Residents urge alternatives to permanent removal of Linda Park as off‑leash area

During public comment on April 21, seven residents and neighbors pushed back on the proposal to remove Linda Park from the municipal off‑leash list, urging the council to consider intermediate steps rather than a permanent code change.

David Hsu said he had not attended council meetings before but read the notice as abrupt and described the proposed solutions as “draconian.” Several speakers (including Michael Lehi and Garrett Keating) said they had reviewed the Regional Water Board correspondence and interpreted it as requesting a mitigation plan rather than ordering closure; Lehi told the council petitioners submitted roughly 400 signatures opposing permanent removal.

Speakers recommended an array of mitigation options: seasonal closures in winter, jute matting, silt fencing or straw wattles, hydroseeding, and structural options such as replacing the retaining wall or creating a fenced portion that excludes the steepest slopes. One resident suggested converting an unused area “across the street” into a fenced dog area and provided cost estimates for a fence to staff.

Public commenters asked the council to refer the matter to the park commission or delay final code changes until the city’s pending sustainability study is complete. Council members and staff repeatedly said the sustainability study will examine off‑leash needs and potential alternative sites and encouraged continued public participation in the process.

The council adopted the ordinance removing Linda Park from the code that evening but emphasized the decision does not prevent a future council from re‑designating the park after improvements or finding another fenced site.