091417 MINUTES - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

September 14, 2017 Page 3 6. Appropriate $77,000 from Unassigned Fund Balance to Sapwi Trails Community Park Project (account 62-802-811-80502-003). 7. Award bid to Access Pacific for $6,230,000 plus contingency in the amount of $620,000, totaling $6,850,000 for construction of parking lots, pre -fab restrooms, pedestrian bridges, landscaping, shade structures, playground and site amenities. B. Off -Leash Area Surfacing Options Hare presented a PowerPoint regarding off -leash area (OLA) surfacing options. He also provided supplemental information, including area surveys, emaiis received, and ConejoRPD's water conservation policy and efforts. He went over the history of working with the community in the development of the OLAs, and the district's water conservation efforts in response to the recent drought emergency. The idea behind the OLAs was to give neighborhoods small places for people to legally have their dogs off leash. It was agreed from the onset that the OLAs would not be irrigated. He discussed the challenges and disadvantages of installing turf in the OLAs, including the impact on water conservation efforts, ongoing maintenance and operational expense. Hare fielded questions and comments from the Board regarding OLA surfacing options, including mulch, synthetic turf, drought resistance covering, decomposed granite, dust suppressant, and the effectiveness of the off -leash areas in reducing the number of off - leash dogs in the rest of the parks. Lange read a few paragraphs from a pet waste management organization, which recommended not using grass for dog parks, due to the heavy impact and damage from urine. Ron Neuhauer, resident of Thousand Oaks, expressed support for turf in the OLAs. Kate Lewis, resident of Thousand Oaks, expressed concern about the reduced turf in the large dog park. Karen Hoffman, resident of Newbury Park, expressed support for turf in the OLAs. Rachel Morrison, resident of Newbury Park, offered to donate a non-toxic fertilizer for all of the dog parks in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park. Cam Spencer, resident of Newbury Park, encouraged the Board to not adopt the staff recommendation of no -turf off -leash areas. Monica Nolan, resident of Thousand Oaks, expressed support for turf in the OLAs. Pat Hendrickson, resident of Thousand Oaks, expressed concern about the community not being consulted when half of the Conejo Creek West dog park was replaced with decomposed granite, which she says cuts dogs' paws.