TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Department Director
Linda Robb, Senior Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Girl Scout Silver Award Service Project Proposal- Coyote Awareness at Polliwog Park and Veterans Parkway (No Budget Impact) (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman)
APPROVE
Body
_________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Girl Scout Silver Award Service Project Proposal- Coyote Awareness at Polliwog Park and Veterans Parkway.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Public Works estimates that installing the signs along the greenbelt will take no more than two hours and will cost $268.23. Mounting straps for the poles will cost approximately $60. Costs for mounting hardware, installation labor, and sign fabrication will be paid by Scout Chopra through her fundraising efforts.
BACKGROUND
The Parks and Recreation Department receives requests from community-based service organizations to complete volunteer-led projects on City property. These projects typically provide capital improvements, beautification, or enhancements that support public use and enjoyment of park facilities.
Girl Scout, Sohni Chopra, submitted a proposal on April 14, 2026, requesting approval to complete the attached Silver Award project. The proposal was submitted to staff for review and presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission on April 27, 2026, where it received unanimous approval.
Ms. Chopra will be fundraising through lemonade stands and donation requests.
DISCUSSION
Project Description
Ms. Chopra has submitted a proposal to complete a community service project that will place four 12” x 18” signs on the Veterans Parkway, and posters in the two kiosks at Polliwog Park. These signs will teach residents, particularly families and children, how to stay safe, protect pets, and respond appropriately if they encounter a coyote. The project will also include a small awareness campaign to ensure the information reaches the community.
The project consists of metal signs made from aluminum alloy for the Veterans Parkway, and coroplast or foam poster board for the Polliwog Park kiosks.
Coordination and Implementation
Scout Chopra has coordinated with the Police Department, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works to complete this proposal.
The Police Department reviewed the proposal for sign design and feasibility. Staff determined that signage on the Veterans Parkway and in Polliwog Park will be beneficial and approved the design and wording of the proposed sign.
Additional locations may be considered for signage in the future for other areas where coyotes have been seen, including Manhattan Village, the Manhattan Village soccer fields, and the Senior Villas.
The dispatch phone number will be printed on the signs so residents can report sightings, enabling the Police Department to monitor activity and track problem areas over time.
Public Works will install the signs on four existing MUTT-MITT station poles along Veterans Parkway.
The estimated time to complete the project is approximately three weeks from project approval. This allows time for sign fabrication and installation. If approved, the Veterans Parkway signs will be installed by Public Works, and the posters will be installed in the kiosk bulletin boards upon receipt.
Community Benefit
These signs will serve to educate residents, particularly families and children, on how to stay safe, protect pets, and respond appropriately if they encounter a coyote. The project will also include a small awareness campaign to ensure the information reaches the community. The awareness campaign will consist of Scout Chopra hosting an information table at Polliwog Park and on Veterans Parkway for one day each after the signs are posted.
Parks and Recreation Commission Review
The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed and discussed the coyote awareness sign project at their April 27, 2026, meeting. The Commission supports the project as proposed. The Commission unanimously voted to recommend the project to the City Council for approval.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This item was reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission at their April 27, 2026, meeting. The item was also included in the posted agenda for the July 7, 2026, City Council meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 1 categorical exemption, Existing Facilities as defined in section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines, as it consists of the installation of informational signs on Veterans Parkway and will continue to serve as a recreational facility with no expansion of the existing use.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Project proposal
2. Sign design