Water board whispering
The closure of the Linda Dog Park seems to have been predicted on two facts:
The possibility of fines of up to $66,000 a day for a violation. Sediment was observed flowing into storm drains so presumably that would have been the basis of a violation. Is sediment from a quarter-acre lot that serious an offense?. See the link below for a recent settlement between the City of Millbrae and the Water Board on violations at the city’s water treatment plant, especially the table at the end of the document. For multiple exceedances of total suspended solids, the city was fined $6000. Was the Water Board really going to fine Piedmont $66,000?
The other factor were the words “topography” and “use” in the Water Board’s response to the city’s initial remediation plan. That is, straw bales and closure of the park was not a sufficient long term plan and could the city come back with a plan that could address the topography and the use of the site. Without speaking with the Water Board, Public Works Director Gonzales devined that such a plan would cost millions and recommended permanently closing the park. If that’s the best he can do, then the rest of our sloped dog parks are a complaint away from closure. Perhaps WRT or the Park Commission should have a call with the Water Board.