Bull Creek Off Leash Area To Permanently Close

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BCDOG-Bull Creek Dog Offleash Group

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Nov 8, 2009, 8:58:14 PM11/8/09
to Austin Off-Leash Dog Area Committee
UPDATE 11/9/2009

I am sad to report that the off leash area of Bull Creek District Park
will close, never to open again. If you own a dog you will have to go
somewhere else from now on. The nearest location would be Turkey
Creek near City Park or Red Bud Isle.

Our group Bull Creek Dog Off Leash Group-BCDOG and its volunteers have
spent over 1000 hours just this year making improvements, education
and general upkeep at the park. We installed the split rail fence you
see along the road to deter dogs and kids from running into the
street. We installed the octagonal green bench that sits under the
200 year old oak tree. We have spread mulch, picked up poop & trash,
educated park patrons about scooping the poop, held educational and
fundraising events, did what we could for erosion control, started a
Volunteer Park Monitor program to educate about violations from not
scooping the poop to drinking and littering and just generally
maintained the park.

The City of Austin, Parks & Recreation Department is closing the park
for a restoration project for at least 6 months and the off leash area
will never open up again. Our group has offered idea after idea,
proposal after proposal and none of our ideas or proposals have been
included into the COA's plans and proposals.

The COA is going to continue move forward with the exact same plan
they have had since early spring of this year. The plan has not
changed, our ideas have not been included and there has been no
recognition, gratitude or appreciation for our results, efforts and
our group. The COA wants to do this their way and so it shall be.
The 1000 + hours of free annual volunteer labor and approximately
$10,000 in grant monies that could have been redirected to the
restoration of the park from BCDOG that could have helped the COA in
this tight budgetary year will not be there to help with the
restoration project nor any other project. Furthermore I personally
recommend that the Bull Creek Foundation also remove all volunteer
efforts at Bull Creek District Park and that BCDOG disband and all
grant monies , we have be grandfathered into the Bull Creek
Foundation's account.

Bull Creek OLA should be removed from the COA's website as an off
leash area and the newly formed OLAAC should be notified that this OLA
has closed.

We can only wish the COA luck with this autocratic leadership style
and approach.

Sincerly,
Debra Bailey
Bull Creek Dog Off Leash Group President

Karen Blizzard

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Nov 9, 2009, 11:29:50 AM11/9/09
to austino...@googlegroups.com
In light of this update, would it do any good to come to the meeting tonight??


> Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 17:58:14 -0800
> Subject: Bull Creek Off Leash Area To Permanently Close
> From: baileys...@yahoo.com
> To: austino...@googlegroups.com
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> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Austin Off-Leash Dog Area Committee" group.
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Rosie

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Nov 9, 2009, 12:15:04 PM11/9/09
to Austin Off-Leash Dog Area Committee
It is my understanding that "permanent closure" is not a statement
put out by Watershed or PARD. The present statement is that the area
will be closed for 6 months.

Rosie

On Nov 9, 10:29 am, Karen Blizzard <kb...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> In light of this update, would it do any good to come to the meeting tonight??
>
>
>
>
>
> > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 17:58:14 -0800
> > Subject: Bull Creek Off Leash Area To Permanently Close
> > From: baileysoluti...@yahoo.com
> _________________________________________________________________
> Windows 7: Unclutter your desktop.http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9690331&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:W...

Claire Sorenson

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Nov 9, 2009, 12:29:11 PM11/9/09
to austino...@googlegroups.com, Rosie Weaver
This is my understanding also.  We asked about PARD's official stance at our last OLAAC meeting and they said that the OLA is still up for discussion.  I think it would be good to go to the meeting no matter what.  The park still needs lots of help with or without the OLA.  I would think that the more cooperation we give to the much needed restoration process the better the chances for the OLA.
Claire
--
Claire Sorenson
512-689-5911

Karen Blizzard

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Nov 9, 2009, 1:03:31 PM11/9/09
to austino...@googlegroups.com, Rosie Weaver
I hope they are open to input on the type and location of vegetation. as I stated at an early public meeting, they need to ensure that the type of vegetation they select, and where they plant it, is compatible with park use. If the OLA remains, then it doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money on vegetation in areas where dogs will be gathering (i.e., near the water). Otherwise, there is the risk that they will use the new vegetation as a reason to ban dogs from the area.

Karen

Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 11:29:11 -0600
Subject: Re: Bull Creek Off Leash Area To Permanently Close
From: csore...@austin.rr.com
To: austino...@googlegroups.com; rwe...@austinparks.org
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Rosie Weaver

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Nov 9, 2009, 5:13:32 PM11/9/09
to austino...@googlegroups.com

I am resending this portion of an email from Debra Bailey.

---------------------------------------------

Here is the COA's Proposal from 9/2009...
-Note Item #6

Staff Proposal for Bull Creek District Park

Staff have reviewed public comments from multiple sources:
Environmental Board staff briefing (08/19/2009)
Parks Board (08/25/2009)
Joint sub-committee of the Parks and Environmental Board (08/31/2009)
Comments associated with media postings
Direct communications from citizens
Focus group conducted by the community engagement coordinator
(09/09/2009)

WPD and PARD present the following alternative proposal for
consideration.

1. Close Bull Creek District Park in November 2009 for restoration
project. Monitor water quality during closure.

- Staff will include public on restoration project design
- Park closure estimated to last 6 months, and will be done in
coordination with low water crossing improvements to minimize area
disturbance
- Park closure allows for crews to safely conduct work in the park
- Park closure will provide time for new vegetation to be established
- Park closure provides a monitoring baseline under “minimal impact”
conditions. If water quality does not improve, staff will continue
source investigations
- Park closure provides time for aquatic system to “reset” with
reduced fecal contamination loading


2. PARD to open off leash area in Emma Long by December 2009

- Additional off leash area will help alleviate over crowding at other
off leash sites during closure of Bull Creek District Park
- Emma Long provides an off leash area with water access. Although
off leash areas in riparian zones are out of compliance with
recommendations from WPD for future OLAs, this new OLA is offered to
satisfy citizen request for substitute area to Bull Creek site
- Water quality impacts from off leash uses in Emma Long are reduced
because of the high volume and flow of Colorado River
- PARD to create process for off leash users to access Emma Long
without the standard entrance fee, potentially in conjunction with off
leash licensing (see #4)


3. PARD to implement increased enforcement of park rules

- Short-term: PARD to work with APD park units to improve enforcement
of existing park rules
- Long-term: PARD to implement Park Ranger Program for increased
enforcement (May 2010)
- Staff to investigate additional avenues for enforcement in
conjunction with Law Department, Off Leash Task Force and public
outreach staff.


4. PARD, the citizen Off Leash Task Force, and animal control staff to
pursue additional source of funding via fee or licensing programs,
with recommendations due January 2010

- Additional funding needed to support maintenance and enforcement
activities in off leash areas
- Additional dog licensing requirements to use off leash areas could
be a mechanism to deliver education and new revenue


5. Following restoration, open Bull Creek as on-leash only park
(projected spring 2010) for a 6 month evaluation period; continue
water quality monitoring

- On-leash use will be allowed if contact recreation standards are met
following park closure
- Time period for on leash use evaluation may need to be extended if
weather conditions do not provide sufficient time period for
assessment under normal flows
- Staff will develop measurement methods to assess success of park
land and riparian area restoration


6. Evaluate monitoring results of on-leash only use in a public
process to determine appropriate long-term allowable uses in the park
(projected fall 2010)

- Long-term allowable uses may include prohibition of dogs in the
park, continued on-leash use, or program for off leash use
evaluation.

Rosie Weaver
Outreach Director
Austin Parks Foundation
816 Congress, Suite 1680
Austin, TX 78701
phone 512-477-1566

Support Austin's parks! Become an Austin Parks Foundation member at www.austinparks.org/member.html


Rosie Weaver
Outreach Director
Austin Parks Foundation
816 Congress, Suite 1680
Austin, TX 78701
phone 512-477-1566

Support Austin's parks! Become an Austin Parks Foundation member at www.austinparks.org/member.html

Skip Cameron

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Nov 9, 2009, 5:39:57 PM11/9/09
to austino...@googlegroups.com
It's patently clear that PARD and WPD have not and will not collaborate with
the committed stakeholders who have been caring for Bull Creek District Park for over 10 years. They have ignored our proposals for Phase II OLA. By their stiffing us they have driven us off. PARD and APD admitted to us that they cannot enforce the park closure. They have never done any maintenance of BCDP other than picking up trash from the cans and hosing out the bathrooms. How will they maintain the restoration without committed stakeholders as volunteers? That remains unanswered after months of asking.

Skip Cameron, President
Bull Creek Foundation

Skip Cameron

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Nov 9, 2009, 6:01:32 PM11/9/09
to austino...@googlegroups.com
Per the July 20 meeting with PARD and Watershed, emails from WPD folks on this issue, and their presentations at Parks and Enviro Board, and their unwillingness to collaborate and work with committed stakeholders, you would get the distinct impression that they are looking for a way to exclude any off leash uses near any water in Austin, without regard to proving that eColi is in fact from dog feces and that eColi at levels seen has caused known incidents of people sickness. The only documented illness was from the massive sewage spill in the Fall of 2007.
Flawed science does not make good public policy.
Skip Cameron
Bull Creek Foundation

Rosie Weaver wrote:

phone 512-477-1566fax 512-477-1586

 
Rosie Weaver
Outreach Director
Austin Parks Foundation
816 Congress, Suite 1680
Austin, TX 78701

phone 512-477-1566fax 512-477-1586

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Kyle Allen

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Nov 13, 2009, 11:56:40 AM11/13/09
to austino...@googlegroups.com
Rosie,
 
Did OLAAC ever take a position on Bull Creek?  If so, what is it?
 
Kyle Allen
BCDOG- VP
 
From: rwe...@austinparks.org
To: austino...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Bull Creek Off Leash Area To Permanently Close
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 16:13:32 -0600
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Rosie Weaver

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Nov 16, 2009, 11:19:56 AM11/16/09
to austino...@googlegroups.com
OLAAC did not take a position. The first meeting was last month, and was mainly organizational. Minutes are supposed to be available online, I am not quite sure where. I will update the list when I find out.


Rosie Weaver
Outreach Director
Austin Parks Foundation
816 Congress, Suite 1680
Austin, TX 78701
phone 512-477-1566

Support Austin's parks! Become an Austin Parks Foundation member at www.austinparks.org/member.html

Kyle Allen

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Nov 23, 2009, 6:18:33 PM11/23/09
to Austin Off Leash Google Group
Rosie,
 
Were you able to determine where the meeting minutes are available?
 
Kyle

 
From: rwe...@austinparks.org
To: austino...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Bull Creek Off Leash Area To Permanently Close
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:19:56 -0600
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Kyle Allen

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Nov 23, 2009, 8:13:24 AM11/23/09
to Austin Off Leash Google Group
Rosie,
 
Is the OLAAC planning on taking a position on the fate of Bull Creek as an OLA?
 
It seems to us that if the OLAAC is not willing to take a position on a matter of this magnitude, then what is it's function?
 
Kyle Allen
VP- BCDOG

 
From: rwe...@austinparks.org
To: austino...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Bull Creek Off Leash Area To Permanently Close
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:19:56 -0600

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Skip Cameron

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Nov 23, 2009, 11:41:59 PM11/23/09
to austino...@googlegroups.com
Kyle:
Here are the minutes of the October meeting.
And the November Meeting agenda.
Skip

Kyle Allen wrote:

Rosie,

Were you able to determine where the meeting minutes are available?

Kyle

From: rwe...@austinparks.org
To: austino...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Bull Creek Off Leash Area To Permanently Close
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:19:56 -0600

OLAAC did not take a position. The first meeting was last month, and was mainly organizational. Minutes are supposed to be available online, I am not quite sure where. I will update the list when I find out.

 
Rosie Weaver
Outreach Director
Austin Parks Foundation
816 Congress, Suite 1680
Austin, TX 78701

phone 512-477-1566fax 512-477-1586


Rosie,

Kyle Allen
BCDOG- VP

phone 512-477-1566fax 512-477-1586
rwe...@austinparks.org
http://www.austinparks.org Support Austin's parks! Become an Austin Parks Foundation member atwww.austinparks.org/member.html Be our Facebook fan! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Austin-TX/Austin-Parks-Foundation/26290521100

 
Rosie Weaver
Outreach Director
Austin Parks Foundation
816 Congress, Suite 1680
Austin, TX 78701

phone 512-477-1566fax 512-477-1586
rwe...@austinparks.org
http://www.austinparks.org Support Austin's parks! Become an Austin Parks Foundation member atwww.austinparks.org/member.html Be our Facebook fan! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Austin-TX/Austin-Parks-Foundation/26290521100

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OLAAC Agenda 11.18.09
OLAAC 10.14.09 mtg minutes
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