Redondo Beach dog owners are probably going to have an uphill battle getting the City Council to overturn a longtime ban on canines in parks.
City Councilman Bill Brand and Mayor Mike Gin raised the issue Tuesday night in response to two citizens' petitions calling for a change to a city ordinance that dates to 1979.
Even though Redondo has a popular off-leash dog run near Flagler Lane and 190th Street, at Dominguez Park, Brand said the area doesn't suit everyone and that he sees a "huge demand to allow dogs in parks."
The mayor and Brand, who represents District 2, suggested the city's Parks and Recreation Commission first consider a change for Czuleger Park, an open space area in his coastal district that sits near the densely populated Village condominiums.
And while the proposal ended up passing on a 4-1 vote -- with Councilman Pat Aust dissenting -- dog owners who want their pets to be permitted in parks citywide will have some heavy lobbying to do before the issue returns to the council early next year.
Although Councilmen Steve Aspel and Matt Kilroy indicated some support for a change only at Czuleger Park, they were opposed to opening other areas around town to dogs, as was Aust. Complaints focused on the owners not picking up after their pets and letting them either run loose or walk too far ahead on retractable leashes.
"Someone's leaving a thousand terds a day on top of the Esplanade. Ask our public works department," Aspel said.
"Parks are for people and kids," said Aust. "Zoos are for animals."
The council's response Tuesday angered one resident who wants dogs to be permitted in all city parks. Sydnee Singer, who said she's gathered signatures from 400 people who feel the same way, vowed not to give up.
Some councilmen have let their individual opinions about dogs supersede the desires of their constituents, she said.
"This is just disrespectful," Singer said afterward. "I will do what it takes to overturn that law."
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