Dogs are on the agenda for the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Commission meeting on Wednesday, July 12. The commission will discuss the cost of changing Ordinance No. 76-18 which prohibits dogs within city parks.
In 1978, the Benicia City Council adopted Ordinance No. 76-18, which only allowed dogs in city parks for the sole purpose of participating in a dog show in September of that year. All other provisions of the ordinance remained in effect.
Then-City Manager Mike Warren was asked to weigh in on changing the ordinance in 1993 and recommended the City Council resolve this topic with the following provisions; dog owners raise funds for setting aside a confined area with a fence and a gate in the community park, no city funds would be expended to an interim facility, and the City Council would come back with a change in the ordinance to allow a dog area in the new Community Park. The City Council voted to approve the resolution that included Warren’s recommendations.
The City Council passed another resolution in 2001 that provided the city staff try a one-year trial period which allowed exemption in certain areas of city parks for dogs. Those areas included First Street Green, First Street Beach and Promenade Beach. First Street Green required dogs wear leashes while the beaches allowed canines to roam without leashes.
This year, Vice Mayor Steve Young looked at the current ordinance that prevents dogs within public parks. He brought this item to the City Council, and the council recommended the issue be brought to the Parks commission. The commission will come up with a recommendation and present it back to City Council.
In cities like Walnut Creek and Orinda, dogs are allowed on-leash in parks but excluded from play areas. In other cities such as Napa, dogs are allowed in city parks and on any trails as long as the dog is wearing a leash that does not extend more than 6 feet in length. The Napa City Council has the authority to designate off-leash areas within parks by resolution. Dogs are also not allowed in any playground or tot lot.
In Benicia, dogs are allowed to be off leash at the Phenix Community Dog Park, located at the Benicia Community Park.
In other business, the commission will hear an update regarding the Great California Delta Trail alignment through Benicia.
The commission will meet at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 12 in Room 2 of the Benicia Community Center, located at 370 East L St.
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I have observed dogs on and off leash in City Park for years. People either don’t see the signs, including the warning of a fine, or don’t care to follow the rules. Same with First Street Green. I see off-leash dogs there routinely, with some owners tossing tennis balls or whatever for Fido to retrieve. Here again, they either don’t see the signs or choose to ignore them. We built a dog park specifically for dogs to run off leash and chase things. Now First Street Green has become a de facto dog park for some owners. We have many dog owners that follow the rules, some that don’t. I guarantee approval of dogs on leash at City Park will just extend the violators to that location.
I agree, Stan. Dog owners either ignore the signs or they walk in from the marina end so they can claim they never saw a sign. Benicia police cruise down First St. but I have never once seen them stop and give a warning or citation.
Many people are afraid of dogs and for good reason. They should be on a leash.
I believe that the observed violators of the city ordinance are just acting like normal citizens. After all, who would suppose that a city would have such an archaic statute on the books? More than half the households in Benicia own pets. So more than half the households in Benicia have PAID for the parks that they are denied use of. According to this backwards statute, you can’t even walk your dog in a park ON LEASH. That’s unfair on the face of it. Cities like Carmel embrace dogs; why is Benicia so backward? If it is zoonoses, it is a misplaced fear-look it up yourselves, incidents of zoonoses is nearly non existent. And, Oh By The Way, how much revenue does the city get from license fees–would you license your car and then allow the police to tell you which roads you can’t use?
Does it have to be all or nothing? Why not allow dogs in certain parks, and not others? Let dog owners and those who do not like dogs each have their own space. Or dedicate one park only to be a “Dog Park” where they can run off leash in a fenced in area (Though personally I would n0t take my dog to such a park)
Well, I went to the meeting. Parks and Rec committee (and others who showed up) sure did have trouble keeping focused on the issue. Rather than focus on whether or not dogs can use the park, the discussion ranged widely through finding more off leash areas, how long a leash should be, how irresponsible people fail to control their dogs, how coyotes have attacked folks’ pets. AND, instead of making a decision, it was tabled to September. I gotta say, I was surprised to learn that the ordinance was enacted (41 YEARS AGO!!) in reaction to one child being bitten (didn’t break skin) by a nearly blind dog (apparently the child was not being supervised by her parent). To say I wasn’t impressed is to understate my dismay. Here’s what I suggest. Dogs allowed in all parks-kept out of playground areas and ballparks AND…dogs can be off leash if there isn’t anyone else using the park (we have lots of parks where there isn’t anyone most of the time). FORTUNATELY, I observed today that the ordinance is mostly ignored–as it should be.
Dogs should not be allowed off lease in any open park. A controlled dog park is fine and dogs can and should be allowed off leash. I do not like dogs on first street coming up to me as harmless as they may be. Eating on an outside table and a dog bothering other folks is not OK.
Thom, each and every thing you bring up is exactly the type of discussion that should be held in making a decision with regards to days in parks. Nothing was tabled. In fact, more information was requested. Just because the meeting did not go your way that night does not mean it wasn’t taken seriously. As to your suggestion that dogs be allowed off leash anytime someone isn’t there leads me to ask one question. Would you go up to someone who was letting their dog go off leash if there were kids in the park to tell them that off leash when others are present is not allowed?
Well, John…perhaps I don’t know what tabled means. All I know is that a decision was not made and instead of keeping to the topic, the Parks and Rec meeting was more off topic than on topic (take a look at the statute in question to see what the topic should have been). The topic is a specific (STUPID) ancient statute enacted 41 years ago which prohibits dog owners from using city facilities THAT THEY PAY FOR–EVEN WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS THERE. To answer your other question…NO, I would not tell folks what to do….and I would appreciate it if the CITY would refrain from telling folks what to do as well. In a little town like Benicia, a little anarchy would be a pleasant change.
Don’t get so worked up Thom. Something tells me that you will do whatever you want regardless of what the statute says, just as you have been doing all along.
Actually, unlike some, I did obey the statute for the most part until my fur friend died recently. BUT, it annoys me greatly to see obnoxious signs in front of every park prohibiting families with dogs from enjoying our parks. It also annoys me to see rules written that are for the benefit of few at the expense of many (anti-democratic, right?). Further, every rule that is written which is ignored by many diminishes respect for actual rules that make sense to have on the books. Kinda like Tennessee writing that pi equaled 3 (urban myth by the way).
Dogs should never be off leach on public sidewalks or allowed in public parks. That’s what dog parks are for. We do not need to be annoyed by dogs while walking on public sidewalks or dining outside. Dog owners are the ones responsible for their animals behavior not the other residents.
OK, “Owl” I understand that you don’t like dogs or dog owners. Fact is, though, the ordinance in question doesn’t prohibit walking dogs on public sidewalks…so don’t be like the Parks and Rec folks, stick to the topic. And here’s a tip in case it has slipped your attention, if it annoys you to have dogs walking where you are eating–go INSIDE where you won’t be bothered.
It is not that I do not like dogs. It is the selfish rude owners that are the ones that I do not like. They think they are privileged as a dog owner. No respect for others. It is all related. Not at all off topic. Just added some other issues about dog owners. Show some respect to others. I do believe the public shows respect to the dogs.
I certainly agree that there are irresponsible people. People who should not be allowed to drive cars, have children or own dogs (or be in public office, but that’s another topic). BUT, making rules that harm responsible people because of irresponsible people is anathema. Making rules is what prudes do. Nobody ever writes a rule that says…we have to have this rule to keep me from doing this.
You ,caused the problem so therefore the rule. Change your behavior and your groups behavior and the folks might have some agreement with your concern. That is not what you are doing. I appears to me it is your way or no way. If that is the case you lose big time. I do not care how many folks you pack ,the chamber with.. You will lose. You want your way and have no respect for others. That appears to me to be very selfish.,
Let me get this straight, you are calling me, personally, selfish. I don’t even have a dog. I just see injustice in this ordinance. I am strongly averse to rules that benefit few in favor of the majority-and like it or not, there are more households in Benicia with dogs than without.
Give me the proof. Data.
Look it up yourself…I did.
So I guess that means that we don’t need traffic rules because they are inconvenient to responsible people, or rules about assaulting people because most of us don’t do that, so why have a rule telling us what not to do? I believe the 10 Commandments, as well as Hammurabi’s Law did just that, didn’t they, all starting with “Thou shalt not.” We do have to have rules to keep people from doing foolish, dangerous or selfish things, some of which relate to owners of animals who are allowed to annoy those who aren’t.
I believe in laws and rules and do my best to obey them. A dog park downtown could very easily resolve this difficult issue. I will not go to a park that has dogs running loose. My choice. If the law says it is ok that’s fine with me. Laws and rules are for the benefit of everyone. I have no problem with not allowing dogs in public parks in Benicia. I do not care what other city’s do.
“j.” the situations are not parallel. Traffic rules do not restrict the rights of many for the benefit of few. This ordinance does.