Doggie house divided after city nixes effort
By NORA SORENA CASEY Special to the Daily Press
NORTH OF WILSHIRE — Valerie Hiss’ plan to rid Santa Monica of dog poop has City Hall barking up her tree.
For the past three years, Hiss has been providing residents throughout Santa Monica with free “doggie houses,” which are attached to trees and dispense plastic bags so that pet owners can pick up the remains left by their pooches.
But after her efforts were publicized this week in a Daily Press article, City Hall received a complaint from a resident. In response, City Hall arborist John Aguila called Hiss this week to inform her that she is violating an ordinance which prohibits objects from being placed on trees. He told her she would have to remove the 60 houses that have been placed in neighborhoods throughout Santa Monica.
City employees have already removed two doggie houses and plan to return them to Hiss, said Karen Ginsberg, assistant director of City Hall’s community and cultural services department.
“The idea is a noble one, but that’s not the issue,”she said.“We are concerned about the health of the tree and it sets a precedent of placing other things on our city forest.”
Ginsberg added that the screws used for the dispensers create holes in the tree trunks, which lead to infestation of pests and fungus.
Hiss is fairly certain she knows who has complained and believes that the person has removed other doggie houses, which are spread out from the north end of the city to the south end.
After her effort was chronicled in the Daily Press on July 31, Hiss said she received numerous calls from people who thanked her for the community service, or asked for a doggie house of their own. But then she received one angry call from a local, informing her of the city ordinance.
Within the next few days, doggie houses on 19th Street and the one directly outside Hiss’ own home had been removed.
Hiss said she is unwilling to abandon three years’ worth of work so quickly. She has spent $5,000 on the 60 doggie houses now in place, and the 20,000 baggies used to stock them.
“I’m trying to figure out another plan,” Hiss said. “I’m not ready to throw in the towel because one person complained.”
The only option for Hiss, according to Ginsberg, is to place the doggie houses on private property. Hiss could attempt to get clearance from the director of the parks and recreation, but from City Hall’s perspective, the health of the trees is the top priority.
According to city ordinance chapter 7.40.150: “No person, firm, or corporation without the permission of the director of recreation and parks shall attach or keep attached to any tree, shrub, or plant in any street, park, pleasure ground, boulevard, or other guard or stake intended for the protection thereof, any wire, rope, sign, or any other device whatsoever. It shall be unlawful to plant or permit to grow any vines or other plantings that would interfere with the growth or maintenance of parkway trees...”
City Hall’s Open Space Manager Elaine Polachek said that even though Hiss’ intentions are obviously good, City Hall cannot make exceptions to laws. She is concerned that other residents might ignore the ordinance, citing the example of people placing hanging swings from tree limbs. The swings provide a liability issue for City Hall because if they hurt the tree, or the tree breaks and hurts a child, the city is liable.
Polachek also said that alternative options for the houses seem limited. As long as they are posted on public property, there will most likely be some complication from City Hall. She suggested that Hiss relocate the doggie houses onto her front yard and other private properties.
Joan Akins, the administrative services manager for City Hall’s environmental and public works management department, said the chances of Hiss being allowed to keep up her doggie-houses seem small.
“In all the many years I’ve been here, no one has ever been able to post anything on a tree,” she said.
Sally Stewart, who lives on 19th Street and is a supporter of Hiss’ effort, believes that City Hall should assist her in finding an alternative so that neighborhoods can remain free of doggie debris and that less fecal bacteria washes into the Santa Monica Bay.
“I understand the city wants to protect trees, but here was somebody who was trying to do something to help the Santa Monica community,” Stewart said. “It seems like everyone should come together to find a solution instead of telling people what they cannot do.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 4, 2006. Read the original PDF.