ANNA MARIA – Leashed dogs will soon be allowed in City Pier Park, including during some special events held in the park.
The city of Anna Maria’s code of ordinances currently prohibits dogs and other domestic animals on beaches and in city parks.
“It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic animal to allow or permit any such domestic animal on any beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks located within the city limits,” the current ordinance says.
On March 28, City Attorney Becky Vose presented the city commission with the first reading of Ordinance 24-924, which contained the proposed addition of the following language: “Provided, however, dogs on leashes shall be allowed in parks that are not on the beach or which have coastal barrier sand dunes, as long as no special event is occurring at such park, and as long as the person accompanying such dog shall promptly remove any feces deposited by such dog and properly dispose of such feces.”
When discussing the proposed ordinance, Commission Chair Mark Short said, “I do not agree that we should not allow dogs in the park when there’s a special event.”
He noted that leashed dogs are allowed at the Sarasota farmer’s market and at many other markets and public spaces in the area.
“I don’t see an issue with allowing dogs in the park at any time,” Short said. “We have had them at some of our events, Veterans Day and so on, where there have been people there with their dogs sitting beside them. I think they should be allowed at City Pier Park even if there is a special event.”
Short noted a different city ordinance prohibits dogs on the City Pier and that prohibition will remain in effect.
“The Pier’s not a park,” Mayor Dan Murphy added.
As for allowing dogs during special events, Commissioner Jon Crane said, “I’m not certain about this because you get too many dogs in an area together and they fight. We have an elderly population and that concerns me a little bit.”
Commissioner Gary McMullen said he sees dogs in City Pier Park during the weekly farmers markets held on Tuesdays. He asked if the market events are considered special events or reoccurring events. Murphy said the farmers markets are considered special events.
Murphy said more than 1,000 people attend the city’s annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day events and allowing dogs during those events could be disruptive.
Commissioner Charlie Salem asked if the commission could prohibit dogs during certain special events. Murphy suggested the ordinance be crafted in a manner that would allow the commission to prohibit dogs during certain special events while allowing them in general and during other special events. The commission agreed and directed Vose to rewrite the ordinance to reflect that desired revision.
Commissioner Jon Crane recommended installing dog waste stations in the park.
“It’s a small investment and I think we need to do it,” he said, noting the dog owners sometimes forget to bring their own dog waste bags.
PUBLIC INPUT
The efforts to make City Pier Park dog-friendly date back to last September when the Planning and Zoning Board members unanimously supported board member Dusty Crane’s request to recommend to the city commission that dogs be allowed in the city-owned park located across the street from the City Pier.
When Crane (Commissioner Jon Crane’s wife) presented the planning board’s request to the city commission in October, Murphy suggested dogs remain prohibited during special events held at the park, including those offering food service.
As an alternative, Commissioner Robert Kingan proposed installing a small dog park within City Pier Park and designating that as the only area dogs would be allowed. Commissioner Charlie Salem suggested the space between the children’s playground and the Lake La Vista canal might be a good location for a dog park and the commission took no further action that day.
During the October meeting, Anna Maria resident and dog owner John Kolojeski expressed his support for allowing dogs in the park and for creating a dog park within the park.
During the March 28 meeting, Kolojeski said, “I agree with Commissioner Short. I think dogs on leashes should be allowed at city events. I also think we should have a dog park. What’s happening with that? I think that was fairly well-received.”
The mayor and commission did not respond to Kolojeski’s dog park comment and no further discussion ensued.
The commission doesn’t vote on the first reading of a proposed ordinance. The revised dog allowance ordinance will be presented on second and final reading and a commission vote on Thursday, April 11.
