Dec 12 - City Council Update

December 12, 2023 - City Council Update: Common Ground Suffers Setback

Common Ground’s efforts to re-establish an off-leash dog use area at Sierra 2 Green suffered a setback earlier this month when the Sacramento City Council approved a resolution to explore creating a new dog park in Land Park instead of at the Green. At the December 12, 2023 City Council meeting, Councilman Rick Jennings promised to consider additional sites in the Curtis Park neighborhood; but he also made it clear that a dog park would not be located at Sierra 2. The council’s action culminated a rapid series of events in less than a week. But first, some background.

For 30 years residents shared Sierra 2 Green with their families, children and family dogs. For 20 of these years, an agreement with the City allowed shared usage, including limited hours for off-leash dogs with deference to soccer schedules. The arrangement was outlined on official city signs posted at the park. Enforcement disappeared during the pandemic. In November 2022, the City closed Sierra 2 Green to off-leash use because of complaints of some neighbors, but installed a temporary fenced dog park at the site. In December 2022, the City conducted a survey of over 1,000 residents (80% from the Curtis Park neighborhood). When asked if residents would prefer a dog park or a soccer field, 75% responded that they would prefer a dog park.

The survey results seemed like a clear message, yet the City subsequently asked residents at a July 2023 Open House to rate by preference eight (8) different potential dog park sites in the Curtis Park and Land Park neighborhoods. Overwhelmingly, Sierra 2 Green was ranked the highest. Curiously, the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association (SCNA) with many Board members out of town, took an unplanned vote opposing a dog park at their August 2, 2023 meeting. The vote was taken months before the Open House results were made available, and was contrary to the prevailing sentiment of our community. SCNA members were not allowed to speak at that meeting.

Although the city had stated that a second open house was planned for August or September 2023 to discuss the results of the Open House vote, no such forum was held, despite numerous inquiries by residents and requests to share the results of the poll. Finally, on December 6, 2023, the City published the results of the July Open House, which showed Sierra 2 to be the most preferred site by a wide margin. A simultaneous posting on the city’s Department of Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment (YPCE) website stated that the Sierra 2 temporary dog park would be permanently closed and that the staff would request funding to explore a permanent dog park in Land Park at a city council meeting just six days later. Sierra 2 Green was dismissed as a site, despite the popular vote, because it was deemed too small and hard to maintain.

Prior to the council meeting, pressure from our group prompted Councilman Jennings to pull the item from the “consent calendar,” to allow for public comment. At the Dec 12th meeting, numerous Curtis Park residents gave written and oral testimony to the City Council about the social and community benefits that shared use has provided for decades. Common Ground offered to work with the city and nearby residents to mitigate concerns regarding liability and cost of maintenance.

In response, Councilman Jennings promised to continue outreach with the various interested groups to try to develop a bona fide dog park or an off-leash area in the Curtis Park neighborhood before a site in Land Park is explored. But he made it clear that he agreed with City staff’s objections to siting a dog park at Sierra 2 Green. And, he did not move to amend the council resolution. This means that we have only a verbal promise of the City’s commitment to pursue siting an off-leash area in the Curtis Park neighborhood.

City officials placed great emphasis on the large number of nuisance calls received about Sierra 2 Green, which presumably came from the same few callers. Dog owners understood that the temporary dog pen was a stop-gap solution and believed that they would be invited to the table to address problems and find solutions for the park that would be equitable and safe. Instead, the pen was suddenly removed and no replacement exists.

Needless to say, we are disappointed. Despite this setback, we will take Councilman Jennings at his word, and continue to work with him and YPCE staff to find a site for off-leash use within Curtis Park or the yet-to-be-developed Ray Eames Park in Crocker Village.

We will continue to be reasonable, responsible, and mindful of all the members of our community, and we look forward to working with you on this and other issues that affect our neighborhood.

To view the letter Common Ground sent to City Councilman Rick Jennings in advance of the December 12th meeting, click here.

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