Dog beach’s fate may be determined in February
By CORTNEY FIELDING Special to the Daily Press
SM BEACH — Despite local approval, dogs will not run free here — if state officials have their way.
The state Parks and Recreation Department has a strict policy against allowing dogs on the beach, both on or off-leash, according to Roy Sterns, deputy director of communications at the State Parks Department. These rules are written into state law, and have only been waived in very rare exceptions, he said. None of those exceptions allow dogs off leashes or in the water.
The state’s position could prove to be a setback for city staff working to establish an off-leash dog beach pilot program on Santa Monica State Beach, which was approved by the City Council ear-lier this month.
Before City Hall can go any further with the plan, which would involve sectioning off a part of beach — most likely between lifeguard towers 11 and 12 — it must get state approval.
City Councilman Kevin McKeown said he is aware of the state’s position on dog beaches and will “pursue any channel necessary to get the state to work with us on a pilot program,” he said.
City officials’ first course of action will be to try and negotiate at the district level, said Santa Monica Open Space Manager Elaine Polacheck.
Santa Monica State Beach falls under the Angeles district of the State Parks Department, and according to a California code governing state beaches, the district superintendent has limited authority to make decisions about park use. However, superintendent Ron Schafer has never allowed dogs on any of the district’s beaches and has been known publicly not to support dogs using them.
“He’s been very consistent about that,” Polacheck said.
Schafer acknowledged that he does have some leeway in “identifying an area where it might be acceptable to walk on-leash,” but said he has absolutely no authority to go against state law by letting dogs roam off-leash, which is what Santa Monica is requesting.
“The rules are very clear,” he said, adding he doesn’t look favorably on dogs on the beach, except in campground areas that are not near the water.
“Dogs on-leash means dogs on-leash when there is a ranger around,” he said. “I’ve got some big concerns.”
“Dogs on-leash means dogs on-leash when there is a ranger around. I’ve got some big concerns.” — —RON SCHAFER District Superintendent, State Parks Dept
Both Schafer and Sterns said one of their biggest concerns is for the wildlife.
“Dogs are predators,” Sterns said. “They chase wildlife, they grab birds. It doesn’t mean they are bad, but they are hard on wildlife.”
Schafer also said state property should benefit all users in California.
“How many people wake up in Fresno and say ‘Oh Honey, let’s go take the dogs for a walk in Santa Monica?” he asked rhetorically.
Polacheck said if Schafer shoots down the proposal after a meeting they have scheduled in February, city officials would have to look into what can be done at the state level.
Unleash the Beach, the organization Santa Monica resident Georja Umano Jones formed last year in an effort to get the City Council to approve a pilot program, is relying upon City Councilman Bobby Shriver, who may have some clout in Sacramento. During his campaign this past fall, Shriver said he supported a dog beach. Shriver was recently re-appointed chair of the State Parks Commission by his brother-in-law Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
But Sterns said the commission has no formal jurisdiction over the dog beach law because it’s by the state legislature, and the commission has no legislative power.
Shriver said if City Hall wants to have its off-leash dog beach, it will probably require lobbying the state for new legislation.
But Polacheck said the issue may be resolved next month.
“We are talking to the right people,” she said. “But we may need to find another way to make it work.
“We are still in the begging process.” Sterns said the State Parks Department hopes the issue won’t cause a rift between his office and City Hall.
“We are very happy with Santa Monica,” he said. “We don’t want to hurt that relationship... over the dog issue.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 26, 2005. Read the original PDF.