The Council reversed the 3-2 decision made last month to construct a dog park at Oso Viejo Park adjacent to the Community Center. Trish Kelley announced she wanted to change her original vote after hearing an outpouring of complaints from nearby neighbors.
The Oso Viejo site was hastily proposed by Lance MacLean last month. He made no comments on the reversal. With Kelley, Ledesma and Schlicht constituting a majority on the issue, MacLean and Ury reluctantly joined the motion to cancel the site.
Kelley identified two possible alternative locations. One is a vacant parcel on Felipe overlooking an arroyo, referred to as Felipe Arroyo. The other is Lower Curtis Park. Kelley asked staff to expedite a review of the sites and schedule public hearings out of consideration for the dog park proponents who courteously, if not happily, accepted the decision to cancel Oso Viejo.
Kelley mentioned some residents across from Felipe Arroyo had already made some inquiries and possible concerns about that site. The other problem, described by Mayor Ury, is that the City only owns 2/3 of that land; the county owns the remainder. He did not think that would be a problem, however.
Lower Curtis Park was suggested by DAWG President Sharon Cody, who has consistently attempted to prevent a dog park adjacent to her beloved Animal Shelter. If not for her voice, a dark park might already exist near the Shelter.
Lower Curtis is the most isolated from homes, but was eliminated previously during site selection due to the cost of grading and road construction necessary to provide access. Keith Rattay, Director of Public Works, repeated last night that cost might be prohibitive, but it appears a more definitive assessment might now be made. Rattay noted that 12 possible sites have been reviewed over the past few years, but there are no good locations for a dog park in Mission Viejo.
If a new site is determined, it appears there may be a Council consensus for limiting access to Mission Viejo residents, perhaps with a passcard.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You didn’t give Sharon Cody credit for the passcard issue. You only print what you think is against the level heads on the Council and credit the empty heads with everything.
[Editor's Note: The passcard idea was fully attributed to Sharon Cody in an article on November 5, DAWG President Opposes Dog Park Location.]
No one on the Council reluctantly voted to rescind the prior vote, they merely voted for it. The proponents where gracious in their acceptance of the vote to further explore a location, I didn’t see them as being happy or unhappy. And the Dispatch failed to credit the leadership of Trish Kelley and the Council for hearing the citizens of Mission Viejo and deciding to take another look. Several people actually recognized that leadership at the meeting. The Dispatch would do well to report the good instead of always slanting their opinion to be critical of the city leadership and staff.
[Editor's Note: Reversing an action is commonly referred to as rescinding the action. During the meeting Councilwoman Kelley publicly mentioned the unhappiness of some dog park proponents. The bulk of the articles in the Dispatch are about positive news and activities in our fine City.]