Written CommunicationPRC 11/07/19 #5
Dog Off -Leash Area (DOLA)
Update
Written Communication
Whitney Zeller
From:
Sameer Raheja <sraheja@gmail.com>
Sent:
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 11:47 PM
To:
Neesha Tambe; Gopal Kumarappan; Helene Davis; Xiangchen Xu; Carol Stanek
Cc:
Randy Schwartz; Christine Hanel; Kim Calame; Karen Levy; Deepa Mahendraker; Whitney Zeller
Subject:
DOLA Update agenda item Nov 7, 2019
Dear Parks and Rec Commissioners,
Thanks for putting the DOLA update on the agenda for the commission meeting this week. I want to provide some
points prior to the meeting so you know what we are asking and why.
With the end of daylight savings, the open hours of 5-7pm make the dog off leash area in Jollyman park difficult to use
for the next three months. Sunset is currently at 5:04pm, and will be as early as 4:50pm in December. If DOLA hours are
5-7 we are in the dark for two hours after sunset. It is difficult to see people, dogs and balls.
We are requesting an adjustment of DOLA hours to be earlier during the winter months. I understand staff raised
concerns about park usage at 4pm, potential conflicts with youth sports, and the cost of changing the signs
($300). There was also a question about whether people know what an hour before or after sunset means.
In our experience there are even fewer users of the park in the winter than in the summer. We have taken pictures for
the last five days at —4pm in the park to show almost no usage at that hour. There are no permitted youth activities
taking place in the back part of Jollyman in the winter. And our group is happy to contribute to the cost of changing
signage if required.
The posted park rules indicate the park closes an hour after sunset. If the city has that as a regulation, then I think it is
implicit that they expect people to know when an hour after sunset happens. Frankly no one in our group wants to be in
the park an hour after sunset because it is too dark.
This is a trial, the rules are not set in stone, and we hope the city can be flexible. Allowing us to be out during times that
work for dog owners and other park users motivated our original request of an hour before and an hour after
sunset. We still believe that ask is reasonable.
I look forward to the discussion at the Commission meeting.
Regards,
Sameer