City of Long Beach - File #: 04-1490

• File #: 04-1490
• Version: 1
• Name: Parks, Recreation and Marine - Ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Section 6.16.310 providing for the exercise of dogs upon a designated portion of the beach of the City of Long Beach.
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 6/16/2004
• In control: City Council
• On agenda: 6/15/2004
• Final action: 6/22/2004
• Title: Ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Section 6.16.310 providing for the exercise of dogs upon a designated portion of the beach of the City of Long Beach. (District 3)
• Sponsors: Parks, Recreation and Marine
• Code sections: 6.16.310 - Dog Exercise Area on the Beach.
• Related files: 15-0230

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/22/2004	1	City Council	declare ordinance read and adopted as read	Pass
6/15/2004	1	City Council	declare ordinance read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading	Pass

Title
Ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Section 6.16.310 providing for the exercise of dogs upon a designated portion of the beach of the City of Long Beach. (District 3)

Discussion
The Dog Zone pilot program was implemented on August 1, 2003 with the stated purpose of providing City staff and officials the opportunity to assess the potential for permanent beach access for dogs. The Dog Zone has proven to be very popular and a great many residents and visitors have expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to recreate with their dogs. However, the Dog Zone has not been free of issues. These include:

. Some residents have expressed their concerns about the health risks associated with dog waste, and the potential interaction of unleashed dogs with other beach users, particularly children.

. There have been several reported incidents. These include several occurrences of dogs chasing (or aggressively approaching) joggers and pedestrians, a bicycle accident caused by an unleashed dog crossing the beach bike path, and a small dog being injured by a large dog.

. Some dog owners are choosing not to follow the rules. Frequently observed infractions include dogs on the beach in areas outside of the Dog Zone and its defined access corridor, dogs being let off their leashes before reaching the Dog Zone, dog owners with more than one dog, and dogs that are not under the voice control of their owners.

. There has been a relatively low degree of participation in the Dog Zone Ambassador (Volunteer) Program.

The ordinance authorizing the one-year Dog Zone pilot program will expire on July 31, 2004. Staff recommends that the pilot program be extended for three additional months to allow the program to continue through the summer, and to provide staff additional time to complete the evaluation process. The Marine Advisory Commission expressed support for the three-month extension at its May 13, 2004 meeting. Since the existi...