HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - August 1, 2018 H-01TM
CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA TITLE: Approve Temporary Fencing and Use Plan for Lawrence Park
MEETING DATE: August 1, 2018
PREPARED BY: Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve temporary fencing and use plan for Lawrence Park.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Representatives of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
Department, the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds and American Legion
have met numerous times in recent years regarding problems with
trash and illegal activities at Lawrence Park.
The Parks Division has taken numerous steps in an effort to curtail the illegal behavior. This includes
closing the public restrooms, which were used as attempts to conceal illegal drug and other illicit conduct
that took place as children walked past on their way to and from Lawrence Elementary School. Parks
staff also removed barbecues and other park amenities that were damaged by improper use. Even so,
dozens of people come to the park daily and leave large amounts of waste that requires extensive daily
cleanup by Parks staff and creates unsanitary conditions that disturb American Legion Hall users.
PRCS does not have the funding to master plan the park or make improvements to make it more
attractive to the neighborhood. Staff, however, has worked with the manager of the Grape Festival
Grounds on a temporary plan to fence a portion of Lawrence Park to provide a training area for the Police
Department's K-9 unit. This will assist the Police Department, which desires additional space for its K-9
unit, while providing structured use and police presence in Lawrence Park.
Funding for fencing of a roughly 0.87 -acre section of the park would come through private donations to
the Lodi Police Foundation. The K-9 training area would be accessible only to Lodi Police, and would be
bordered by Zupo Field to the north, the American Legion property to the west, and open park space to
the south and east.
Mark Armstrong, manager of the Grape Festival Grounds, has worked with Parks staff to develop an
exhibit of a possible multi -phase development plan for the park as shown in the attached exhibit. In the
long term, however, PRCS staff believes any permanent changes should be the result of a park master
plan that involves various stakeholders, including the surrounding residents, and a training area for the K-
9 unit should be considered temporary.
Normally, this type of plan would go before the Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration.
However, in light of Mr. Armstrong's desire to move forward as soon as possible on fundraising and
construction, the Commission's annual July recess and the fact the Council will ultimately decide on the
temporary use and fencing plan, PRCS staff feels it is in the best interest to bring this matter to the City
Council at this time.
APPROVED:
Schw. Baur, City Manager
Approve Temporary Fencing and Use Plan for Lawrence Park
August 1, 2018
Page 2
If approved and the fence is constructed as proposed, PRCS anticipates some of the criminal activity
affecting Lawrence Park will relocate to other parks, which may result in requests to modify other facilities
or increased calls to the Police Department for a response.
FISCAL IMPACT: Reduced cost of maintaining Lawrence Park.
FUNDING AVAILABLE: Pending donations.
Jeff Hoc?
Parks ecreation and Cultural Services Director
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PROPOSED LAWRENCE PARK IMPROVEMENTS
LAWERENCE PARK
Scale 1,20
(E)
AMERICAN LEGION
MEMORIAL BUILDING
(E) CHAIN in*, FENCE
TO REMAIN
IEI ZUPO FIELD OUTFIELD .:
FENCE TO REMAIN
I
PHASE 1
LODI K-9
TRAINING AREA
(37,817 SF / 0.868 ACRES)
(E) TURF
- DOG PARK AREA - —
TO REMAIN
PHASE 2
PARKING LOT
AREA
(33,480 SF / 0.768 ACRES)
PHASE 3
COMMUNITY GARDEN
AREA
X33,450 SFTo.767 ACRES)
- -
PHASE 5
FUTURE PARKING
TO THE NORTH
(E) SWAGS
TEACHING
VINEYARD
AREA
IE) SIDEWALK TO ••'+
LOCKEFORD STREET
•IP
NO FROOM
FAMILY
CGNG PAI!
COVERED
PICNIC
Alt -E A
.(13e0211 SF 1
u.J98 ACRES)