The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to: "Authorize design and construction of an Off-Leash Area at Rancho Bernardo Community Park Expansion" funded with $270,000 by California Park Bond Per Capita Fund/Rancho Bernardo Community Park Acquisition and Development Fund #38129. The Manager’s report provided detailed recommendations for City Council action. So ends 3 ½ years of hard work by a handful of devoted dog owners. Following is my letter to the Council:

"To Mayor Murphy and the SD City Council:

Included in these documents are the original 1998 petitions signed by over 1100 parties interested in a RB Dog Park.

Also included are some recent letters written to you by anxious residents requesting your consideration in allocating a part of the recently acquired Park and Recreation land adjacent to the RB Community Park to a Dog Park.

This all began in 1998 when I was on the RB Community Council and had just acquired my beagle, Amy. The Council unanimously supported my dog park concept, as did Barbara Warden, and I was voted Chair of the Dog Park Committee.

We are very thankful to Council Member Maienschein for his support from the beginning. He even campaigned for it before he was elected!

Many people have supported this idea, and I particularly want to thank Jerry Cisinsky, my co-chair and Robin Kaufman, chairman of the RB Recreation Council. We now have a list of 40 people, including all four RB veterinarians, who are members of our "Friends of the RB Dog Park." We know we will get more. Thank you very much for your consideration."

"I know there were many RB residents who wanted a place nearby to take their dogs for exercise, and for dog owners to socialize!" Maienschein said. "Now a site has been located that will not take away any park space, and will also be fenced for protection."

The future dog park is located south (and adjacent to) the Rancho Bernardo Community Park and north of the Metro Wastewater Treatment plant on the west side of West Bernardo Road.

Councilmember Maienschein has been committed to providing a park and grading the land necessary for the installation of the Dog Park. He will also provide a water source for the dogs in addition to encouraging reclaimed water for maintenance.

If you would like to be a part of this very worth while effort, please email your name, address, telephone, and email address to dogs@rbernardo.com/ or call 858-487-4012. Volunteers are very much needed and appreciated.