Albany Bulb

The meeting on February 10 will discuss the Dog Management Policy:

The new policies would ban dogs from the beach, the mudflats, the small lagoon, and probably the big lagoon. Dogs would have to be on-leash in the parking lot, the viewpoint/seating area above the beach, on the paved trails, Plateau, Neck trail, and low road along the water. Dogs may be allowed off-leash on the “Bulb” proper (at the end of the Neck).
Plateau, Neck, parking lot, paved trail to benches: 100 percent on-leash

Lagoon: Dogs on-leash or banned
Bulb proper: Possible off-leash area. Dogs would have to be within six feet of handler
Beach: Dogs banned

Please show your support for off-leash dogs and attend the February 10th meeting.

Joint Meeting of the Albany Park &Recreation Commission and the Albany Waterfront Committee

Subject: Draft Proposal regarding Dog Management Policy at the Albany Waterfront for Discussion Purposes

Date:         Thursday, February 10, 2011

Time:         7:00 pmLocation:   Albany City Council Chambers  1000 San Pablo Avenue

The Park & Recreation Commission and Waterfront Committee will be holding a joint meeting to discuss issues concerning dog management at Albany’s Waterfront.  The purpose of the meeting is to present work to date drafted by the Waterfront Committee regarding a dog management policy proposal.  The meeting agenda will include a presentation by staff, questions from the Commission and Committee members, and receipt of comments from the public.

Issues include, but are not limited to:

• Multiple jurisdictions, each with different park rules
• Sensitive habitat areas
• Interest for more official off-leash dog areas
• Interest for more areas free of off-leashed dogs at the Waterfront
• Commercial dog walkers
• Areas proposed for dogs off-leash/under voice control, dogs on-leash, and dogs not allowed (see map).

This is the first of three meetings to discuss this issue at the Commission/Committee level.  Two more meetings (one each) will be held by the Waterfront Committee and Park & Recreation Commission (dates and times to be announced).

For more information, please contact Ann Chaney, Community Development Director at (510) 528-5760 or achaney@albanyca.org

Albany Bulb Dog Policy

An Interesting read on the recent Albany Waterfront Committee meeting.

Lots of discussion about controlling the dogs at  The Bulb, which centered on how to license dog walkers, or dog guardians, as well, committee members also talked about how to determine which areas should require leashes; how to protect certain areas from dog-induced wear; and how to make sure the public supports the plan.

The new policy (download the draft of Albany’s Waterfront Dog Policy), could ultimately be folded into the Parks and Recreation Department’s dog ordinance.

Some public comments made at the meeting included:
one woman saying she doesn’t take her 14 year old dog to the Bulb because it is too “chaotic”;

and of course, as always, there is suggestion that “fenced-off area for pets could be helpful in ensuring community members and Bulb visitors respect the ordinance.” (More fencing?!)

And another asked why they weren’t looking to the Voices to Vision report that cost thousands and thousands of dollars; noting that along with the other studies done costs now total up to the millions spent on these studies.

Read more about the Waterfront Committe Meeting and what was said at AlbanyPatch.com