Waterfront Committee Plans Dog Policy for Albany Bulb

The Waterfront Committee meeting Monday night largely went to the dogs, as the majority of the discussion revolved around controlling canine behavior along Albany's coast.

Issues during the July 12 event centered on how to license dog walkers, or "dog guardians," and how to navigate the complexities of the cove, beach and Bulb, areas that span both city and state park land. To add another wrinkle, the state park land, including the beach, is managed by the East Bay Regional Parks District.

Committee members 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. 

Committee member Bill Dann drafted the new policy, which could ultimately be folded into the Parks and Recreation Department's dog ordinance. The near-term plan is to work on a revised draft this month and meet with the East Bay Regional Parks District later in July. 

Committee member Steve Granholm was absent.

As with other city committees and commissions, the group will not meet in August. Members will work to firm up the language of the dog policy document in September, then plan to bring the revised edition before the public in October. 

"My problem with this whole process has been, and I've listened to it for months on end, you haven't done very much public outreach," said Joan Larson, dog owner and Albany resident of 32 years, during a portion of the meeting set aside for public comment. "It's going to be my neighbors who take their dog to Albany beach who are responsible for enforcing this." 

Though authorities such as police and park officials would be charged with enforcing the ordinance, park visitors would be more likely to spot and report infractions.

Larson, who is in her 60s, said she does not take her 14-year-old dog to the Bulb because it's too "chaotic." She said she'd be more inclined to visit if there was an area set aside for canines.

Caryl O'Keefe, another Albany resident who attended the meeting, said a fenced-off area for pets could be helpful in ensuring community members and Bulb visitors respect the ordinance.

Next, committee member Kathy Diehl said she'd like to see the group revisit the Voices to Vision report to identify goals from it that the Waterfront Committee could begin to address.

"I felt like, with all of the resources that went into putting together that document, I didn't want it to just gather dust," she said. About the cost of the study, she added, "This is a half a million dollars."

She noted there have been 12 to 14 other studies of how to manage the Bulb and waterfront area, and estimated they have cost up to $3 million total. 

"I want to see us come up with a shortlist of things (from Voices to Vision) that we want to get funded out there," Diehl said.

She also asked Community Development Director Ann Chaney to report back, in a line item format, about what kind of budget the waterfront park has compared with other city parks. 

Chaney said she would work to get the figures, but said later in the evening, "Well, it's not going to be what it is on the other parks. That shouldn't be a surprise."

The committee members all spoke for the need for various clean-up efforts in the park. Dann advocated for filling in many of the depressions in the Bulb and getting rid of "some of the rubble." Making those changes could lead to a less inviting atmosphere for many homeless residents in the area.

"I don't believe it can be in a pristine state with 20-something active homeless encampments," he said. "You can't go out there and feel safe. A lot of people won't go out there without a dog."

Diehl agreed that the area needs to be cleaned up, though she said she doesn't have a problem with people camping on the Bulb—other than the resulting accumulation of trash exacerbated by the lack of dumpsters and bathrooms.

"There's nothing pristine about the waterfront at all except a few of the hills. Rebar is not pristine," Diehl said. She added that she'd like to see the creation of a foundation to support work at the Bulb, whether for a security detail, clean-up staff or other efforts. 

There was some discussion of how $27 million in Measure WW money for Eastshore State Park could be used, as well as $12.3 million that has been allocated for the Bay Trail.

Francesco Papalia, who is on the committee, said he'd like to invite Whitney Dotson, who sits on the Board of Directors for the East Bay Regional Parks District and represents Albany, to speak with the group about how some of this money could be spent, and what plans the district has for the space. (Dotson also represents Berkeley, Emeryville, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Kensington, a portion of Oakland, a small part of Pinole, Richmond and San Pablo.)

Some members of the committee stressed the need to involve the public in all efforts for the park.

Committee member Patty Donald said she walked along the beach Monday and had seen the whole area "plastered with trash" every six to eight inches. 

"It's a state beach, but it's our issue because it's in our city," she said. "We need to have trash cans everywhere. We need to have more focus on stewardship, training the young folks. People don't see what an incredible space it is down there. We need to be doing more walks, have more transportation down there. Many people have never been there, and they need to get involved in a first-hand knowledgable way by having personal experiences."

Committee member Eddy So echoed this sentiment. 

"The city of Albany is a small city. In a small community like us, a lot of work needs to rely on volunteers," he said, adding that it would be good to create an outreach plan to engage people.

The conversation then turned to the homeless residents of the Bulb. The city has made repeated efforts over the years to clean up the park and remove the campers. But over time they return to occupy the space, bringing with them concerns about public health related to both garbage and human waste.

"I consider the encampments out there our homeless housing," Papalia said. "I think it's pitiful the city allows that to happen and considers that our contribution for housing for the homeless."

Papalia and Dann made a plan to walk the encampments in August. The city, said Chaney, already intends to meet with park residents to try to connect them with housing and other social services. Papalia said he's documented the encampments extensively, and other members asked him to present some of his photographs in a slideshow to the committee at the next meeting. 

O'Keefe, during a public comment period, suggested that the group begin every session with a look at recent photographs of the Bulb, to ensure committee members know the present realities of the space they're working to improve.

"You would see it with your own eyes," she said, adding that, via television, "The public could see what's actually happening at our waterfront... what's there and what can be done and what the issues are."

The committee's next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. 

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