The City of Rancho Palos Verdes is considering designating parts or all of Rancho Palos Verdes Beach an off-leash dog beach. At the February 21, 2012 City Council Meeting, Council directed staff to establish a 12-month pilot program for an off-leash dog beach at RPV Beach, which is expected to begin in October 2012 following the completion of required environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Further, staff was directed to work with the Planning Commission to examine and make recommendations to the City Council regarding the possibility of bifurcating the beach with fencing or some other method to delineate the allowed off-leash area; explore the concept of requiring permits for dogs to use the off-leash beach, schedule of operations, including times of days, days of the week, or seasons; and, any other recommendations pertinent to the operation of the off-leash dog beach.
Prior to the establishment of a pilot program, the City Council ordered an immediate increase in MRCA Park Ranger enforcement of leash laws in the public parking lots, Founders Park, and the public trails at Trump National Golf Course.
RANCHO PALOS VERDES BEACH—THE SITE
In May 2011, Trump National Golf Club transferred ownership of a 24.4-acre coastal parcel to the City as required through the project entitlements. Approximately five acres of the parcel is accessible beach area. The parcel extends north to the private beach owned by the Portuguese Bend Community, and south to approximately the mid-point of the Trump National Golf Course (the most southerly 10.67 acres of coastal bluff was accepted by the City in 2006). See map below. Now that ownership has been transferred to the City, the City is responsible for providing appropriate services and enforcing City rules and regulations on the property.
Current uses of the beach include off-leash dog use, hiking, jogging, and limited swimming and surfing, which typically occur in the area of the beach belonging to the Portuguese Bend Club that does not contain rocks or prolific kelp growth. However, there is a known surfing spot typically not accessible to beginners, just off of the point near the southern portion of the beach. For many years, while the property was under private ownership, the beach accessible from Founders Park via the Sunset and Sunrise Trails was used as an informal dog beach.
RELATED LINKS
Click here to view the August 16, 2011 Staff Report
Click here to view the February 21, 2012 Staff Report
Click here to view late correspondence from the February 21, 2012 Council Meeting
HOW TO STAY INVOLVED
Please send feedback, ideas, and concerns to the City by emailing the City Council at cc@rpv.com and the Recreation and Parks Department at parks@rpv.com. Please include your name and city of residence.
To be emailed updates on the project, please join the project listserv at rpvalert.com and check this project webpage. The listserv group is titled “Potential RPV Dog Beach” and can be found under the Recreation and Parks heading using the link above.
For more information on the project, please contact Recreation and Parks Department Administrative Analyst Katie Howe at katieh@rpv.com or 310-544-5260. |
