As advances with the new dog park project continue, Laguna Woods City Council on Wednesday, Nov. 15 unanimously approved a resolution to establish a Dog Park Advisory Group to give input during the design and construction process.
The council voted to close A Place for Paws dog park in August due to property title issues and physical deterioration, and reopened it four days later after public backlash. In October the council voted to create a new dog park less than 1,500 feet from the current dog park and allocated $325,000 for construction.
The Dog Park Advisory Group will be responsible for providing a variety of citizen input and public forums related to the dog park, City Manager Chris Macon said. “Topics would likely include rules, regulations, physicals conditions and capital improvements.”
The advisory group will consist of seven members, five appointed by each city council member and two appointed by the Laguna Woods Village Dog Club board of directors, Macon said. The requirements to be a member of the advisory group include that they must be a Laguna Woods resident and have at least one licensed dog.
“The dog club is aware of this and they’ll be expressing who they would like to represent. More importantly, we’re coming up with ideas on how to help (the city) fund the maintenance of the park itself,” said David Cohen, who created the 3,000-plus signature petition to keep the dog park open.
A second resolution was passed, to include that the Dog Park Advisory Group will establish a regular meetings schedule, including dates, locations and public notices for the group.
Mayor’s Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry
The City Council voted unanimously to join the Mayor’s Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry, becoming the 333rd city in the U.S. to join the compact that expressly rejects extremism and bigotry.
“We learn a lot about other people and we all get along (in Laguna Woods), and these days can be a struggle for a lot of people,” Mayor Shari Horne said. “It’s very difficult when a spotlight of hatred is turned on your group of people. As lucky as we are here, we always have to stand up and always remain vigilant that this not invest in our community.”
The compact includes 10 key components, including the denouncement of “all acts of hate wherever they occur,” “celebrating diversity,” and to “maintain civil rights enforcement.”
The council voted to amend the part of the wording in the city’s resolution of the third statement: “racism, extremism, xenophobia, white supremacy, all forms of bigotry, and all acts of hate, threaten the fabric of our community.”
Councilwoman Carol Moore noted that supremacy can apply to all races, and Council members Noel Hatch and Joe Rainey echoed her statement. The council’s amendment changed the words”‘white supremacy” to “racial supremacy.”