away from Jollyman Park. 123 All these years I have seen dogs off leash in Jollyman park so many times even when humans were nearby. That was scary. No control. Also came across dog faces many times. Guess they don't pick up when people are not nearby. 124 This question and overall survery is written to steer towrads the trial. Surverys needs to be neutral if you want true feedback. 125 Off leash Dog park is very important to the community to have balanced life style and here is why we need dog park at Jollyman Park: 1. To eliminate stress from daily high tech stress, 2. Dogs will have a place to socialize with other dogs and have good daily excercise, 3. Kid will have a opportunity to come out of their homes with their parents and dogs to come to Jollyman park Off-leash area, 4. Build strong community with appropriate interaction due to socializations PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 126 This is a very good initiative for the dogs to socialize,get healthy and burn their energy. I fully support this as I think dogs are such loyal companions to humans and they are always trying to keep us happy and stress free that we has citizens of our community should atleast repay this kindness and what better way to do that than pass this legislation. 127 I feel this would be a positive program for the community, bring family and new friends together. 128 We love dogs so I think it's a great idea. 129 So many people allow their dogs off-leash in areas that they shouldn't, which can ruin other people's experiences at parks who are afraid of dogs, don't like them, or for people walking dogs on leash who don't want unknown dogs running up to theirs. Having more designated dog parks helps curb that behavior. 130 People are already doing off leash in Jollyman every day. It makes that region of the park unusable for others. There are more dogs there and more noise. I am awoken every day at 7:15am by multiple barking dogs. This should be done at Stevens Creek Park. I often find feces on grass and even on sidewalk! 131 this is our neighborhood park, many kids visit this park every day. off-leash may cause the safety issue to our children and the park visitors who might be scared of dog. 132 I do not support this proposal at all. Dogs off-leash poses great safety risk. Please don't even try. 133 How is Cupertino City going to enforce the rules? 134 Population of pets (dogs) grow tremendously in the past few years. I've seen so many times that dog owners would pull out 5-6 free plastic bags at a time. A group of dog owners already use off-leash in late evening. How will you enforce with all the rules in place if owner already start violating them (call the police, etc.)? 135 Grassy areas without foxtails are a precious resource to share with families and pets as a space to run free and play ball, fetch 136 I don't support dog off-leash trial at all. I am fully against this proposal of dog of-leash. 137 Jollyman park is a very popular park with many activities shared by residents, including many kids. It is not very large and located in the heart of Cupertino in a dense-residence part, and not appropriate for DOLA 138 The questions were not designed appropriately, I have or choose when I want to walk the dog, there should be an option like I oppose. 139 It's important for a good dog park to have separate areas for small vs big dogs; double-gate entrances, water, and at least some shade. 140 Off leash times give dogs a chance to run and exercise especially if no yard at home. 141 Before the email was sent, asking many dog owners including me, many people brought their dogs daily and the dogs always stayed within their area. Their should be no reason for the dogs to not be allowed in the back of jollyman as no one else's uses that grass area. Without that area in the jollyman, the dogs are unable to freely play with other dogs. When the dogs play on leash, they can be choked and harmed by the leash. The same group of dogs come to that area daily and all the dogs are trained to safely play with other dogs, along with avoid bothering any people that may be walking around the park. 142 Please create a fenced in area 143 I believe that we have a huge population of responsible dog owners in Cupertino, and to offer an opportunity to socialize the dogs is a benefit to the city. I would be in favor of offering both an early morning and an evening off leash time. I would also propose that Linda Vista Park be considered for a similar project. 144 This is a wonderful idea! 145 Dog owners in my neighborhood have not shown to be responsible people. Many don't pick up droppings (I witnessed many times). 146 What time of the day would you prefer to take your dog to the off-leash area?- forcing me to answer this Question- Please keep the parks for humans, there is already a park across from de Anza College 147 Existing dog place (on Mary) is not a pleasant place. 148 People are already against current rules and taking their dogs off-leash running in Jollyman Park field. 149 The designated off-leash area looks small. Seems it should be bigger. 150 Very bad survey. Skewed towards dog owners. Few questions don't give option to not allow off leash. Terribly designed survey. 151 We owned dogs for 28 years, and were allways frustrated by the lack of such an option at the park. Allthough we do not currently own a dog, we would absolutely support such an option at the park for dog owners. 152 It works just fine in Mountain View Cuesta Park. Also, I use the park at different times depending on my schedule and the weather. 153 This is a great initiative by the city of Cupertino. 154 This is a great proposal. Dogs need to run, play, and socialize too. The park is not just for humans, it is for our furry friends too. I have been going to Jollyman park since I was a child (in my twenties now) and have never had an issue with a ill-behaved dog. I fully support this proposal!! 155 I do not support this idea at all 156 please make sure it's in some form of enclosed area so the dogs can be protected 157 It works just fine in Mountain View Cuesta Park 158 Lot is progressive cities has off leash parks with no issues 159 The city needs more dog off-leash play areas. This is a good step in the right direction. Thank you! 160 Please get someone who knows how to write and understand American English to write your surveys in future. Example "What types of activities do you enjoy at Jollyman Park?" Previous questions established I am not a user of the park yet I am required to answer when no answer provided fits. "I don't fully support the dog off-leash trial" specifically states non support yet a box states I fully support. 161 Cupertino needs to start being more progressive in its programs. This is a good example of where the city lags behind other cities in allowing such a program. I think this is a great idea. 162 Any time of day is good for off leash 163 Options for dogs and their owners are very limited in Cupertino (Mary Ave Dog park is loud and awful). Let's allow recreational possibilities close to homes! 164 Dogs bring people together 165 There is a baseball area right next and I am concerned if some dogs go into different area. I strongly suggest to make it "fenced area". There are a lot of small kids especially early morning(toddler age) and after school(school age kids). I hope that non of parents hesitate to take kids to the park because of this dog park trial period. For that reason, again I strongly suggest to make it fenced area. Thank you. 166 This is a community building opportunity where people can come together to enjoy a shared experience. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 167 Many small dogs have issue with larger dogs. Having small dog socialization time separate from large dogs gives all dog owners the ability to socialize their pups. 168 Owners do not know how to control their dogs properly. 169 This was absolutely not a positive endeavor. The survey is skewed in favor of the dog area. For example the last question ones not give any option to say no to the trial. So the survey results can conveniently be interpreted as, "Everybody agreed to the trial.. etc". How is that fair? It is simply being pushed down our throats. I DO NOT want even a trial dog area 170 Dog owners already use jollyman park with no leash on their dogs. How will you ensure that the dogs remain only in the off-leash area? I fear it will not be possible. Having dogs is a safety issue for small children and many old and frail people who walk for exercise. 171 Dogs don't cause any trouble , in fact they bring the community together. Everyone should have equal opportunity to enjoy the park. 172 I fully support this trial as Jollyman is a necessary outlet for our Cupertino dogs to be able to socialize and get some exercise! 173 I really want to see this happen for our community. It's a great amenity not just for dogs, but brings the community together because neighbors meet each other at the park as well. 174 This is needed and long overdue in this community. 175 The above questions are so bias to favor off-leash. For example: Question "What time of day would you prefer to take your dog to off-leash area" - My correct answer is "Never". Question "I don't fully suppor the dog-leash trial but ......." My correct answer is "Never" 176 If there's an off-leash area, it should be fenced in like other dog parks. Do you really expect dog owners and their dogs to stay in the off-leash area with no fence? 177 My wife and I are Cupertino natives Cupertino is so far behind other cities. Music in the park, dog parks, skate parks 178 There are young kids in the park and the dog owners are usually careless with the dogs . I would hate it if young kids or adults who come to the park for leisure get bitten or scratched by a dog 179 I believe safety starts from a strong owner-and-dog bonding, every owner should teach his/her dog to be obedient and follow orders. Let dog off-leash makes me feel I need to assume much higher responsibility, I need to make sure my dog behave well before I can let him off-leash. On the other hand, I have seen owners rely on leash as the only way to restrain their dogs, and the dogs are not properly trained, and the always on-leash dogs are usually subject to rages and since they're lack of opportunities to play with other dogs they are stuck in a vicious cycle, and can never change to be friendly. 180 More picnic areas, Expanded basketball would be better use of funds than DOLA 181 Looking forward to enjoying the park with my dog! 182 what if someone loses their dog 183 Why is the survey biased toward dog owners? Why do 2 of the questions not have an option to say 'I don't own a dog' or 'I don't support this trial' 184 I am not ok with the trial at all. Requiring an answer to leading questions here about when I would go creates a misleading survey response. 185 Cupertino already has a dog park on Mary Avenue. Most people using this facility go specifically for the dog park, whereas locating a dog park at Jollyman Park could accidentally bring unleashed dogs into contact for those who may not be comfortable with dogs. Are the citizens of Cupertino ultimately liable for any harm caused by unleashed dogs that leave designated area. This park is used mainly by senior citizens and families. My concern is that not everyone is responsible and it's the most vulnerable that usually suffer for someone else's inattention or careless attitude. The dog park on Mary Avenue is an ideal location because the majority of people go there specifically to use the dog park or live in the apartments across the street. My two dogs have sadly passed away, but I would probably not take them to an unleashed dog park for their safety as they were small dogs. Wasn't there a push years ago to have unleashed dog park at Jollyman Park? 186 Most of the dogs I have met are friendly. If anyone has an unfriendly dog, the owner should be responsible for not having that dog interact with other dogs. 187 Hopefully this will STOP all the off leash dogs at Varian where we live by. At all times of day there are off leash dogs. I especially get mad when dogs are loose whiile my children walk thru park to get to school. Big safety concern!!!! 188 Our dogs are very friendly, we supervise when dogs are at play, and pick up trashes whenever seen. 189 I believe Cupertino should be a pet friendly - as well as a neighbor friendly - city. Cupertino residents should self-regulate this activity should it become a reality. Most people I know have very well behaved and friendly dogs. However, it s possible some dogs aren't - and their owners MUST take care to have them on leash - especially when theirs is an aggressive dog. They must inquire with others and be friendly and understanding of other people's concerns about dogs. 190 I live within a walking distance of Memorial Park, but I take my dog for a walk in Jollyman Park. I find that Jollyman Park is a better place for dogs as it is open and there is little ups and downs. 191 Absolutely something that's much needed! 192 Off-leash pace would be ideal if large enough for dogs to run/ be off leash without crowding. 193 I have elderly relatives (who also live near Jollyman park) and small children who are scared of dogs. I fully support dog parks in ENCLOSED spaces. Some dog owners can't control their dogs and it is a danger to the citizens. There was an instance when my son was playing soccer at Jollyman where a woman who had her dog (large standard poodle) off leash and it ran up to the children (6 year olds) and scared most of them. This is unacceptable. 194 Dogs need to be given space to run 195 I used to have a dog who I took there everyday, but she has passed away. 196 I drive all the way to San Jose to do this 197 I think Cupertino is the most unfriendly dog town I've ever encountered. It's amazing to me when I visit other areas in the Bay Area (Marin Co. Kentfield area; San Francisco w/Fort Funston; East Bay towns e.g.,Walnut Creek, Danville, Concord w/open spaces and trails, and Sacramento is extremely dog friendly - they can go anywhere) -- all of those areas have some sort of off-leash areas/trails that aren't the size of a one bedroom apt. like the dog area next to the Oaks shopping center. And when I visit those places w/dogs it's such an open and enjoyable social experience talking and meeting people 198 ALL PARKS SHOULD HAVE AN OFF LEASH AREA 199 Many households have dogs these days and it would be nice to have the off leash area for them to play 200 Dogs off leash areas help bring the community together as meet new friends. It also supports a healthy life style as one can walk to a dog park from home. 201 Lot of progressive cities have off leash parks within issues 202 This is a very good solution for all parties. The dog owners, like myself, welcome enforcement of the code where dog owners do not properly leash their dogs or do not follow the current laws. However, giving dogs to run and socialize fir a couple of hours a day is a very reasonable solution. 203 Most dog owners are very responsible and if someone is unaware of proper etiquette then other owners are very nice to educate and help other dog owners to know our responsibilities 204 Safety of children who visit this park and picnickers. 205 I would like to see the proposed off-leash area with fencing (it is often an off leash play area already) - leash laws should be enforced in other areas of the park. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 206 I really want to see that the dog park become a permanent addition to Jollyman Park. There have been no incidents with dogs with the exception of one woman who has aggressive dogs and is known to all dog owners in the area. She has been asked not to return. The only issue I personally have is, I go to the park often and most of the dog park goers are friendly but they are a tight clique. I want to see this dog park become permanent to attract a diverse crowd of dogs and owners who can build a regular inclusive community.. 207 I think we should have dogs off leash because if they have their leash on, it will be difficult to play with other dogs. My dog needs its exercise, and the best way is to play with other dogs. It is also fun for the dog and a good way for the owners to interact with people and make new friends. All the so owners have already had a potluck at the park just because our dogs used to play with each other. 208 Great idea 209 the off leash area should be fenced so dogs can run and people using the park can be safe from dog bites. 210 It's important for dogs to have freedom to run around with their owners watching over. This will also help bring more people to the parks and push for a community feeling 211 Dogs need and would appreciate an area for group play and just to run around and extend some energy. 212 I have seen this work well in a number of other cities in California eg Mountainview. Jolly man is a large enough park. And the part of the park that has been assigned has limited use in the later part of the evenings. The dog owner community is largely self-policing and mutually encourage good dog owner behavior practices. 213 I think it's a great endeavor and will provide quality socials time for pets as well as help build a close community 214 Please restrict off leash to a small section which is fenced. The dogs from there run into the main area many times. 215 Thanks for making this important for dog friendly residents 216 I love my dog! And I wanna fight for his freedom! Dogs have feelings too and they deserve to play off leash with other dogs too! 217 We are all responsible dog owners and will ensure park stays clean after we take our dogs home 218 My dog loves the exercise and is very friendly 219 We want the dogs free just like us humans. Dogs desere more respect and care than humans for what they bring to this world. 220 Looking forward to this arrangement eagerly. 221 It is time Jollyman had an off-leash area for pets. 222 This experiment will be an awesome experience for our faithful furry friends and their family members. K 223 Off leash areas are so good for neighbors getting to know one another which makes for a stronger community 224 I think it is a great idea. Other cities also have off leash like Mountain View, Portland and Seattle. It shows that we are open minded and are welcoming to people with different requirements, which include socialization in their busy lives through dogs playing together 225 The proposed off leash area is in a far corner of a field which is away from any person strolling the park and so should never be an issue to people in the park . I fully support the trial 226 Eagerly looking forward to see this trial period go through successfully. 227 As a dog owner, I would like to have a place for me and my dog to socialize. The proposed area in Jollyman park is a safe, secure location. It will foster a sense of community and safety for Cupertino residents. I very much support this trial. 228 Be good for happy balanced dogs to excersise and socialize. 229 I am very excited about this trial. We need this at all Cupertino parks, so I'm hoping the trial goes well and we can expand this policy to other parks as well. 230 This is a great initiative by the City of Cupertino and will greatly benefit the community. Many other surrounding cities have been successfully running such programs and now Cupertino will join the ranks. This initiative will make good use of public resources by responsible dog owners and provide a good opportunity for adults and kids visiting the park to interact with local community members and their friendly dogs. I fully support this trial and looking forward to seeing this approved. 231 I fully support the proposed dog-off leash area. My dog is very friend and never have issues. 232 1. Improves security 2. Builds a closer knit community 3. Encourages pet adoption and humane behaviour 4. Socializes and exercises dogs 5. Meets the growing needs of increasing number of dogs in the city. 7. Neighboring cities are doing it. PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 From:David Fung To:City of Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commission; Neesha Tambe; Gopal Kumarappan; Xiangchen Xu; Helene Davis; Carol Stanek; Jeff Milkes; Jenny Koverman; Deborah L. Feng Cc:David Fung; City Council Subject:Comments on Jollyman Dog Off-Leash Area for 9/5/2019 P&R Hearing Date:Monday, September 2, 2019 6:36:26 PM Dear Commissioners & Staff - I'm writing with comments for Item #2 on your 9/5/2019 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting, "Jollyman Park Dog Off-Leash Area (DOLA) Trial Survey Results". Although I serve as a current Planning Commissioner, and have served as a former Parks & Recreation Commissioner, my comments are as a community member rather than speaking for any organization. The issue of unfenced off-leash hours in neighborhood parks has been controversial in the past and I was involved as a resident when the topic was last considered by the city in 2009. That experience led to the Council's decision to invest in the Mary Avenue Dog Park at significant public expense, and to no change to the leash laws regarding dogs in the parks. Although there has been a thorough review process leading into this hearing, here are some considerations, informed by the 2009 community effort: 1. Be careful about drawing conclusions from the online survey. There are issues with the construction of the online survey which can strongly color the responses and representative participation. I started the survey shortly after it was announced, but did not complete the survey because it included questions which could easily be interpreted, specifically the last question which asked "I don’t fully support the dog off-leash trial but in the spirit of community and cooperation, I would be o.k. with running the trial during these times:". This is a mandatory question which forces somebody opposed to the trial to pick a trial time and includes the "in the spirit of community and cooperation" language which denigrates the opinion of anybody who does not support the trial. Participants who feel that this survey is confirming a foregone conclusion are unlikely to participate which colors the results. I notice that the staff report mentions shortcomings in the online survey, and I would carefully consider this issue and any other issues that the are raised in looking at the result of the survey. In the last review starting in 2009, the city went to much greater lengths to gauge public outreach. A professional opinion research firm, Godbe Research who also does biannual resident satisfaction survey, was engaged to develop the in-park intercept questionnaires for park users, a mailed survey form to addresses in the neighborhood bordering the proposed area, and generated a report and analysis of the final results. This guaranteed statically meaningful results to base decision making on. This was a much higher level of study than has been undertaken at this time, which is based completely on self-selecting responses. You should not expect a full public reading of the immediate neighborhood to come back overwhelmingly negative - some will support the trial and others will oppose it - but doing a scientific survey well let you PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 make an impartial decision about the true level of public support rather than hearing only the voice of the advocates. 2. There has been insufficient public discussion about criteria and options for the trial. The public deserves insight into the factors that support this trial site. There are pluses and minuses to any location, and the community should have an opportunity to weigh those options. The survey should reflect a community choice about why, where, and how off-leash hours should be considered, driven by best practices and the advice of the professional staff of Parks & Rec and Public Works. For instance, if noise or turf wear are neighbor concerns, there should be a clear statement about how those factors led to the selection of this proposed site. I don't believe it's a coincidence that the proposed Jollyman trial happens to be exactly where and when the advocates have been holding sessions. Although there has been some comment from staff about suitability of this location, it doesn't appear that alternatives were considered. It's in the interest of all parties that the best location and rules for both the trial and possible future program to have been fully vetted. You should note that the narrative of the city failing to fully develop alternatives and present them for public discussion has underpinned the controversies that have entangled the Regnart Creek Trail and Vallco. Whatever your position on these projects, demonstrating that a decision has been given full consideration should not only be an objective, but a requirement. The 2009 effort included extensive research on nationwide best practices for siting and operating dog parks from municipal organizations, animal advocates, and others. A volunteer citizen panel worked on understanding this input, along with advising publicity, outreach and the opinion polling. 3. Criteria and goals need to be clear. The public must see clear criteria that the trial's success is being scored on, and success/failure has to be based on what's measured during the trial period. Many of the axes of impact are understood - noise, odor, turf damage, compliance, etc. What is being measured should be clear, visible, and agreed to by the neighborhood and advocates at the start of the trial. It's not sufficient to "try something out and see what happens". This all comes back to clearly hearing the community voices and concerns on both side of the issue. Without clear criteria going in to the trial, I think you can see that this appears to be a foregone conclusion to impacted neighbors and park users who won't feel that their concerns were valued in this process. In 2009, the public material reflected the thinking process behind different proposed locations including minimizing conflicts, maintenance issues and more. 4. Compliance is important. In considering the establishment of off-leash hours, there is a pact being made between the dog owners and the community - hours and location are granted for this activity in exchange for the expectation that dogs will NOT be off-leash at other parts of the park or outside of the posted hours. Compliance needs to be measured not only during the off-leash hours but regularly throughout the day to see whether this pact will meaningfully be observed. Similarly, the rules will call for dogs to be on-leash when going to the designated area, and compliance needs to be measured PRC 09/05/19 Item #2 here as well. The city should commit the funds to hire personnel to formally monitor compliance through the entire trial period. It's the city/staff's decision as to whether the compliance effort should include enforcement (e.g. ticketing violators). I think that measuring compliance can probably be done by a staff member who either just records violations or hands out no-fine warnings. This would probably cost less than somebody empowered to write tickets. This is a good example of where a clear criteria for pass/fail of the trial can be set, and, by measuring the amount of non-compliance, and inform the city as to whether additional staffing support would be needed for a permanent change. Both the dog owners and neighbors should agree that measuring compliance is an important part of this trial. Compliance and the costs of ongoing enforcement were part of the 2009 discussion, which contemplated owners having to go through a "voice control" approval process and have an additional ID tag. Ultimately, this factored into the Mary Avenue Dog Park decision, since a fenced park did not require ongoing staff support. There have been good efforts to date on this issue, but I would encourage you to recommend to the Council that this trial clearly measure impacts and effects of the changes out of respect to all parties involved and to make this a meaningful evaluation. Thank you for your consideration, David Fung PRC 09/05/19 Item #2