POTPURRI-FROM DOGGIE BEACH TO CODE ENFORCEMENT!
Big Dog gets around town and attends a ton of meetings in order to keep this blog going. Every once in a while a backlog of smaller issues and opportunities uncovered in his travels clogs his brain. This piece is a bunch of relatively random items and ideas that once written will, hopefully, unclog the brain and let you in on some things you might want to know.
At the June 15 City Council Meeting, Council Member Sam Henderson asked that the Council consider a petition calling for the creation of a “Doggie Beach” on part of our City Beach. Now, this is not the first time, this idea has come up. A few years ago the idea of was extensively debated and soundly defeated. It is strange that since our City Council has professed to be a “green” council and has joined “Hands Across the Sand” to protect our beaches from oil pollution that a member would suggest creating a doggie beach when most experts claim that doggie poop from the 500,000 dogs in the Tampa Bay area is responsible for 95% of the e-coli pollution in the bay. As much as we love our loyal friends of the dog persuasion, we think our well used and taxpayer supported Doggie Park is quite enough.
In our downtown Waterfront Renewal District, (WRD), all the city tax revenues in excess of what taxes came in prior to the renewal project have to be spent within the district or for the benefit of the district. These revenues are called TIF Funds. Promotion of WRD events is a legitimate way for the city to expend TIF Funds. Many TIF dollars have been spent by the city in infrastructure, (lights, display pads, electrical outlets, etc.), and in in-kind services, (police, rec. people, etc), over the years. In fact a contract has been entered into by the City and the Merchant’s Association, (a private, non-profit group), that spells out the degree of participation by each side. The deal is apparently working given the huge crowds generated at our Art Walks, festivals and the Tuesday Green Markets. The Merchant’s Association rents out the many booths at each event and as part of the deal keeps all the revenues. I suspect that that has resulted in tens of thousands in income to the private Merchant’s Association. Wouldn’t a periodic, public accounting by the Association be in order since the source of the money is from the investment of the taxpayers? Shouldn’t that be part of the deal?
The Looper Trolley, which by eyewitness observation of many uninvolved observers, (all that I have spoken with over the trolley’s history), is almost always empty when passing through the WRD is also supported by TIF Funds. The City classifies trolley expenditures as “Promotional” funds for the WRD District and yet has never done a ridership survey that shows that the trolley is actually bringing any business into the WRD. By observation, it appears that the trolley brings little, if any, business to the WRD. Why is the City Manager so resistant to a simple driver survey that would justify his own euphemistic contention that it does benefit the WRD? Isn’t there a better way to spend $50-60,000 per year of TIF money in promoting business in the WRD? Is there undue pressure from the Council to keep the Manager from conducting this simple survey?
An Ordinance regulating Recreational Vehicle, (RV), parking/storage in Gulfport got it’s first reading at the June 15, City Council meeting. According to the Community Development Dept., about 85% of RVs currently on city house lots are not in compliance with existing regulations. The new ordinance is actually the old ordinance with some modifications. Details can be found in the Packet for the June 15 meeting on the city website, (mygulfport.us), or in the video of the meeting. This ordinance goes well beyond its actual contents. It actually opens the door to a city-wide debate as to how residents want our city to look. It also gives rise to a discussion of how we go about enforcing our many codes and regulations. Do we want our city to retain the character of a small, seaside former fishing village or are we ready to upgrade our image to others and ourselves? Is enforcement to be “by the book,” or passive to the extent that officials only respond to complaints? This item will come up for second reading and enactment at the next Council Meeting on July. Maybe you ought to be there.
Who says Gulfport falls asleep during the summer months? With our budget coming up for discussion in July and these and other issues boiling under the surface, things could get hot at City Hall, and I’m not just talking about the weather.
Since this issue has arisen I’ve wondered what the real objection are, seriously? Though I do not have a dog now, in the past and on many occasions I would take my dog(s) to the beach east of the pier before Veterans Park was built and they never cause a stink. Pooping in the water is not a natural event for a dog and land loads could be lifted with little effort. In any case the topic inspired me to write a letter to the council. I do suspect that some of our leadership could see the logic in allowing this without the need to see that other communities have successful program, but I included the references just so the others would not feel like pioneers.
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Gulfport City Council,
The obvious objection, as I see it, would be that someone would unfortunately step in a pile of dog fesses while walking barefoot along the shoreline and the thought of that is repulsive. People can easily make a correlation with an adequate sensory input between feeling dog fesses between their toes and smelling it as they wash it off it the water.
Other concerns may include dogs un-tethered frolicking on the beach running past a person who might be lounging on a blanket in the sand. Then there is the possibility of having to witness a dogfight if the critters are unattended. These are issues that might cause a policy maker to not invite citizens with their dogs to the beach. Can these concerns be regulated in a way that would allow a citizen of the beach community to use the beach with their dogs? I think so.
First we could require that only Gulfport citizens use the beach area where pedestrians are rarely found, on the east end of the beach and south of Veterans Park. Secondly, we could insist that the dogs are tethered and the owners pick up their dogs excrement. These few limited requirements could control any of the objections above.
Now, some I suppose would attempt to make an argument that the dogs fesses will pollute the water, and of course if none of the suggestions I’ve introduced were implemented, this would be a likely outcome, but certainly not a reasoned justification for removing all access. A few dogs a day/week/month is not going to add to the pollution in the volume that is being introduced every time it rains.
Just for the sake of argument let’s say there are 1000 dogs in Gulfport depositing 1 pound of fesses and 1 quart of urine each day to the inevitable rainwater runoff once a week, 52 times per year. The fesses contaminate would be 7000 pounds per week and the urine would be equivalent to 1743 gallons. In the course of a year the approximate accumulation of fesses would equal 182 tons, and the urine would equal 90,636 gallons ending up in the groundwater or rainwater runoff. (fesses pick-ups, evaporation and contributions from St. Pete are not calculated in this example)
Without taking too many liberties here, can I suggest that the little pollution that the dogs at Veterans beach may contribute to the water contamination by excrement would be minimal at best? Might I also suggest that most of the citizens that would use the beach for this purpose are responsible citizens and care givers.
Our beaches and parks are seriously under utilized and by eliminating one more activity that citizen may participate in is only making the public area less of an amenity for all it’s citizens.
Certain days could be reserved for such a compromise, and the activity could be restricted to mornings east of the pier. Businesses could promote dog days and the city could charge a licensing fee for the dog events or access. The first and third Saturday morning of each month could be reserved for citizens and their dogs. The licensing fee could purchase a fesses bag dispenser, there could also be a dog treat vending machine to add to the revenue stream if the licenses acquired demonstrate the volume to justify such a capital venture. A volunteer dog patrol person could be required to monitor the activity. My guess is that there may be less than 50 citizens interested in using the beach for this purpose and less willing to pay for it, but nonetheless should that restrict them from the option? I think not.
Serious consideration should be given to inviting more access to our public spaces for all legal and family activity.
I do not own a dog now, and have nothing to gain either way, it just seems to me that a reasonable plan can be implemented to give citizen another reason to stay in our city and use our public spaces rather than going elsewhere.
We could invite our dog businesses to get involved, possibly to their financial benefit.
An outline with caveats can be drawn up that allowed dog-walkers on the beach in designated areas with oversight or self policing if the Council saw it as City amenity.
For example:
FLORIDA
ATLANTIC COAST
Flagler: Flagler City Beach
Dogs on a leash no longer than 8 feet are allowed on the beach, except between N. 10th and S. 10th streets.
Fort Lauderdale: Canine Beach
Sunrise Blvd. at A1A. Dogs must be on a leash when not in the water and are only allowed Fridays through Sundays from 3-7 p.m. during the winter and 5-9 p.m. in summer. A permit is required to use Canine Beach.
Fort Lauderdale: Dog Swim at Snyder Park
3299 SW 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. Swimming for dogs is available at Snyder Park’s East Lake. Dog Swim is available every day during park hours. Dog Swim is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Hollywood: Dog Beach of Hollywood
Dogs are allowed off-leash on the beach between Pershing and Custer Streets. The Hollywood Dog Beach is available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. year round.
Jacksonville Beach
Dogs are allowed on the beach only before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Pets must be on a leash and must have a current rabies tag.
Jupiter
Dogs are allowed on non-guarded county beaches from Jupiter to Juno Beach year round. Dogs must be kept on a leash or in voice command at all times.
Key Biscayne: Virginia Key Beach – South
Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beach south of Rickenbacker Causeway, east of Biscayne Bay.
Neptune Beach
Dogs on a leash no longer than 10 feet are allowed on the beach from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. year round, but are not permitted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year round.
New Smyrna Beach: Smyrna Dunes Park at Ponce Inlet
Smyrna Dunes Park, at the northern tip of the island, has beaches both on the Atlantic and Ponce Inlet. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the inlet-side.
Satellite Beach: Samsons Island
Samsons Island, owned by the City of Satellite Beach, Florida, is located within the City’s boundaries on a 52-acre island in the Banana River. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the island.
St. Augustine: Fort Matanzas National Monument
Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are welcome on the beach and the trails.
PANHANDLE
Gulf County Public Beaches: Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, Port St. Joe
Dogs on a leash are allowed on public beaches in Gulf County, but are not permitted on the beach within St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
Panama City Beach: Doggie Beach, City-Owned Beach
Dogs are allowed on a 400-foot piece of the shore west of the City Pier also known as the Dan Russell Pier. Dogs must be on a leash and are permitted on the beach from sunrise to sunset each day. Dog owners must have proof their pets’ vaccinations are current and the dogs must have proper ID tags. Owners must clean up after their dogs, and food in bowls is prohibited. No more than three dogs per person are allowed on the beach at any time.
St. George Island Public Beaches
Dogs on a leash are allowed on public beaches on St. George Island, but are not permitted on the beach within St. George Island State Park.
Walton County Beaches
Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beaches only with a Dog On the Beach Permit. Dog owner must be either a property owner in Walton County, or a permanent, year-round resident of Walton County. The beach dog tag allows you to walk your dog ON A LEASH, on Walton County beaches between the following hours: Standard Time 3 p.m – 9 a.m; Daylight Savings Time 6 p.m. – 8 a.m. State owned beach access areas in Walton County prohibit pets on the beach!
GULF COAST
Bradenton Beach: Palma Sola Causeway AKA “Dog Beach”
Dogs are not permitted on any of the Island’s beaches, however dogs on leashes are permitted at the Palma Sola Causeway east of the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue. Thank you, Cheryl!
Bonita Springs: Dog Beach
Dog Beach is located on County Road 865 between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach in Lee County. Dogs are allowed off-leash.
Clearwater area/Dunedin: Honeymoon Island State Park “Pet Beach”
The Pet Beach is located on the southern tip of the Island. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on this portion of the beach.
Dunedin: St Clair Beach and Esplanade
Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beach before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. with access via end of Beach Street and the steps between the Surf Lifesaving Club and the end of the sea wall at the northern end of the Esplanade. Dogs are prohibited from all of the beach from the Salt Water Pool to the nearest piles on the beach to the north.
Sanibel Island: Algiers Beach/Gulfside City Park
Dogs on a leash are allowed on Algiers Beach.
Sanibel Island: Bowman’s Beach
Dogs on a leash are allowed on Bowman’s Beach.
Sanibel Island: Lighthouse Park Beach
Dogs on a leash are allowed on Lighthouse Park Beach.
Sanibel Island: Tarpon Bay Road Beach
Dogs on a leash are allowed on Tarpon Bay Road Beach.
St. Petersburg area: Fort De Soto Park Paw Playground
Located at the southern end of the Pinellas Bayway off Anderson Road. Dogs are allowed off-leash.
Tampa: Davis Islands Dog Park
Dogs are allowed off-leash within the fenced area of the beach, but must be on a leash when outside the fenced area or in the parking lot enroute to or from the park.
Venice: Paw Park and South Brohard Beach
Brohard Paw Park, located on South Harbor Dr., includes a fenced in area where dogs can run leash-free during daylight hours and access to a beach where dogs are allowed off-leash.
FLORIDA KEYS
Key West: Dog Beach
Dogs are allowed on this tiny stretch of beach (about 30 feet wide) located next to Louie’s Backyard at Vernon and Waddell.
Little Duck Key: Veteran’s Memorial Park
Located at Mile Marker 40 on Highway 1. Dogs are allowed on a leash.
http://www.petfriendlytravel.com/dog_beaches
other references…
http://www.friendsofquietwaterspark.org/dog.html
http://www.ocdogfriendly.com/dogfriendlybeaches.html
http://www.floridapets.net/dogparks.htm
http://www.petfriendlytravel.com/dog_beaches
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@ Big Dog….re: Do we want our city to retain the character of a small, seaside former fishing village or are we ready to upgrade our image to others and ourselves? Is enforcement to be “by the book,” or passive to the extent that officials only respond to complaints?
You appear to infer that “the character of a small, seaside former fishing village” begets unkempt homes,cars on blocks, overstuffed sofas in one’s front yard, untended yards, lawns used as storage lots for multiple vehicles, boats, trails and RVs, parks and right of ways laden with dog poop, etc. This does not make sense to me. Gulfport can retain it’s character and in fact with a little sprucing up will enhance it’s charm all the more. Code enforcement is not equitable nor timely and many of the ordinances are outdated. However, we shouldn’t have to rely on government to help beautify the city. We, the residents, need to take pride in the community and work to help spruce it up. Nor should it be necessary to go to the extreme where you border on deed restrictions. As with so many other things, it is probably the 80/20 rule at work. The majority of the community looks great. It’s the 20% that is a blight on the community. Let’s gussie up Gulfport and keep it funky NOT junky.
Is this the character that is indicative of a small charming fishing village? Missing from the picture… the two trucks usually parked along with this menagerie of stuff as well as the car in the front drive.
http://www.vpike.com?e=27.7551,-82.714102:315:1513-59th%20st%20s%2C%2033707
Big Dog asked=Isn’t there a better way to spend $50-60,000 per year of TIF money in promoting business in the WRD?
The trolley was a brave experiment and I thought it was a good idea; not realizing that the work required to determine if it would succeed was not done. I’m guessing no probability analysis was taken? Now I wonder what it is that keeps this failed venture afloat? If it’s this notion of a full service city it’s bound to fail. I suspect that the effort to pretend we have a successful full service city is going to put us in the red in the coming years. I was just informed that commercial property is about to take a big devaluation; this does not look good for our revenue stream in the coming years. If we do not find a way to address this full service delusion we’ll be eating Dogfish’s rubber chicken.
What’s up with the house on 58th Street at something like 25th ave south ? Is it now officially a junkyard? I remember years ago a woman lived there who had yard sales where she sold new stuff. Now they have truckloads of junk in their driveway and yard, and if they are bothering to get a permit I don’t think anyone is counting how many yardsales a year are going on there.
And speaking of junk- it was amusing the first time in the history of the world that someone used a toilet as a lawn decoration. That was the last time it was amusing. Toilets, bed rails, old bicycles, wheels from cars and trucks, pie pans, buckets, retail display stuff …. come on people.
@David….the city allows yard sales without permit the 1st Saturday of every month. This plays right into what you are describing. The city council just renewed this ordinance because nobody complained and afterall “times are tough”. Some of the city leaders seem to have a proclivity for acquiescing to the LOWEST common denominater. With the addition of 2 non permitted city wide sales and 4 permitted sales one can essentially have 18 “yard” sales a year.
…and doesn’t this offer a lovely welcome to Gulfport when you are entering the city from the north on 58th street?!? I can’t tell you how many people, from outside Gulfport, have commented to me about this property and what a bad image it presents to people entering Gulfport. Why is this allowed?? I just don’t get it.
http://www.vpike.com?e=27.759161,-82.711681:234.86:
http://www.vpike.com?e=27.758762,-82.712083:90:
Mtober,
Interesting, a truck, motorhome, two boats and two trailers are parked on the grass and they have two empty paved driveways. There’s a converted garage on 15th ave. and a metal storage building on 59th street.
15 ave is commercial east of that location, this plot may have the same zoning designation. look next to 5724 11th ave s
Great information gathering and point 2view. A good friend of mine described something to me the other day that did make alot of sense. Doggie Beach on Ft Desota is a current and tidal beach. We make the long drive out to Ft Desota so he & I can enjoy the beach. However,my dog does drink the salt water in enthusium and yes we do get runny which only makes me think that some dogs may not make it to the beach,our beaches here are tidal the dog disposals will not wash away as they do on the Ft Desota beach. What about veterans park making it into a doggie beach with access to the water area where the gazabeo is? The park is beautiful,shaded,cooled from the water and hardley ever enjoyed.
The current dog park is hardley ever kept up especially if you have a big dog. There is hardley any shade and the seating area is much different than the area for the small dogs. I would gladly pay $.25 a visit to the park if it helped maintain and better the park. If 10 dogs visited the park daily @.25 that would make $75.00 a month and I know more than 10 dogs visit that park on a daily visit some come more than once.The users of the parks should assist in the improvements and upgrades if we want a better clean doggie park.
Hey Bonnie,
East of Veterans Park is Private Property all the way to the Marina and their land rights extend out into the water, as do their dogs. The City can restrict public access but they cannot stop dogs from entering the water at private access points. So, whether we have a place to bring our dogs or not, dogs will be entering the water. Besides the domestic dogs there are also wild dogs living along the water, and there are Coyote’s as well. It’s a well known fact that bird feces can be very toxic with infectious diseases and parasites, where are all the nay sayers trying to ban birds from our shores? Where is all the bird feces that a thousand birds a day deposit along the waterline? It dissipates and is consumed by the microorganisms in the sea. Why isn’t the shoreline covered in fish poop? Because organic matter is recyclable in short order.
It would be one thing if people were asking to drive their cars into the ocean to wash off the grime, here all people want is to let nature take it’s course. Animals naturally migrate to water and domestic dogs are no exception. Select a remote area and give it a 90-day try. There is no investment to loose here, nor do we need to pay anyone to oversee the experiment.
Dogs should be licensed in Gulfport and visitors would need a temporary permit. All trash or feces left on the dog beach is the responsibility of the dog owner. Poop bag would be required and a trash barrel would be available.
It’s not life or death, like being smoked out of your house, but it does go to the argument of a full service city. We have underutilized areas and we have requests from citizen to use them for legal recreational purposes. The citizens are responsible caregivers and would value the access and the resource so you could have a level of confidence that it would be in good hands. Oh, and parking is available! I hope those who plan to use the beach have an opportunity to prove that it is a Good Thing. Take care
I had a dog once. Delicious.
I walk my two dogs twice a day and while I am picking up their
“business” I am often standing in another’s. Enough said.
Take your pets to the doggie beach at Ft. Desoto please!
Seaurchin said= I walk my two dogs twice a day and while I am picking up their “business” I am often standing in another’s. Enough said. Take your pets to the doggie beach at Ft. Desoto please!
I somehow managed to avoid standing in another’s, possibly folks in our neighborhood find picking up is not beneath them.
So thus far it’s a toss up, my experience has not been walking through fields pooch poop and you apparently find these fields of gold. What the dog beach will be has yet to be determined, and it should be judged on it’s own merit IMO. A “Full Service City” shouldn’t need to send it’s citizens away. This is a “Community Of a Lifetime”, officially, and it should give it’s citizens the benefit of the doubt.
I think what you are missing here is that the majority of the “beach visitors” that are attracted to Gulfports “world Class” Beach are lower income residents of Pinellas County, the ones that can’t afford the meters at St. Pete Beach or the tolls to Ft. DeSoto. They have no need for snack bars and places to spend their money as they have none.
Let us not forget the senior citizens who also use our beach to sun them selves and stock up on vitamin D. They would love dogs jumping up on them to wake them from their daily naps.
Lets throw Dog shit to the wind and let the dogs have our beach.
Dogfish- Even better than poop projectiles would be a Concrete Sun Dial in the sand so that the folks without watches can stand in the sand a see their shadow to extrapolate the time. A sort of a historical monument to a Babylonian construct of astronomical proportions. Your visitors may be poor but they’re well educated in ancient time keeping. Next year we can build a Pyramid in honor of our escaping. We could employ all your poverty stricken visitors to gather up petrify poodle poop and drag it to the site for stucco over the concrete blocks. We could appeal to x-councilwoman Judy Ryerson to oversee the site for historical accuracy, after all who better can replicate De-Nile Basin more inaccurate than she.