All right, good evening everyone. We're going to go ahead and get started. Got a slow trickle of people coming in, but they can sign in and they can they can join in as we go. Um, thank you very much for being here tonight. I know it's a a week night and um we got a nice
turnout. So, thank you for participating in tonight. My name is Fred Cusero. For those of you who don't know me, I'm the community recreation director for the city. I've been for quite a long time. Um, I've been with the city for 30 years and um, so I maybe have seen some of you at other community meetings. I hope. Um,
I would like to say um, we do have some of our community recreation staff over here on the side. Yanessa Rodriguez, the administrative manager, Carlos Pardo and Sarah Espino, the two assistant directors. Um, so if you need anything, they're all there to help you. And we
also have our guys in the back from our IT departments and also our marketing department um who are helping us out today. So um we also have Dina Bell from um greenspace management and she'll be up to talk about the design in a couple
of minutes if I can get the presentation up. And thank you to everyone on Zoom. Before we get started, just some quick information. I'll go uh cycle through this really quick to see what we're doing. Um this meeting will be recorded and it'll
serve as uh the meeting minutes and and it'll later be shared on the city web page and you'll have the city web page um address at the end of the presentation. It's park projects is what it's called. Um all meeting attendees are asked to sign in for the record. So even if you're not speaking, if you're
here, we'd like you to sign in so we have an accurate record of everyone that was here. And if we have any updates or anything we need to do, we'll be able to send you an email on that. Um, any meeting attendee wishing to speak, sign, if you signed in for the public comment portion, Sarah's there, she'll raise her
hand if you haven't. Um, and then we will be calling each participant after the presentation individually. They'll be able to speak. They can come up to the podium. We'll have the camera. So, you your comments will be on the record. Um, and uh, we will have a timer. It'll be three minutes to speak. We anticipate
having a lot of people wanting to speak. So we want to make sure that we get everybody gets a chance tonight before you know midnight. So um we'll also attendees they can ask any additional questions in writing. I think we have some cards there. If at the end
we have the ability to answer some we will. If we don't um we will we ask for your email on there. We'll be able to get everyone an answer to all those questions that you may have. Um, just real quick, as you see on the side here, this was the door hanger that we had. We made sure we distribute it. You
guys, I think all got it because you're here. No. No. All right. If you can give us your address before you leave so we can see what what what happened there cuz we had our staff out there. We came as a pretty
Okay. for our participants viewing on Zoom. Um you can participate in the public input portion um and you can provide your questions or comments on the chat window in Zoom and at the end we will read it aloud for the record. Um for this presentation as I said Dena will be
presenting the the design as directed by the city commission. Public input will be welcomed after the city presentation is completed. Just quick reminders on just quick reminders to follow our civility code. Let's refrain from interrupting staff or let's not
interrupt someone when they're at the podium speaking. Everyone has the opportunity to provide their input. They should be given the courtesy of providing their input without any commentary. Let's refrain from any booing, yelling, clapping, or any disparaging explicit comments. I don't think we're going to get that here, but I just wanted really quick just to
mention it. I think we're going to be very civil and we're going to get all of our input in and get all the public comment on the record. I have a lot of faith in us. All right. So, how we got here real quick, um this was a community initiated project that
was brought to the city commission. Um on November 18th, the city commission passed a resolution authorizing staff to begin the process on the proposed park. that included working on the initial design which uh Dina did and then we started having discussions at that point. There was a discussion it was
brought up at a parks and recreation advisory board meeting. I think I have a few of our board members here. I think I saw them. Um oh there they are. Michelle and Richard those are um and so they were there. Oh and and and mate so um we
talked about it there as well. And then what is Okay, good. Then there was further discussions that were held regarding the proposed park at the city commission meetings on January 3rd and on January 27th. On January 27th, the city commission passed a resolution
authorizing city staff to conduct a public meeting for the purpose of gathering public input on the proposed park project design. I think we turned it around pretty quick. It's February 19th. And uh so this is where we are here today.
I'm going to call up Dena so she can start and begin the the process and then we'll have some more information after. >> All right. Good evening everybody. I'm Dina Bell Llewellyn. I am assistant public works director in the city and I'm also city licensed landscape
architect. So that's why I'm standing here in front of you. I was asked by the commission to put together a very conceptual rendering and conceptual design that shows the possibility of what a dog park could look like at this space. So here
we are. Um got to point it this way, Fred. Okay, I'll get it eventually. Bear with me. It's skipping. Here we are. Okay. So, here's the site. It's right
directly across the street. If you're not familiar with it, um it's the open field directly north of Kadima between Kadeima and Riviera along University Drive. Currently the these are existing
photographs of the site that were taken a couple months ago. Just an open grassy field with large shade trees around the periphery. We have some big banyan trees along University that of of course will be protected. None of these trees are
going to be removed. Um there are a few oak trees along the Riviera side. So, here's the rendering that shows what it could be. Um, to your left, you'll see the the library and the row of large
banyan trees along the swell of University Drive that are all remaining. And in the center, the light green area will be the large dog park area. It's 250 ft long by 90 ft wide, just to give
you an idea of size. And on the bottom south side of the rendering where you have a darker green color that is the small dog area which is an artificial turf there. The pink
graphics are uh little benches that are put around in there for people to sit and enjoy in the shade of the trees while they're watching the dogs. There is a buffer zone of native plants 25 ft
wide on the residential side which is the side I'm standing to separate the the dog park fenced in area from the residential homes that's envisioned as a thick native planting buffer of all
sizes of trees. we would be doing um cleanup of the invasive exotic vegetation that's in there now. Um if anybody's interested, I'm not going to go into all the species that are there now, but you might have questions about specific plants. I'm always here to
answer those questions later. Pretty rendering of how it would look. The fencing is the black decorative black aluminum fencing, which is the same exact fence that's at the Chewy Bark Park that just opened in the
Underline. So, that's a a dog park that we're now, you know, in possession of and maintaining as a city of Coral Gables dog park. So, we would keep that cohesive with that fencing. The fencing will be landscaped all the way around it
to nestle it in. So, it's mostly green flowering plants, native plants, adding some flowering trees, and native shade trees, but keeping it very simple and very green. Here we go. Just diagrams of showing you
what it looks like without all the layers of trees on there. And again, just this is the survey without any rendering on it. So you can see the existing conditions and exactly where the existing trees are and how the
fencing would be laid out. the entrances to the dog park, the little pe the areas where people walk in, which we call them protected fencing because they have a double gate to keep dogs from running out, are located on the university side.
And then on the north Riviera side and the Kadima side would be fully landscaped with buffers. Images of proposed plant materials. We have a combination of native flowering and pollinator plants.
Okay, that's the end of my presentation. I'll turn it back over to you, Fred. >> So, to sum up, if I can have that. Sorry. Um, so the scope for the improvements, it's the park park design and construction as a dog park for small dogs and large dogs in two different
sections. Um there's landscaping around the perimeter of the park. Um we'll have amenities within the park that we will uh select according to the standards that we've had at at our other parks. Uh Dina mentioned um the the bark park under the underline. Um including
seating, dogway stations, benches. Um we'll maintain the park. Um and then we'll have which she mentioned it's the two door entrance design for dogs where it's you come in and then there's a holding pen and then a second one. So, um, you have two different, uh, doors to
get in and get out, so you don't have one door open and and and dogs taking off. Um, and for the small dog section, as we mentioned, it'll be artificial turf. So, what's next? Well, if we move further with the design, as Dina said, this is a concept, we get a little bit
more exact, that's when the uh estimated project cost will come uh a little bit more clear. Right now, we're in this process where we're going to gather input based on this meeting and from what we have online. We'll also have this presentation on our website for the
next two weeks so people can um provide extra comment. We've already gotten a couple on email from people that could not attend uh the meeting tonight. Um and then what we'll do is we'll present all these input results and we'll get all all of the um work product from this
meeting and all the commentary and we will share with the commission at that point. Um pending the city commission review and decision then we'll move forward with our process as we always do. But the so we're at that second bullet point right
now and that's where we'll head forward as we go. Um, I do want to introduce our city commissioner who just came in. Nashro is here. So, thank you for attending. Wait. All right. We can do it for her, but remember the slide. All right. Remember
the slide. Remember the slide. Okay. So, um, at this point, that is the, uh, email address. Parks projects. We're going to call up based on our list public comment. We'll call you up. We wanted to get you on
camera, so you're going to be right in front of the podium. If you feel that's awkward, we can always move you over here if you want to talk to the crowd. Um, it's just a little tougher with the camera. Um, or maybe not because I'm talking and we'll see. We're going to work it. We're trying to make it as as as convenient
for everyone as possible. Um, so as we said, you'll have what we talked about earlier. You'll have three minutes. We'll time it here so you can look at it as you see it and you know what you're doing. We'll have all the commentary. Please, if you have any questions, put them on those cards to make sure that we have the ability to have everyone um uh
give us their questions and whatever we can't answer, we'll put it on and we'll we'll get it to you in an email. Okay. So, uh Yanessa, if we can if you want me to just take it, I I'll do it. All right. Our can we call up um our first person is uh Tom Wells and then uh on
deck is Sylvia King. God, good good evening. My name is Tom Wells. I live at 1310 Corway near the Salvador Dog Park. I will address four issues. the need, the cost, the reason why the commission wants more dog parks, and a brief history lesson on Coral Gable's government. As the need, page
364 of the 2526 city budget that Fred prepared states the city's goal to meet the top 10 benchmark city national standard for dog parks by 2025. Page 365 defines the goal as two dog parks per 50,000 residents. We currently have five
dog parks which are Salvador dog park, Chewy Park, Bill Valencia Park, Chapman Field Park, and Madison Hammock Park. We have 27 pet friendly parks listed on the Coral Gables website. We have more dogs parks per capita than the number one
city in the United States, Boise, Idaho, that has 7.1 parks per 100,000 residents. We have 50,000 residents. I have sat if we have satisfied our goal, why are we building more dog parks? I live near the Salvador dog park. There is not much use of that dog park. As to
the cost, page 364 of the budget says that there we've already spent $900,000 building and maintain dog parks that we have. We annually spend $150,000 for dog parks and that is before the city's legal fees to defend the lawsuit that's
been brought as the dog park. Mayor Lago's August 2025 memo stated that the bulk of the 556,000 city legal fees paid in Wawwa's case um were because of the Waw Wa case. And here we go again with a lawsuit filed by
University Green Neighbors. Page 365 of the budget tells us why Mayor Lago, Vice Mayor Anderson, and Commissioner Lar are forcing the cost of another dog park and sacrificing the land next to the youth center on us. It says it's built for Voter
approval. They are spending city's money for votes. The city acknowledging residents may be unhappy with a dog park location ignores a major issue. We already have enough unused dog parks. We do not need to waste more time and money on this issue. Finally,
the commission can change it dog park decision anytime. In 1970, there's a 4-1 commission vote to build high-rise apartments and condominiums on Cocoap property purchased by a land developer. Bill Kurdike senior voted no. And with
resident support in a lawsuit by Coral Gable Citizens League, the commission changed its position two years later to preserve our quality of life. The commission represents and is a fiduciary to residents. They're supposed to listen
to and respect the voices of residents. Hopefully, they hear the dissatisfaction at this decision. They can stop the process at any time. If they do not, it's a clear indication that they are not listening to the residents
or worse do not care about the residents. Thank you. All right. Um, Sylvian King is next and on deck is Lin Guardto. >> My name is Sylvia King. I am a member of the University Green Neighbors
Association and I live at 3617 Harlano Street. I'm about 175 ft from 520 University Drive and I don't want a dog park next to my home. Uh, the reason I'm talking right now is
to set for to state that for the reasons set forth in the complaint filed against the city, resolution number 2025-5, excuse me, 452 was illegally enacted and we are asking the courts to enjoin the
development of a dog park at 520 University Drive. by participating in this community meeting. We wave none of the arguments set forth in our complaint. Any questions from the city on those legal issues should be directed to our attorney Christopher King of
Homer Bonner Jacobs and Ortiz. We participate in this meeting only to express our views. Some of the members of UN University Green Neighbors Association will now share our views. We can have Lynn and then Mr. Riven Bark
is on deck. My name is Lynn Bchardo. I'm a member of University Green Neighbors Association, a three a 501c4 and I live at 421 Kadima Avenue where I've lived for the last 36 years. I am approximately 840 ft from
520 University Drive and I do not want a dog park in my neighborhood. I'd like to speak about the need for a comprehensive dog park plan that is consistent with county and city codes and regulations. But where's the plan? An article entitled Creating Dog Parks Without
Ranker by the Trust for Public Lands examined the successes and failures of municipal efforts to provide off leash off options for their communities. This included the need to avoid interference with other established uses, avoid locations directly abudding residences,
ensure the availability of close by parking, and select sites that offer minimal impacts on visual character and green spaces. A bark park at 520 University Drive would meet none of these considerations. As we reviewed the
city's 2021 community recreation master plan, online materials and parks and recreation advisory board minutes, we could find no strategy to address dog parks in Coral Gables, their proper placement, their operational requirements, or anticipated cost. We
did note comments from board members and staff about a shortage of staff and funds to keep current parks well-maintained. A sincere and legitimate dog park master planning process would follow city and county ordinances and those require a designated area in a larger park like
Pinerest Paw Crest Paw Crest Park and Kiscane's Village Green Dog Park. It would also allow the city and its residents to measure actual demand, understand the true upfront costs over time, identify appropriate locations rather than hostile takeovers, establish
operational and managerial protocols, and possibly explore new and better options that are more sustainable and deliverable in our built out historic garden city where passive green space is a part of who we are. Maybe it's a small
patch of the six acre Lee Lee Lincoln property at Ponce and Granada that Mayor Lago has been eyeing as a large community defining Central Park. Or maybe it's doing a better job promoting and using already established dog parks like the underlines new Chewy Dog Park that is
only one mile away. A good plan not only charts the course, but it helps ensure better success. In conclusion, this is a quote by Gloria Steinum which says, "Power should belong to those who
must live with its consequences. In this quote, she challenges the systems of authority that exclude the very people they affect. When applied to everyday life, the idea extends beyond policy to workplaces, relationships, and communities,
reminding us to involve others in decisions that shape their lives and to assert our voice when those decisions concern us. It is ultimately a call for fairness couched in empathy
and respect. Thank you. >> You can sit back there. >> Mr. Ruben Bark is next and then Lo Fernandez is on deck. >> Good evening. My name is Bill Ryvenbark and I am a member of the University Green Neighbors Association which is a
501c4. I live at 3616 Harlano Street, approximately 125 feet from the proposed dog park, and I am still waiting for my promised door hanger, as are many of my neighbors. Likewise, the sign on the property about
tonight's meeting has yet to be posted. I own an amazing rescue animal, a Belgian Malininoa, and he is in agreement with me that we do not want a dog park in our neighborhood. There are errors and oversightes with the proposed dog parks design, but the
biggest oversight is not adhering to ordinance 1952, which prevents a dog park from being constructed at this location. The ordinance specifically requires the property to be maintained in a park-like manner. The trees and foliage preserved
in their present stage state as much as feasible. The lot to be used only for overflow parking for the library and youth center with ingress and egress only from University Drive. And if overflow parking for the library and
youth center is not needed, the property is to revert to single family residential. The 1972 city commission was very wise to establish a flexible as-needed overflow parking plan to serve the
long-term needs of the library and the youth center while deterring library patrons from parking in the neighborhood and preserving the green space. Replacing replacing the green space buffer with a large off leash dog park would prevent the ability to have
overflow parking when needed. contribute to illegal parking, invite dog park visitors to park in our neighborhood, and create unsafe stopping along Kadima Avenue, which is a narrow but heavily traveled street, raising
serious safety concerns for children and families. We we had a uh information request regarding the Coral Gables Library. You may be interested to know the the number of visitors to the Coral
Gables Library makes it among the third highest among all 50 branches of Date County libraries. The from 2018 to 2024 the Gable's library ranged from 16,000
to 25,000 participants per year. Throughout the years, the Coral Gable's branch has consistently la ranked among the top five and early voting locations in Miami Dade County. A door count of approximately 300 thou
372,000 visitors annually, 15,000 special event attendees, and 25,000 voters during early voting. It's easy to see why the ability to have overflow parking in the lot must remain.
Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Mr. Lo Fernandez and on deck is Sarah Cortez. Good evening. My name is Lo Fernandez and I am also a member of the University Green Neighbors Association at 501c4.
I live at 415 Kadeima Avenue, which is approximately 900 feet from 520 University Drive, and I don't want a dog park in my neighborhood. Um, I would like to speak about traffic today. Um,
for starters, dog parks should not be located on hightraffic corridors. Proper dog park placement should be located away from hightraic areas to facilitate pedestrian, animal, and vehicular safety.
520 University is in no way a suitable location. University Drive from Lune Road West to Bird Road, Granada Boulevard is a large collector street moving an ever growing number of weak east west commuters during morning and evening rush hours.
This two-lane road, one lane on each direction except for the turning lanes, is also a major approach for fire rescue services rushing regularly to doctor's hospitals emergency room. Evening rush hours collide with peak
activity times of the library and youth center. Long lines of cars can stack up at the intersection of University Drive and Riviera Drive as well as Siggoia at University Drive intersections, waiting for traffic lights to change and
pedestrians to cross the idling school buses, parents picking up, dropping off students at Coral Gable Senior High, where there are over 3,000 students enrolled, after school drop off at the youth center, and expansion plans for Somerset Academy contribute to to
the neighborhood's traffic congestion. An off leash dog park at Five University Drive would only add to the chaos. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh
Sarah Cortez and Maria Ci Roas on deck. Hi all, thank you so much for having us. My name is Sarah Cortez. I am a member of the University Green Neighbors Association, as we've mentioned, a 501c4.
And I live at 511 Kadima Avenue. It's a the historic home that was built in 1925. And I share the property line with 520 University. The proposed dog park would be right in
my backyard. Quite literally right in my backyard. Um, and I have a dog, a large, very sweet, very anxious rescue dog. Um, and he and I don't want a dog park right
next to us. I'm also an emergency medicine physician and so I'll speak on mental health and green space or what it currently is. Uh green space is breathing space. Respecting wildlife, preserving habitat
on green space while providing for overflow library parking allows everyone, not just dogs and their owners like me, to escape from the hustle and bustle world we live in. If you stroll the sidewalks on the triangle with your dog or walk through the grass with your
kids, you listen to the birds and wildlife. Today, this public green space provides a helpful respit to all. Mental Health America noted children living in neighborhoods with more green space have a reduced risk of developing depression, mood disorders,
schizophrenia, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. None of that can be said for dogs and dog parks. Spending time in nature is good for your mental health. In fact, spending time with your dog walking with them in
nature is good for your mental and physical health. And it posit positively influences your mood, focus, stress levels, and emotional regulation. I am asking that we look for other places that don't
interfere with what is already there with our green space to allow all of us the equity of having green space still available. Thank you. >> Thank you Maria C Roas and Ken Roberts on deck.
>> Hello. I um live at 410 Kadima Avenue and I um also belong to the University Green Neighbors Association. Um I appreciate this happening because I met all my neighbors and this is has been great to meet such wonderful
people. Um I think maybe we wouldn't have coincided like this, but it's been great. I will be brief. I have two requests. Um being the worldclass city that we are and surrounded by so much nature, I feel we should be giving an example by obtaining environmental
impact studies for the changes on any project to achieve that balance between development and the environment. I am truly astonished that there are absolutely no provisions made to study the impact on local wildlife. Where is our stewardship for our native pro uh
neighborhood animals? Let's prepare. Why would we not evaluate the envir impact on native wildlife? To mention a few, we have uh North American kestrels, paragine falcons, macaw, real uh red
beaked parrots, um beautiful eastern screech owls, the endangered scrub jay, raccoons, possums, and beautiful little redtailed foxes. um in that area have been cited and we see them all the time
at dusk. You can come by and walk and you can see them entering that little thicket. So I think an environmental impact study would would be important um to lead by example. My second request
for the future to avoid miscommunications about things that go on so close to our homes that we were not notified about um before the uh certain decisions. We uh please make it a priority, the city should make it a
priority to include affected residents before the uh the plan the changes are planned. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Uh Ken Roberts and Hillary Rodriguez on deck. I'm not going to turn my back to you
people. I'm afraid you might throw something at me. Um I I started my day talking to uh BBC about the excuse of China I mean Canada and US trade policy and I'm ending my day talking about a dog park. So it's been a really great day. Um uh I'm I go regularly to the
Salvador dog park and we have 48 members in our WhatsApp chat group um who come there sporadically. And so when you where she who one who just spoke, where are you? Where she mentioned community. And the thing that is great that you've probably gotten from this is you've gotten to know your neighbors like you
had not known them before. And that's what's happened to us as well. We have um we're going to a restaurant with 16 of us on next Saturday without the dogs. We've had two progressive dinners around the holidays.
Uh we've gone to basketball games at M. We've gone to baseball games at M. We've had a Super Bowl party gathering. So, we've done a lot of things together as a community. I'm not here to tell you it's a good idea or a bad idea what the city wants to do with this dog park. I'm not for it or against it. Um, we had a
little discussion our WhatsApp group. There are several members in our group who live closer to where this park would be who are in favor of it. There's a few of us who live quite close to the existing one and don't think it's necessary. My only advice to the city would be
be as you're going about the process of settling the lawsuit and discerning what to do, you guys should come take a look at the Salvador dog park and see how they care for it because it might be an indication of how they're going to care for the one if they build it for you guys. We have unmet needs. We're trying
to get them fixed and I think the next few months would be very helpful to see if those need needs are met. That's all I got. Thank you. >> Hillary Rodriguez and Rose Bower on deck. >> Good evening. My name is Hillilary
Rodriguez and I live at 510 Kadima Avenue. I'm also a member of the University Green Neighbors Association, a 501c4 corporation. And as I mentioned, I'm at 510 Kadima, which is about 35 feet across from the
proposed site of the dog park, and I don't want a dog park in my neighborhood. I would like to tonight discuss the negative impact a dog park has being next to single family homes, and how a dog park increases the enforcement responsibilities, which fall
primarily on the police department. The city's police department is responsible for controlling barking dogs and illegal parking in residential areas. Section 34-1693 of the city's code of ordinances
addresses the barking of dogs. It is a violation of the city's no noise ordinance for dogs to bark consecutively for more than 5 minutes or intermittently for a period of 20 minutes. The ordinance will be violated several times a day, each day from dawn
to dusk, and the police department will have to handle these complaints. The documented failure of the city to properly manage the Catalonia park, including the parking, the dog waste, the chaos, and everything that goes with it proves that it has not been properly
managed or effectively managed than when the issues arise with these dog parks in the residential areas. The the Catalonia Park was originally built as a park for people. Dog owners began letting their dogs run free in Catalonia Park, prompting the city to
construct a temporary fence to separate the dogs from the children. Dogs ran throughout the entire park, not just in the dog section, and dog waste was left everywhere. Because of the shared failure of the city and dog owners, dogs
are now prohibited from entering the Catalonia Park. Residents next to Salvador Park recently shared with our members that park visitors park right in front of their homes without enforcement despite the no parking signs. We have
seen this also in this entire area surrounding um the the youth center, the library, and all along the neighboring streets. and there isn't a dog park now and we still have parking areas. The arrival of the dog park has only made things worse over in the Salvador Park
area. One Salvador Park neighbor commented that the dog park frequently smells bad, so bad that they won't allow their dog to play in the fenced area. We are not aware that the city has any plan or resources to ensure dog owners pick up after their dogs while collecting
trash, emptying waste receptacles, and removing garbage left in the vicinity of the dog park. For health and sanitation reasons, there cannot be a bark park at this location. Thank you. >> Rose Bower and William H. Arthur on
deck. >> Hello. I left my phone home, so I'm just gonna uh just say what I can like I can mention. My name is Rose Bower. I'm a longtime resident of Coral Gables. I am a uh Coral Gables resident specialist broker. But today I'm here to speak about the animals that live in that
green space. I am also a member of the cat network. Uh I go out and I feed feral cats in Coral Gables. As you know, many of them are all TNBR, but they're hungry. And there's a particular cat, actually two or three, that live in that green space. Here's pictures of them. I
see him every day. He gets fed by me every day. There's also a beautiful red fox that lives on Kadeima. And they also should have their shelter. And we have plenty of dog parks. I own a beautiful large Australian shepherd. We
play ball in that open space. He also doesn't need a dog park. And to mention that the dog park in Coconut Grove, I used to take my dog there maybe once, maybe twice until he got bit really badly in the leg. It cost me a thousand dollars to rush him to the to
veterinarian. He's okay. And I never took my dog to another dog park again. It's just not safe. And it could open up a lot of issues with Coral Gables getting sued for a dog getting bitten. And I have a lot of other opinions as a Coral Gable's resident broker
specialist, but I'll leave that for another day and for our lawsuit. Thank you. I also did not get a door hanger and I live on Segoia Street. Thank you. >> William H. Arthur and Mary Powell on deck.
>> Hi, good evening. My name is William Arthur. My address is 2920 Boulevard. Uh, sounds like I'm about to be the only person in favor of the dog party. Um, you know, personally, I am not a dog person. I I probably will never own a
dog, but I realize that this is a civil civic project and like any civic project, we can't always think about ourselves. There's a lot of people and individuals in the city of Corables who don't have families or kids and they're seek companionship through their dogs
and I think it'd be very enriching for these people if they had a park. Whether it's this location or not, I don't know. Um I was asked to come here and look at the design. I think that uh and and make an opinion. I think that everything Dina Belt designs is beautiful and
incredible. Um, having heard your remarks, I do have some suggestions and some sketches I'll give you tomorrow. Um, and then going back to me not being a dog person, if you've ever had your kid at a park, your 5-year-old get
yeated by a stray dog, you also kind of wish that there was somewhere a dog park for them. Thank you, >> Mary Powell and Maggie Hernandez on deck. Sorry. >> Um I I feel like in a weird way I do
want to address some of the things that were mentioned. I am in support of the dog park. I would like to see water fountains there. I didn't see it listed. I think that would be lovely. And the ones that have two levels, one for the, you know, adults, one for the children.
Uh also to I, you know, I've only been here Oh, and I live at 3267 Riviera Drive. So, this is in walking distance from where I live. Um, a couple things that you all mentioned I do think are important. Somebody mentioned that Somerset has a planned expansion and
they do. They want to go to 700, which is 458 more cars. The more open spaces we have for them to park means that they will be idling in them. So, you may be getting a lot more cars in your front lawn instead of dogs. And maybe that is
preferable. I don't know. I just think that it is worth acknowledging that is not the dog park is not the only thing that is ongoing in this area. Also too, uh, in walking around and speaking with
residents, I find that a lot of people are looking for more of a one-stop shopping situation. And I do understand that people don't like dogs. I have two rescue dogs. My dogs do not bark when they go to the parks, but I don't generally necessarily take them. That is
just a personal thing. But I think that it's an amenity we should have to address the one shop stop uh one-stop shopping library, youth center for the children, fields for the athletes. And a number of moms want to go there, take
their kids for their game, still be in the vicinity, and also take their furry children somewhere that is very close by. I I not to make this very personal, but my dogs get sick in the car. So, driving a mile away is not feasible for
me. It's not feasible for a lot of people. Also, too, being somebody who lives in the neighborhood, I don't like parking on swailes because as we all know, the swelles we are required to maintain even if not deed to us. And so, I take personal issue with people
parking on my swale. I don't love it. So, I don't want to do that somewhere else. So, but I'm also not in a position to walk both of my dogs all the way to Salvador for them to be able to run freely. So, I think that there's some things. Now, I can't speak to everything
that was discussed about Catalonia. I can say that the temporary dog park was not put in place because of any other issue other than the dogs needed a place to run. The city acknowledged during COVID that they were not out enforcing
no dogs on leash at parks because they were encouraging and allowing the community for mental health reasons to be able to socialize safely distancing. And so when then those things were up is
when we said, "Well, is there a way to share?" And that's what that's how that came about. And the city took that away from us without us being noticed either. So, for the record, they were supposed to bring it back and never did. >> Maggie Hernandez and then on deck, Jose
Val. >> Hi, Maggie Hernandez at 625 Bill Morway. Dog parks are significantly improved the community quality of life by fostering social interaction among neighbors, promoting physical activity, increasing public safety through active uses of
space, and providing a safe designated environment for pet exercise. They act as social hubs that bridge diverse residents and boost neighborhood satisfaction. The key benefits to community quality
enhance social capital and cohesion. Dog parks act as social capital catalysts allowing neighbors to meet, build friendships and strengthen community and bonds. As you guys have seen, they
encourage re interaction among diverse groups. Improve public safety. Active, wellutilized dog parks can increase safety by providing eyes on the street or crowds that hold people accountable, reducing
potential for crime or neglect in the area. Health and wellness. These spaces encourage physical exercise for both owners and pets, helping to reduce stress and combat obesity. Increase
property value. Proximity to green spaces and amenities like dog parks can increase surrounding property values by 8 to 20%. Reduce nuisance and improve safety. Well-managed off leash areas reduce the
likelihood of off leash dogs in prohibited areas while providing a contained safe environment for dogs to play. Conflicts and noises. These are the challenges.
Poor design or management can lead to tensions over noise, pet waste, or poorly behaved dogs. It seems like the proposed dog park would have good management and good design. Maintenance.
This is a big issue of the city and the city should commit to providing good maintenance. They require consistent maintenance and thoughtful design to the success. I'm a member of the uh of the dog park at uh Salvador. I don't go there as
often as I'd like because it's not properly designed. It was just put up there and it has sand and my dog has long hair. So, it's like a sand pit in my car and in my house. But it has changed my life. There are 48 members in
the Salvador dog park alone and many more friends that regularly attend. About 8 to 10 of the abuing neighbors of our track group love the Salvador dog park and come almost nightly, including the neighbors that are right
across the street. 40 to 50% of neighborhood residents in Coral Gables have dogs. So, it is important that we have many dog parks. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bell. >> Well, hi. It's very nice to see
everybody here and meeting more neighbors. Um, my name is Jose Bal. I live in 520 Kadima Avenue. We are the University Green Neighborhood Association at 501c4. Our neighborhood is a collection of
individuals and families, babies, young children learning to ride or skate, teenagers walking to the youth center, young families with strollers, seniors, some in their later years blessed with a complete network of sidewalks, mature
trees, historic homes, and a treasure green space that can accommodate a library overflow parking so patrons don't park in the neighborhood. Dogs are walked, wheelchairs are rolled, strollers are pushed, and
people of all ages and backgrounds get their steps in part of the daily routine. We're not here to debate whether the park the bark park are good or not. Is it's your business whether you put your dog in one. It becomes our business when the city tries to force a
dog park in our little neighborhood. when the zoning and dog ordinance clearly forbid it and we clearly don't want it. We fully support a dog friendly amenities in Corables. We simply believe they should be placed where they are compatible with the surrounding uses and
do not impose disproportionate impacts on a small group of residents. Our goal is not to conflict, but a solution that serves a community without sacrificing the safety, character, and quality of
life of our neighborhood. Except for Commissioner Castro and Commissioner Fernandez, the city has repeatedly and deliberately ignored our legitimate objections, leaving us no alternative but to sue. We're not just
fighting a dog park. We're fighting an injust process and a illegal enact resolution. But we are ready to fight and prepare to win on behalf of our neighborhood and all Corable's neighborhoods that expect their city
government elect to act transparently, inclusively, respectfully, and professionally in the service of the residents of city beautiful. I live right in front of the open space right in front of it and they want to put a
fence right there when we have a beautiful sightseeing right now. They didn't even talk to us. They didn't even knock on the door. Nothing. They did a petition where the petition was more
than a mile away from the dog park. Why? Why they do that? Why they have a petition with people that doesn't live around there? Why? But you can see all the green shirts here. It's people that live right on front of the park.
So, thank you. It was a pleasure to see you all here. Uh thank you. We do have one comment on Oh, we have two on Zoom. Uh uh Derek Berley uh states, "I support a
good dog park in Coral Gables, Salvador Park with sand is not suitable. We take our dog to tropical park about four miles away. I have not heard any good argument yet in this discussion against the proposed park." Uh next comment is
from Iet Hobbs. I live at 428 Kadima. I respectfully oppose placing a dog park in our neighborhood because this is not a one-stop shop destination designed to handle large crowds and constant activity. The area already experiences high vehicle and foot traffic due to the
growing number of residents, their nearby youth center and regular patrons of the library. Adding a dog park would further increase congestion, noise, and safety concerns, especially for children, families, and pedestrians who already navigate a busy environment. Our
neighborhood is meant to be a peaceful living space and a dog park would be better suited in a less crowded, more appropriate location designed for higher traffic and public gathering. That is all. We did have one uh
question. Um I see dogs, this is from Daniel Loza. Uh I see dogs almost every day at YC field. Do you think that this park will solve the issue? Um, I think it will provide another alternative uh for the
public to take their dogs. So, I would think that it would definitely lessen any activity of any kind with dogs um at any of our city facilities in the area right here. Uh, so we don't have any more questions. Uh, we are um
complete with public comment unless there's someone that was going to have their name in and didn't um think we're good. So, as we stated before in our presentation, we are going to gather all the input. We had our 16 speakers. You're still able to if if you didn't want to speak today because it's a crowd
or whatever, you're still able to to if we can put that up there at parks projects at coralgables.com, you can send us your comments. We're going to be open. Yes. We we we we did door hangers. So, um and we'll look at because our staff is saying that they
that they did the area. So, we'll look at we do have pictures on corners and we'll check it. Um our intention was to get um door hangers. We have a pretty big turnout, so we did distribute the door hangers. So, we're going to gather this input.
Um, and we are going to So, sure. Yeah. But if you lived within 1500 ft of the location. So, all those hands live within 1500 ft. All right. So, if you would if you would like to to to give us our addresses and
we'll check on it. Well, we'll look at it. Yep. Okay, >> thank you. Um, so we we're going to gather all the information as we said. We're going to go we're going to present it to the
commission and then we'll we'll be having more discussion on as we move forward. All right. Thank you very much.