To some San Clemente residents, opening a stretch of city beach to people with dogs is the fair thing to do – surfers have their waves, volleyball players their sand courts, children their swings, barbecue buffs their picnic facilities.
To others, the city’s eroded beaches are sparse enough as is without setting aside a stretch for people to take dogs. “We have such limited sand … we’re not Huntington Beach,” is a comment often heard from folks who would prefer that Fido stay in the yard.
San Clemente officials are getting plenty of comments as the city revisits the question of whether to allow dogs greater access to 19 city parks and the beach.
The question has come up off and on since 1989, with local officials repeatedly declaring the beach off-limits to dogs. Dogs used to be banned from all city parks but now are allowed on leashes on all city trails and in two neighborhood parks, Mira Costa and Verde. Dogs also are allowed at Calafia Beach Park, which is operated by the state. Dogs can roam off leash in the city’s dog park at the south end of Avenida La Pata.
SEE A SLIDE SHOW HERE OR AT LEFT ON THE POLICIES OF ORANGE COUNTY’S SIX COASTAL CITIES REGARDING DOGS AT PARKS AND BEACHES.
City parks commissioners posed the dog question anew at a workshop last week after a flurry of requests from dog owners. About 20 people, mostly dog owners, discussed the issue Thursday and filled out a questionnaire. A second public workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday in the Community Center, Avenida Del Mar at Calle Seville.
SAMPLE IDEAS AND COMMENTS
• Open up a thin, little-used stretch of beach from Dije Court to Mariposa Point for an off-leash dog park.
• Do a limited pilot program.
• “Pick an area that people aren’t going to cry over.”
• Let people walk their dogs on the beach during the off-season and maybe sell the dog owners a permit they must carry.
• People should be able to lie on the beach and not have to worry about dogs bothering them.
• Some dog owners take pets on the beach anyway, often without a leash.
• If dogs have an allotted area, responsible dog owners will police it.
• The city parks that allow dogs have less pet waste than parks that don’t allow dogs.
• Parks that don’t allow dogs don’t have doggy bags, which may explain why there’s more waste.
• Pet owners should have an outlet for dogs, which are like family.
• Dog owners should be able to take pets on family outings to parks and beaches.
• San Clemente parks such as San Gorgonio, Marblehead and Linda Lane that have suitable areas should fence off a zone for dogs to run free.
• The city’s dog park has deteriorated – Dana Point’s is nicer. The grassy section for small dogs is small and has holes. The larger dirt section for big dogs is susceptible to dog fights and is dusty.
The dog park is great. People and pets socialize there. Some dog owners wish it were closer to the center of town.
“I can’t walk on the beach trail without a dog sniffing at me or my grandchild.”
“I want to be able to go down to the beach and enjoy it. I never go now because I opt to go for a walk on the beach trail and pick up after my dog. I want to be able to enjoy the beach more. Other people in this city get to.”
“I’d like to propose a new ordinance … you leave it, you eat it.”
“I have a fear of dogs … and I’m not the only person in San Clemente who is afraid of dogs.”
“I’ve been bitten on the beach trail and knocked over by a dog.”
If you set aside a portion of a park for dogs, children can have their section and dog owners their section.
In an Orange County Register online poll last week, 80 percent of respondents said dogs should be given more access to public parks or beaches.
WHAT’S NEXT
After Saturday’s workshop, parks commissioners will compile the public comments and questionnaires. It may lead to a bigger committee – representing both sides of the dog question – to look at options. If a proposal comes out of it, the City Council would have the final say.
Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127
