CITY HALL — Fully aware they have no control over the creation of a leash-free dog beach here, the City Council voted 4- 1 on Tuesday to send a strong message to legislators and state parks officials that it supports residents’efforts to create a place near the surf for their canines to run free.
City staff was directed by the council to forward letters to State. Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, and California State Parks stating that the council is backing legislation in Sacramento that would support the creation of a dog beach at Dockweiler State Beach. The council also directed staff to include in that letter that the council would like for the legislation, AB 359, to be amended to include Santa Monica State Beach.
The move follows years of struggle on behalf of dog owners who have been turned down by the state in their quest to create a dog beach near Wilshire Boulevard.
State Parks forbids the presence of dogs, leashed or not, on a state beach because of health and safety concerns. Environmental protection groups like the Surfrider Foundation, Malibu Chapter have sent letters in opposition to a dog beach.
“I am doing this because it’s a pilot program. If it doesn’t work, than we’re going to retract it,” said Councilman Herb Katz, who has two dogs. “I think it’s important we try this.”
Other members said that while they can’t grant a dog beach, by supporting and calling for an amendment to AB 359, they are “leav(ing) the door open” for the future in case State Parks officials have a change of heart.
Councilman Richard Bloom, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said he has struggled with the issue but could not support the ordinance because of its potential to damage the beach.
“This pits two important interests which we have supported and worked with for a very long time against one another,” said Bloom, the council’s representative on the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission. “I’ve come to the conclusion (that of) those two important interests, there’s one that must give way to the other, and I believe that the environmental commitment that we’ve made and the importance we have placed on clean and pristine beaches and water quality is a paramount interest.
“We have other recreational opportunities (for dogs and dog owners) and we have gone to great lengths to provide those opportunities.”
AB 359, which was introduced by the late State Assembly member Mike Gordon, D-El Segundo, currently has no sponsor and is awaiting action in the state Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, chaired by Kuehl. Supporters of the bill said there is a possibility that Assembly member Ted Lieu, D-El Segundo, who replaced Gordon, may pick up the bill.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 2, 2006. Read the original PDF.