CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Council Decides Dog Beach Hours Need More Scrutiny

A plan to let dogs play all day long on city beaches during winter hours will have to go back to the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission for more discussion, city council members decided tonight.

“It’s clear maybe we were a little hasty last time,” said Mayor Keith Curry, referring to a 5-2 vote last month to extend the hours during the summer and remove restrictions in winter.

City Council members received “cards, letters and emails” from residents, some in favor of the changes but many from residents who are against giving dogs more beach time or who are concerned about water quality and bacteria levels at harbor beaches.

The item will be discussed at a future commission meeting, which will be open to the public. That group in June voted 3-2 to extend dogs’ hours by 90 minutes year-round, but the City Council in July expanded the hours even more from Sept. 15 to May 15.

Curry told members of the audience that the topic needed more scrutiny, but there likely would be some increase in hours.