By a contested vote, the Beaches, Parks, and Recreation Commission recommended on April 9 that the San Clemente City Council approve a pilot program for allowing dogs access to North Beach and between Lifeguard Towers No. 7 (south T-Street) and No. 9 (Lost Winds).
The vote, which carried with a 4-3 margin, also followed staff’s recommendation to permit dogs on the selected beaches before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and from dawn to 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Owners would also be required to keep their dogs on a 6-foot or shorter leash at all times, to license their dogs, and they would be prohibited from loitering with their dogs on the beaches.
Commissioners Jennifer Elliott, Shari Grace, and Amelia Mae Weinstein voted against the motion.
After previously recommending a pilot program that allowed dogs to be off-leash at North Beach, the commission was tasked on Tuesday night with responding to the council’s request for further consideration of regulatory input, the best locations and times for dog access, and whether dogs should be leashed.
Samantha Wylie, Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department Director, told the commission that staff had looked into regulatory agency recommendations and noted that completing the environmental analysis for such an initiative would be a hurdle.
“While the staff haven’t had the opportunity to connect with the (California) Coastal Commission on this item, we do have a phone call with them in the next couple of weeks …” she said. “It’s feasible with the Coastal Commission, whether that’s through a local waiver or even a (Coastal Development Permit), given surrounding neighbor agencies that do allow dogs on the beach (that they would approve the program).”
Staff’s additional recommendation to allow dog access to a 0.31-mile stretch of beach north and south of the Municipal Pier was struck quickly. Commissioner Grace expressed concerns about the volume of people in the Pier Bowl area and the potential for people to let their dogs off the leash even if it would be against the city’s ordinances.
Elliott echoed those remarks, adding that she supported the effort to begin the program at North Beach, because many residents stated in a poll that North Beach was their preferred location.
“I am a proponent of a dog beach, but I don’t know why we have to have it in two locations, and certainly not where the majority of people are gathered,” said Elliott.
Elliott and Weinstein also were doubtful of whether the city could enforce the program’s corresponding signage, as the hours might not be conducive to having city employees around to monitor compliance, but Commissioner Edward Kweskin disagreed.
“If you have a sign that says you can’t do something, someone can’t say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know,’ ” he said. “The ignorance of the law is no defense.”
Regardless of whether a person chooses to read and obey the sign, if city personnel with enforcement authority are present, they can ensure the person follows the law, he continued.
Kweskin and Chair Rob Feuerstein also spoke about how having multiple locations for the pilot program would provide better insight into the program’s success.
“The beaches are different between the areas we’re talking about …” Feuerstein said. “I don’t know that the people are different, that people would show up at North Beach and (at the) south beach; maybe they are, but (two beaches) would actually give you more information.”
Other aspects of the program previously recommended by the commission included posting signage that states owners should be responsible for cleaning up their dog’s waste, limiting the program to San Clemente residents, and licensing dogs through the Coastal Animal Services Agency.
The San Clemente City Council will meet next on Tuesday, April 16, starting with closed session at 5 p.m. and the regular business meeting at 6 p.m.