City council votes to allow dogs in parks, repealing prohibition
Dog ban put in place in 1984, but not enforced
– A city ordinance in place since 1984 that prohibits dogs from being on the grounds of public city parks in Paso Robles, with enforcement up to the seizure and impoundment of dogs, was repealed at Tuesday night’s Paso Robles City Council Meeting in a three to two vote.
The ordinance restricted animals from being allowed in any city parks. Laws regarding noise, aggressive animals, and the leash law remain in the code.
The city was reportedly not enforcing the ordinance prohibiting dogs from city parks, and the repealing of the ordinance will bring the law into accordance with the “current reality.”
The decision followed a discussion regarding concerns over potential dog bites as well as sanitation issues with dog waste. Mayor John Hamon asked that the city consider bringing forth an ordinance to better enforce dog behavior rules. The city will also look at installing dog waste bag stations in city parks.
The motion to repeal the ordinance ultimately passed three to two, with councilmen Fred Strong and Chris Bausch voting no, and councilmembers Sharon Roden, Steve Gregory, and Mayor Hamon voting yes.
Click here to read the new ordinance.
Also at Tuesday night’s meeting, proclamations were given for Hunger Awareness Day and Amateur Radio Week. Capital Projects Engineer Ditas Esperanza gave a capital projects updates, and there was a homelessness point-in-time report presentation given by San Luis Obispo County Homeless Services Division Program Manager Kari Howell.
There was a public hearing for the approval of an annual levy for landscape and lighting for District No. 1 and drainage maintenance District 2008-1 for the fiscal year 2024/25, which was approved unanimously.
There was also a public hearing regarding the calling for and conducting of a consolidated general municipal election on Nov. 5, 2024, for the election of certain officers, approving of a proposed tax ballot measure, and other election preparations.
All resolutions were passed unanimously, with the exception of Resolution 24-XXX(D), which pertained to placing a ballot measure to extend the ½ cent general sales tax measure until ended by voters.
The ½ cent general sales tax is meant to be spent on roads and other similar improvement projects but will be a general tax that goes into the general fund.
Councilmember Bausch attempted to make a motion to have the sales tax resolution include a sunset clause, but his motion failed for lack of a second. The motion passed as written in a four-to-one vote with Bausch voting no.
Up next was a status briefing of SLO LAFCO’s Decennial Sphere of Influence and municipal service review update. The sphere of influence is a boundary for the expected future city limits and service areas of a local agency or jurisdiction.
The council unanimously approved a motion directing staff to provide the proposed sphere of influence map to SLO LAFCO and to adopt a resolution directing staff to forward the recommended changes to the study areas to SLO LAFCO.
The council also approved a motion to authorize the Pickleball Court Complex at Sherwood Park to be bid for construction with an estimated construction cost of $3.4 million. The item passed four to one, with Councilmember Bausch voting no due to funding concerns for the project.
Click here to view the agenda item report.
Click here to view concept plans for the new complex.
Watch the meeting on YouTube below:
