Published May 25th, 2011
Joint Session Meeting Didn't Go to the Dogs
Cathy Dausman
A joint session of the Moraga Town Council and Park and Recreation Commission was straightforward, mostly on time and fairly lightly attended May 11.
The sudden entrance of eight Moraga Police Department staff late in the joint meeting raised a few eyebrows. Two on-duty and six off-duty officers appeared, fanning out at parade rest along the back wall. Turns out they were only there for moral support. Chief Robert Priebe and his staff were honored with a proclamation during National Police Week.
Priebe says it is important the public understands that even though Moraga doesn't experience a high rate of violent crime police work is still dangerous. "I am very proud of the work our officers are doing and the positive attitude they continue to maintain. Due to limited manpower, we have all been required to do more, and everyone has responded," he said.
The final new business item, a Rancho Laguna Park Spatial Separation Proposal, aka the dog park and fencing issue, was little more than an update. Lamorinda Dogs Director Robert Blits announced his group has raised $14,000 for fencing, but no one yet knows "what the fence is going to look like." He said Rancho Laguna Park may need fencing regardless of its dog park status because Assembly Bill 1144 requires fenced playgrounds within 200 feet of a hazard. The bill defines a hazard to include close proximity (200 feet or less) to parking lots or roadways. Blits stated that Rancho Laguna Park playgrounds are within that 200 feet parameter. Neither Town Manager Jill Keimach nor Blits could say who would pay for state-mandated fencing.

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