October 2002

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Send to newsletter@padz.org. Deadline: 25th of the month for the next month’s issue. Editor will consider all submissions, but does not guarantee inclusion.

Your Local Vote Counts For Dog Parks

City elections are coming up in November, and how you vote can effect the future of dog parks in Encinitas. In this newsletter you’ll find the opinions of City Council candidates on dog parks, so please read their responses and decided for yourself. Look at the calendar on our website for upcoming candidate forums. Also, be aware that other items on the ballot could have an effect on dog parks. WIth so little land available in Encinitas for parks of any kind, how the city uses the land they own is of utmost importance. Learn about the issues so you know how your vote can impact the future of dog parks in our city.

PADZ Annual Meeting November 22nd

Vote for new Board members, and talk to our special guest “Dr. Dog”, Dennis Fetko. He’ll answer your dog behavior questions, don’t miss it! Come to the Encinitas Community & Senior Center on November 22!

Parks & Rec Commission Makes Recommendations

The City Council will receive recommendations on proposed dog park sites from the Commission. We have been told that this will be agendized for a Council meeting before the year is out, so keep your ears open for announcements on that. The design and implementation of specific sites will be an issue for the Commission again, so the job isn’t done yet, but we’re another step closer.

Holiday Parade December 7th

“A Sparkling Season of Peace”
PADZ is hoping to field a large contingent of dog park enthusiasts for this year’s parade. PADZ inherited the Orpheus Park entry, and we hope that everyone from previous years will sign up to take part. We are in desperate need of coordinators for the parade! If you talk to Larry Anderson (Carbon’s owner) at Orpheus Park he can tell you what that job entails (he’s done it so well in the past!). Please contact PADZ as soon as possible if you’re interested in working with one or two other people on this.

Spay / Neuter Rebate Program

The City of Encinitas is offering $40 rebates to Encinitas residents who spay or neuter their pet. Coupons (up to six per resident) can be picked up at the Parks & Recreation Dept. at Encinitas City Hall, 505 South Vulcan Ave. For more info call 633-2740.

You can help!

Get involved with PADZ!

Write to local newspapers and politicians.

Attend municipal meetings when dog parks are being discussed.

Help educate fellow park users on dog park etiquette.

Classifieds

Looking for clicker training friends in the San Diego area for training get-togethers.
Contact Margarat & Vida

How Do Encinitas City Council Candidates Feel About Dog Parks in Encinitas?

by Harriet Seldin
I asked all four candidates (Dan Dalager, Christy Guerin, Dennis Holz and Bob Nanninga) three questions of concern to PADZ. Guerin and Holz are incumbents running for reelection. Dalager and Nanninga are challengers. I thank all the candidates for giving their time to be interviewed. Here are the questions and the candidates’ responses. Candidates are presented alphabetically. PADZ does not endorse candidates.

1. There are no dedicated dog parks in Encinitas. The current Council is looking into establishing fenced, dedicated dog parks. What do you think?

Dalager: That’s fine. Every dog in town walks by my business and brings their owner’s in. But I’m a species chauvinist. When it comes to dogs or kids-kids win out. Dog parks are fine, but there needs to be a sign. A dog park needs to be fenced. We have to watch the liability. I live right by Orpheus Park. One of the neighbors had his knee blown out by two happy dogs chasing each other. Which is why you need to have it fenced and isolated.

Guerin: We need to establish dog parks in Encinitas. Dog parks are a real need expressed by the community. We’ve asked the Parks & Recreation Commission to review the possibility of more than one dog park. We should consider additional sites (in addition to the Hall property), since there are five communities within the City.

Holz: I’ve supported establishing dog parks in Encinitas for my four years on the Council. I’ve been a dog owner all my life, except for right now since my dog died. I’ve had two rescue dogs over my thirty years in Encinitas. We’ve tasked the Parks & Recreation Commission to develop an inventory of potential dog park sites. I’ve supported and worked with staff to acquire the SDG&E Utility Right of Way for dog/dog owner usage. We have recently acquired part of that Right of Way in New Encinitas. I think that each community of Encinitas should have its own dog park.

Nanninga: I think it should have been done a long time ago (establishing dog parks). Four years ago James MacPherson Park could have been dedicated as a dog park. Currently I see two areas as “no-brainers,” MacPherson and Hall. And we need one for New Encinitas/Olivenhain and downtown. The SDG&E Easement should have a dog park. All five communities of Encinitas should have a dog zone.

2. Development is being planned for the Hall Property. The current Council agreed by consensus to go forward in planning for various things on the property, including a two-acre dedicated, fenced dog park. What is your position on a dog park on the Hall Property?

Dalager: Who took Bob Hall into the city and introduced him? It was I. The two acres they are talking about is an isolated square chunk. It seems to be a perfect place for a dog park. There’s gotta be a dog park on the Hall Property.

Guerin: I absolutely support a two-acre dog park for the Hall property. Initially some designs showed a smaller dog park-I want to make sure it is two acres, minimum.

Holz: I’m in favor of the two-acre fenced dog park on the Hall property. We could look at developing the dog park at the Hall property ahead of the rest of the park development, because it’s in an isolated area with its own access.

Nanninga: It’s a great idea. I completely support having a dog park on the Hall property. It’s a passive use. If there is a bigger area, there could be dog obedience training there. The area for the dog park is set aside from the rest of the park. It’s a safety issue. We need to find a way to accommodate people and their dogs.

3. If elected (or re-elected) what will you do to get dog parks established in Encinitas?

Dalager: To establish any park, you’ve got to have land first. We have a lack of park land. This town is 95% built out. Every time we can, the City should buy open land and keep it as parks.

Guerin: I will make sure the issue of dog parks doesn’t fall off the radar screen. I will make sure it goes from the Parks & Recreation Commission to the Council so we can take action on it. I appreciate the effort PADZ has made to assist us. PADZ is a great resource to educate us on the needs in the community.

Holz: The first step is to review the Parks & Recreation Commission’s recommendations. The second step is to add any sites that were overlooked. The third step is to designate sites. The fourth step is to purchase land, if needed. The fifth step is to fund park development. The key is land acquisition and designation for dog parks. If there is an insufficient budget to do it all at once-at least acquire the land and designate it for dog parks. It can be set up later.

Nanninga: I would make it a Council priority to make James MacPherson Park on line as a dog park. And I don’t even own a dog. I like the idea of public/private partnerships, sponsors for amenities in the parks. Once MacPherson comes on line and we show that it works, it will be easier to place dog zones in other parts of the City.

PADZ encourages you to vote your conscience on election day. Be sure that you are registered to vote.