Volusia County Council delays dogs-on-the-beach decision

The Volusia County Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to get more information from federal authorities before making a final decision on whether to launch a test program to allow dogs on the beach.

Council members Danny Robins and Matt Reinhart voted against the motion. A new meeting date for taking up the issue hasn't been set.

The council is now focusing on a stretch of Ormond Beach from Rockefeller Drive south to Milsap Road at the north end of Andy Romano Beachfront Park. It's just over 1/2 a mile.

The council had been considering a test area in Ormond-by-the-Sea, but county staff brought up concerns from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about how opening that site to dogs on the beach could impact the county's sea turtle regulations and possibly beach driving.

The county's Incidental Take Permit "commits the county to protecting sea turtles, piping plovers, other coastal wildlife and their habitat, while allowing public driving on parts of" the county's beaches, according to the county's website.

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County staff said they believe the new focus area is lower risk. Staff will also explore suggestions from the council, such as having an 18-month pilot program with a sunset date, and bring back recommendations for implementing the program.

Some other options discussed: starting the program on Nov. 1 after turtle season, requiring dogs to have a rabies-vaccination tag, requiring owners to carry dog-waste bags at all times, adding hefty fines such as $250 or $500 for violation of rules, restricting dog-beach access to daylight hours and adding a permit fee to access the dog beach.

Ormond Beach philanthropists Nancy and Lowell Lohman plan to donate $100,000 to help with program costs, such as hiring an animal control officer and placing waste-bag dispensers in the area. Also, Daytona Dog Beach Inc. offered to cover the cost of dispensers and waste bags and provide other assistance.

Hiring a full-time animal control officer to patrol the area is expected to cost $104,000, according to the county's presentation. Waste bags and dispensers are expected to cost $5,900 for the first year.

About 20 people commented during the item at the meeting, mostly in opposition to dogs on the beach. But Council members said they had received hundreds of emails on the topic. At the meeting, people voiced concerns about dog waste and dog bites.

Comments mostly in opposition

Michael McBride, of Ormond-by-the-Sea, said he and his wife have two dogs, including a chihuahua.

"The most vicious dog we have weighs 8.5 pounds. ... We don't take that dog off a leash when we take it to the park," he said.

He said he doesn't want dogs on the beach. He raised concerns about liability, contamination from dog waste and dog attacks.

Councilmembers' views ranged from outright opposition to strong support. Councilman Troy Kent spearheaded the discussion to get more beach access for dogs.

Dogs are allowed on the inlet shore beach areas at Lighthouse Point Park in Ponce Inlet and Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach, but not on Atlantic Ocean beaches.

But people are taking their dogs on the non-inlet park beaches illegally.

Kent supports having dog access points in communities along the coast and supported the test area.

Chairman Jeff Brower said he wants a pilot program and believes returning dogs to the beach would bring back some of the fun that people used to enjoy on the beach years ago when dogs and other activities were allowed.

"We used to be able to build a bonfire on the beach. We used to be able to roast pigs on the beach," he said.

Councilman Don Dempsey questioned why a dog beach is necessary with nearby areas in Flagler County allowing dog access.

Councilman Jake Johansson supported a test pilot area with restrictions, such as having people carry a waste bag at all times. He also questioned concerns people raised at the meeting about dangers and waste concerns posed by dogs. He pointed out that the annual dog parade in DeLand is successful despite bringing many dogs and people together in a crowded area.

"(There are) dogs touching dogs ... dogs touching other people, dogs touching drunk people, yet it seems to go off without a hitch," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia beach driving concerns bring delay on dog-beach vote