Citing safety issues for pedestrians, two locals are trying to gain public for doing away with a time-based restriction on leashed dog walking along Mission Bay’s boardwalks.
Residents Jeffery Purchin and Nick Cifranic said they will continue bringing the cause to area organizations before presenting their request to City of San Diego Parks and Recreation officials.
Cifranic attended an Oct. 18 Mission Beach Town Council meeting and they plan to go to an Pacific Beach Town Council meeting, he said.
They Municipal Code has dog walking prohibited along sidewalks adjacent to a public beach between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. from April 1 through Oct. 31, and between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Nov. 1 through March 31.
In January 2022, the San Diego City Council preliminarily approved a proposed adjustment to restrict dogs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. year-round. The code amendment is still making its way through the regulatory process before the council can finalize its approval.
Purchin, who lives in Mission Beach’s Sail Bay area, said the amendment does not go far enough. He is gathering to do away with the timed restriction altogether.
“To me, it’s about safety,” Purchin said. “The boardwalk is so much safer than walking in the neighborhoods.”
Purchin said seniors and those with disabilities are adversely impacted by the rule.
“Our condo is right on the boardwalk in Sail Bay, we can see everything,” Purchin said. “Almost everyday the park rangers stop people and make them walk off the boardwalk on these uneven (neighborhood) sidewalks. I have a picture of two seniors, one with a walker, with a … dog, and the rangers still made them walk off the boardwalk.”
Cifranic seconds this argument.
“The bay boardwalk has a lot of funding,” Cifranic said. “It ensures that it’s flat and that there are no major issues with traversing it. So when older folks are pushed out to the communities around us where the sidewalks are not usually the greatest, things can happen. I’ve personally tripped a couple of times.”
Purchin also mentioned the added hazard of vehicles and low visibility while walking in the area.
“I’ve almost got hit a few times by people pulling out of their driveways who just weren’t looking.” Purchin said.
In addition to what they say amounts to an adverse impact on community health, Purchin said the restrictions are virtually ineffective.
“Everyone walks their dogs anyway, 24/7,” Purchin said. “The rangers might stop them to tell them to walk in the neighborhoods off the boardwalk, but once they leave those people are right back on the boardwalk. I see it all the time.”
He also mentioned the need to be able to let dogs out at reasonable hours.
“Dogs have to go to the bathroom, and we don’t have backyards in our building,” Purchin said. “Do you think dogs are able to hold it in from 10 to 4?”
Cifranic said a petition to gather for removing the restriction has gained up to 1,000 physical signatures. An online petition published by Purchin on Sept. 18 and had 44 signatures as of Oct. 27. It can be signed at tinyurl.com/MBboardwalk.
One online signee claimed they required surgery for nerve damage after suffering a fall along the neighborhood’s sidewalks.
While Purchin vocalized a frustration with lack of response or enthusiasm from some community leaders about this proposal, staff for City Councilmember Joe LaCava seemed open to the idea.
Madeleine Baudoin Ghorashi, LaCava’s director of communications, said a community representative for LaCava met with Purchin and advised him to reach out to community groups.
“It sounds like he is doing all the right things,” Ghorashi said. “We’re looking forward to seeing how many people are ive and what it looks like.”
Cifranic said they are focused on gathering more community before meeting with local leaders, in order to demonstrate the level of demand.
“When we’re talking to individuals at the government level, a lot of them are like, ‘yeah we would like to see this, but we’re unsure if we’re going to be able to make a difference,’” Cifranic said. “They think there is too much bureaucracy in the way for us to push something through like this, but quite frankly, we disagree. We think we can make this happen with enough around the community and persistence.”
Cifranic attended an Oct. 18 Mission Beach Town Council meeting to add the cause to its agenda. In a letter penned to the council, he cited community well-being, safety and mental health, and the potential for a boost in the local economy.
“Allowing dogs at all times should increase tourist foot traffic,” Cifranic said. “People from all over San Diego, as well as beyond San Diego, would be encouraged to come out with their dogs. Those extra people translate to more foot traffic for local businesses and stimulate the economy.”
Cifranic said they also intend to meet with the Pacific Beach Town Council.
“As long as we’re responsible, we should be able to walk when we want to walk,” Purchin said. “I know it’s gonna be a long process, but I’m a fighter. I don’t give up easy.”
Despite requests, no one from city’s Parks and Recreation Department responded to comment on this article.
