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Dog PAC, SB |
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Proposed Slate of Officers
President: Andrew Flanagin, Ph.D.
Vice-President: Mary Anne Morrison, M.Ed.
Secretary: Donna O'Toole
Treasurer: Michelle McCutchan
All Dog PAC, SB members are entitled to vote.
PART I: A Park of Our Own?
Is it too good to be true--an off-leash park in the Goleta area? Unless area dog owners show support, it may well be.
The County Parks Department has approached Dog PAC with the offer of a fenced park at a undeveloped open space on Kellogg Avenue near Cathedral Oaks. Currently the area is nothing more than an empty field of dry grass, with a few trees. The County proposes fencing roughly .7 acre of the flat land as a "dog park" with a buffer zone in front that might be landscaped as a pocket park.
But approval of the proposed site depends on much more than the Parks Department; it depends on how the neighbors of the proposed site respond, and whether or not area dog owners can persuade the Board of Supervisors to give the go-ahead.
A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday July 10 at 6:30 p.m., at the proposed site, on Kellogg Ave. just south of Cathedral Oaks. Supervisor Rose will be taking comments from interested parties.
The moral of the story: IF YOU LIVE IN THE AREA, AND WANT A LEGAL OFF-LEASH SITE NEAR YOU, COME TO THE MEETING ON JULY 10TH!
Some area residents have already expressed their opposition. They will certainly be there in force. It is important that dog owners from the area, with a legitimate interest in having off-leash space, speak out!
For more information on the meeting, call us at 967-3949, or e-mail us at dogpacsb@yahoo.com.
Part II: Shared Time, Shared Space?
What if every neighborhood park in Santa Barbara County had a few hours a day where you could take your dog off-leash? It's an idea whose time may have finally come.
It started with a group of neighbors who met daily at their local park, Tabano Hollow, to chat and watch their dogs play. They cleaned up, and kept an eye on the place, but soon found themselves being ticketed anyway.
Ranging in age from one year to nearly ninety, all the Tabano Hollow walkers want is an hour or two a day where they can meet, talk, and enjoy their dogs' company. And they don't want to lose the community (a model of what off leash areas can do) that has formed along the way. Working alongside Dog PAC, Tabano Hollow dog walkers have lobbied Parks Staff, the Parks Commission, and County Supervisors. The result: a suggestion from Supervisor Gail Marshall that there be off-leash hours at all suitable County "pocket parks"!
It's a no-brainer, of course. Off-leash hours in local parks mean: A fairer distribution of resources, as dog owners get a "share" of the recreational space for which our taxes pay; Dog walkers actually walking to local parks, instead of adding to pollution and congestion by driving; Community-building, as dog-owning neighbors meet in nearby parks and form ties.
And because these parks already exist, and permit dogs, the County need not spend money on expensive environmental studies. Poop bags, a few new signs, and we'd be in business!
But there's a lot of ground to cover between a proposal and an approved project. Parks staff have to assess the County's pocket parks to determine if any should be excluded. Public meetings would have to be held, and of course the Board of Supervisors would have to vote its approval.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Let your County officials know that you think off-leash hours in County Parks are a good idea, for all the reasons listed here.
Send your comments to:
Rick Wheeler, Interim Director
SB County Parks Dept.
Rocky Nook County Park
610 Mission Canyon Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
rwheele@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
[Be sure to thank Rick for all his support!]
Our five County Supervisors:
- Naomi Schwartz: nschwar@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
- Susan Rose: srose@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
- Gail Marshall: gmarsh@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
- Joni Gray: jgray@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
- Tom Urbanske: urbanske@silcom.com
SB County Board of Supervisors
105 E. Anapamu St.
Santa Barbara CA 93105
In the battle for off-leash space, there is no issue more effective in the hands of "the enemy" than poop. Unscooped poop is used to argue that dog owners are not responsible, and that off-leash activity poses a threat to the environment.
There is only one way to win that fight -- WE MUST SCOOP POOP!
Although most dog owners do their doody duty, the piles that accumulate at the DFP, beaches, and other dog-friendly spaces send a message: we need to do more.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
- Carry extra bags, and pick up any piles you see along the way
- Volunteer to do a weekly "sweep" of the area you already regularly walk; bring large plastic grocery bags, and smaller poop bags as „gloves,‰ and clean up all the poop you find as you walk.
- Bring your own bags, rather than relying on city or county-provided bags -- it saves on public funds during tight financial times.
- PLEASE make sure your "used" bags go right to the trash, and don't get left by the side of the trail or on the beach.
We particularly need more volunteer cleaner-uppers at the DFP, the status of which as an off-leash area remains undecided. If you can volunteer a "shift" of DFP clean-up, contact Lee Heller at 899-2508 or at: lee@leeheller.net
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Poop Scoop Saturdays
In the spirit of putting our money where our mouths are, Dog PAC has established monthly "Walk the Talk, Scoop the Poop" clean-up events at the Douglas Family Preserve. Join us on the third Saturday of the month, from 9-12 a.m., at the Medcliff entrance, to give the DFP a good going-over for stray piles of poop. Bags will be provided, along with prizes for those who collect the most poop by weight! |
The Studies Go On
Nearly a year after the City Council's vote on matters at the DFP, the future of Santa Barbara's only legal off-leash area remains uncertain. Last July the City authorized new "technical studies" of the DFP, Hale Park, and the beach from the Shoreline steps to the western city limit. The results of these studies, due anytime, are supposed to help decide whether and how these three areas will be legal for off-leash use.
Using those studies, City Parks staff will make recommendations to City Council for the management of the DFP.
There's no way to know at this time what Parks will conclude; however, in conversation with Dog PAC volunteers, the consultant in charge indicated few substantial problems with off-leash dogs at the property.
Dog PAC is watching closely for the coming recommendations, and will let members know as soon as possible what is happening, and how to respond. For more frequent updates, make sure we have your correct email address (send it to us at dogpacsb@yahoo.com) or check our web site at: www.dogpacsb.org Keep telling City Council you want the DFP off-leash -- see our contact cheat sheet at the end of this email.
Be A Good Neighbor: City Council's attitude towards off-leash activity at the DFP is often a response to complaints by the property's neighbors. Last winter, a letter to the News Press from one disgruntled neighbor listed the following problems:
- Dogs off-leash outside the property, bothering neighbors and "going" on their lawns
- Traffic and parking hassles, including fast driving and cars turning around in driveways
- Excessive noise -- barking and talking --near the entrance, especially early in the morning
Dog PAC campaigned aggressively to educate users, and as a result these problems have eased substantially. The simple formula: remember the rules and consider the neighbors! Thanks for doing your part to keep the DFP off-leash!
A City-Wide Plan for Off-Leash Areas
Dog PAC has been working on a City-Wide Plan to designate several parks as off-leash, even if only for a few hours a day. The goal: off-leash access in different areas of the city, closer to dog owners' homes.
Some city parks are grassy spaces that do not require environmental review in order to have off-leash activity. The chosen parks could be off-leash with little cost to the city.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Using the contact cheat sheet at the end of this newsletter, let each City Council member know: YOU ARE A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER, YOU PAY TAXES AND VOTE, AND YOU SUPPORT A CITY-WIDE PLAN FOR OFF-LEASH RECREATION!
Do you think your local park would be good for off-leash use? Are you willing to organize other local dog walkers to help oversee off-leash activity there? Contact us at 967-3949, or at dogpacsb@yahoo.com
The PAC Does PSAs
Dog PAC is proud to announce the launch of a snazzy, award-winning professional ad campaign. The 30 second TV spot and matching print ads feature cute dogs on public toilets, and remind dog owners that "Until they can take care of their own business, it's your business." Look for the ads on local TV stations, magazines, and newspapers in the coming months.
[HINT: If you'd like to help Dog PAC pay for these special educational programs, send us a check. And if you have local media contacts, let us know!]
Beach Alert
Dog PACers be warned: City Animal Control is patrolling the eastern end of the "legal" off leash beach, below the DFP. Be sure to leash your dogs if you are east of the off -eash boundary -- the fallen eucalyptus trees a bit west of the Mesa Lane Steps!
Web Host w/the Most
Many thanks to Santa Barbara Web Hosting, our new web site "home." Visit them at sbwh.com!
Get Involved!
Volunteer Coordinator Michelle McCutchan has several ways to keep you busy this summer while working for off-leash recreation:
Membership drives: We'll have tables at the Saturday Farmer's Market, and Arroyo Burro and other heavily dog-used areas. Come help spread the wrd and recruit new members!
Planned Clean-up Events: Our monthly DFP Poop Scoop (3rd Sat. morning of each month), as well as beach cleanups. Call to join the fun! To help with PAC stuff, e-mail Michelle at: helpdogpacsb@yahoo.com or call 884-1051.
When you contact the Mayor and City Council about off-leash areas, remind them of the following:
- We are committed to keeping the DFP as is!
- Our tax dollars entitle us to off-leash recreational areas!
- Multiple off-leash areas are a way to mitigate environmental impacts!
Write, fax or e-mail each City Council member:
Mailing address: P.O. Box 1990
Santa Barbara CA 93102-1990
Fax number: 805-564-5475
E-mail addresses:
The Honorable Mayor Marty Blum: mblum@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us
Dan Secord: dscord@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us
Babatunde Folayemi: bfolayemi@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us
Iya Falcone: ifalcone@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us
Harold Fairly: hfairly@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us
Gregg Hart: ghart@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us
Roger Horton: rhorton@ci.santa-barbara.ca.us
Visit us at www.dogpacsb.org/difference.html for quick links to these emails. For more information, call us at 967-3949, visit us at www.dogpacsb.org, or email us at: dogpacsb@yahoo.com
Help us help you to keep off-leash recreation alive! Tell us:
Yes, I want to volunteer!
Yes, I want to make a donation: Count me in for $100____ $75____ $50 ____ $35 ____ Other $_________
Yes, I want a Dog PAC bumper sticker to display my support!
Yes, I want to receive The Scoop by email only.
Print and return this coupon, with your check payable to Dog PAC, to:
Dog PAC, SB,
5290 Overpass Rd., Suite 123
Santa Barbara CA 93111
Name:
Street/P.O. Box:
City: Zip:
Phone:
E-mail address:
(We don't share your info with anyone -- we promise!)
Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!!! (and a big hairy slurpy dog kiss)
For more information about joining Dog PAC, SB, or for a free copy of this newsletter, contact Dog PAC, SB at 5290 Overpass Rd., Suite 123, Santa Barbara, CA 93111, by phone at 805-967-3949, or by e-mail at: dogpacsb@yahoo.com. Or visit our website at www.dogpacsb.org
A publication of the non-profit organization Dog PAC, SB
The Scoop is the newsletter of Dog PAC, SB, a 501(c)4 tax-exempt non-profit organization. Dog PAC, SB engages in public education and limited lobbying regarding issues of responsible dog ownership, off-leash recreation, and the presence of dogs in public spaces.