Brumfield's Williamsburg Park Pilot Program Update

Last night, Dave Brumfield outlined his pilot program permitting dogs from his ward to use Williamsburg Park. He explained that about 20% of the residents are very much in favor of it, 20% are very much against it, and the remaining 60% don't care either way. The way I look at it, Dave Brumfield is appealing to 20% of his constituents with this pilot program.

I understand it started during a Parks Advisory Board meeting in January, before the amended ordinance permitting dogs in Twin Hills, a passive park. Dog owners went before the Parks Advisory Board and wanted to get special permission to bring their dogs to Williamsburg Park.

During the Discussion Session, Dave pledged to patrol his park during the course of the pilot program, in addition to the additional police presence required to monitor and enforce the pilot program. The pilot program is to last for 90 days. He also said that neighbors will be policing neighbors. Based on the questions Commissioner Linfante asked during the discussion session, led me to believe that she is not in favor of this program.

Last night, several residents spoke on both sides of this issue. A petition of 80 signatures against this pilot program was presented to the Commission. One resident was bold enough to say that after the meeting, he will go home and walk his dog through Williamsburg Park, defying the present ordinance. I asked about the fee which would be collected. I also commented that this is the first time that Kristen and I are on the same side of an issue. At that point, Dave asked Kristen to reconsider her stand based on my observation. [Laughter all around.] I also asked how many dogs are expected to come to Williamsburg Park. Dave had no idea. If this pilot program goes to a vote and accepted, and the pilot program is over, the commissioners will evaluate the results and make their determination. I also said that the animosity that has developed in Ward 4, (almost to the point of being physical) will spread to all the other parks in Mt. Lebanon, causing neighbors to fight, turning neighbors against neighbors, while spreading the message that all ordinances are negotiable.

The Commission will continue their discussions next month.

Bats and Dogs

That's bats, not cats. The Allegheny County Health Department has issued a warning to residents in Upper St. Clair and Bethel Park about rabid bats.

Allegheny County Health Department Warns Upper St. Clair/Bethel Park Residents of Rabid Bats

Also,  here is a public service announcement for Ward 4 constituents. How to avoid dog park dangers.

Everything is negotiable in Lebo

Remember all the commotion over dogs in Twin Hills? Mt. Lebanon ordinance change will allow dogs in park According to Dave Brumfield, that seems to be negotiable.

Here is an email sent by Dave Brumfield to residents in his ward concerning dogs in Williamsburg Park. Note how he is doing this before forwarding to his fellow commissioners.

Friends and Neighbors,
Please find attached the draft for the Williamsburg Park Pilot Program we discussed during our June Meeting. I am circulating this draft to every resident that emailed me on this subject but if I missed anyoneplease feel free to forward it. I had hoped to get this out to everyone sooner, unfortunately there were a few tangential issues that I had not forseen that took longer to figure out. I am going to give everyone two weeks to provide me with comments, concerns and/or questions. Please forward any such communication to me by email if possible. On August 23, 2013 I will make any changes that seem appropriate based on the comments and questions I receive. I will then forward the program outline to my fellow Commissioners for consideration during our August 26, 2013 meeting.
Thank you for your interest and involvement with this issue.
Dave Brumfield

Williamsburg Park Pilot Program draft

Is Dave making his own rules? Is this going to carry over to other parks? Where is the $25 permit fee going? Will it be to pay for the Williamsburg bouncer who will be "carding" the dogs? This ought to be good.

How Twin Hills Park will be used is up in the air

In today's PG, freelance writer Carole Gilbert Brown reports in her article, How Twin Hills Park will be used is up in the air that the agreement for Twin Hills was never executed. 

In an April 21 post on the Lebo Citizens blog (www.lebocitizens.blogspot.com), Mt. Lebanon solicitor Philip Weis explained to a resident who had contacted him that the township was in the process of determining what Scott's park rules are and whether they would apply to Mt. Lebanon.

Scott has its own work cut out for itself, after it was discovered recently that a maintenance and police/fire protection agreement drafted in August 1994 for Twin Hills had not been executed, even though the planning commission and its commissioners had approved the land's purchase.

"It just fell through the cracks," surmised board president Tom Castello, who was not a commissioner when the sales agreement was made.

Scott officials are checking to see how their ordinance differs from Mt. Lebanon's.  A 1971 Scott ordinance does not allow dogs in its parks. The agenda for the original purchase is here.  The meeting minutes can be found here.

Meanwhile, back at the Commission

During Monday's Commission Discussion Session scheduled for 6:15 PM, the Commissioners will be discussing, among other things:

• Preliminary discussion about a possible location for an offleash dog park.
• Preliminary 2012 financial results and beginning discussion on fund balance.
• Public information role and services.

The Commission will be introducing an  Ordinance Allowing Domesticated Animals in Twin Hills Trail Park during the regular 8:00 meeting following the Discussion Session. This park is in Scott Township. Has anyone checked to see if the Scott Township Zoning Board permits an animal park? Can we make ordinances for property that is not in Mt. Lebanon? Perhaps that will come up in the Commission Discussion Session.

Beginning discussion on fund balance might be how the Turf Board, I mean the Sports Advisory Board, will be able to get turf snuck in.

Finally, the topic that is near and dear to my heart, "Public information role and services." There is fifteen minutes allotted for that topic. Are there changes in store for the Public Information Office? I am not trying to start any rumors, but it is nice to see that on the agenda.  Defining the role of the PIO is definitely in order here.