The Redondo Beach City Council plans to rethink its decision last year to allow leashed dogs in city parks and parkettes after city staff and council members received a number of complaints.
Dogs had been prohibited in Redondo Beach parks since 1979. But many dog owners, unaware of that fact, never thought anything of walking their pups on leashes through a grassy open spaces. In October, the City Council did away with the 41-year-old law and welcomed canine companions at eight parks and 10 parkettes.
But not long after the rules were changed and new signs went up, Councilmembers Todd Loewenstein and Christian Horvath reported receiving complaints from residents about dog owners not picking up after their pets, especially around playground equipment.
“I got a call from a constituent who was very upset about it,” Loewenstein said in March.
On Tuesday, May 18, the council plans to re-evaluate its dog-friendly policy. Later in the year, as part of the budgeting process, the city will consider locations for a new dog run, according to a city staff report.
In comments to the City Council in February 2020, when it first considered opening parks to dogs, the vast majority of feedback came from supporters.
“As society has changed, there are more people walking dogs,” Councilmember Laura Emdee said at the time. “We’re always talking about being a more walkable city. What’s the best way to encourage that, if they actually have something to do?”