Politics & Government
New Space for Dogs on Beach? Maybe Later, City Council Says
The idea to allow people to walk their dogs on the beach between Palm Avenue and Imperial Beach Boulevard was suggested by the city's Public Safety Department in part to "improve or enhance the image of Imperial Beach being a dog-friendly area."
The Imperial Beach City Council Wednesday heard a recommendation from its Public Safety Department to allow dogs on leash 24 hours a day between Palm Avenue and Imperial Beach Boulevard.
Currently people can walk their dogs on a leash south of Imperial Beach Boulevard and north of Palm Avenue at any time but are not allowed to have a dog on the most popular or crowded part of the shoreline between Palm Avenue and Imperial Beach Boulevard.
The proposed change would allow people to walk their dogs between Imperial Beach Boulevard and Palm Avenue 24 hours a day during the low season and from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. from May to September.
Councilmembers Ed Spriggs and Brian Pat Bilbray were not at the meeting. Councilmembers who were at the meeting were split in their opinions about the proposed change. Mayor Jim Janney asked Public Safety Department Director Tom Clark to come back with more information in October.
Councilwoman Lorie Bragg was not in favor of the idea.
"I really want my lifeguards saving lives and not having to worry so much about dogs and did that dog have issues did they have to go," Bragg said. "I just would much rather have a demarcation and a dog-free zone in our most populated areas. I really can't support it."
The policy will allows lifeguards to worry less about dogs, not more, Clark said.
"This also helps the lifeguards because there's a lot of misunderstanding for the lifeguards especially in the offseason where they're contacting people primarily with animal issues," he said.
Clark suggested the rule change to give residents and visitors more options and to help lifeguards."Accessibility for Imperial Beach citizens and also people who come visit Imperial Beach is really important," he said. "And right now we have a restriction between Palm Avenue and IB Boulevard and that area is off limits to dogs throughout the year."
The policy will allows lifeguards to worry less about dogs, not more, Clark said.
"This also helps the lifeguards because there's a lot of misunderstanding for the lifeguards especially in the offseason where they're contacting people primarily with animal issues," he said.
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The move will also make pet owners who are Pier South Hotel guests feel more welcome, Clark said.
"It will allow people with their animals to come down early. If they're visiting the hotel and the hotel is a pet-friendly hotel they can go directly out of the hotel early in the morning, walk their dog on the beach, come back, then go out and do other activities you would want to do in San Diego County."
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Ultimately, a larger space for dogs and their owners to enjoy Imperial Beach would "improve or enhance the image of Imperial Beach being a dog-friendly area," he said.
"And this is not related to leash-free, dog park, none of that stuff. This is just expansion of the area where we currently allow dogs to operate on right now," Clark said.
Councilman Bobby Patton supports the idea of providing more space to walk dogs on the beach but is not in favor of any fine increases.
"It's taxing for lifeguards to tell someone to put a leash on their poodle instead of watching water," Patton said.
Mayor Jim Janney, a proud dog owner, said he may be convinced to support the rule change in the future.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
