City won’t push for dogs on Montini

The Sonoma City Council cut to the chase Monday night, voting to effectively prohibit dogs from the Montini Preserve by not pursuing a rule change from the Open Space District. Though the city now owns the 98-acre property, it must abide by the District’s management plan, which includes a no-dogs provision.

The City applied last year for a change in that rule, but was denied. In May, the council voted to try again, and directed city staff to prepare a new plan. It was that revised application that was in question – to submit or not submit?

City Attorney Jeffrey Walter reminded the council that although the city owns the land, it is bound to significant restrictions under the deal with the OSD. “It is totally, completely out of your hands,” he said.

The 3-2 vote to drop the issue was summed up by Mayor David Cook. “I’m done,” he said. “It’s not going to happen.” The exasperated mayor said he was frustrated that the city had little say in the management of its own resource. “This is not our decision. I don’t think it ever has been.”

Councilmembers Madolyn Agrimonti and Laurie Gallian agreed. Gary Edwards and Rachel Hundley, who voted to submit the proposed rule change, were the minority.

If submitted, the city’s dog-friendly plan would have called for moving the western trailhead – at a cost of up to $125,000 — from Fourth Street West to along the cow pasture at Fifth Street West. That would have allowed the trail to skirt property owned by the State Parks Department, which prohibits dogs on any of its land.

Cook said it was now time to redirect the energy of the four-year debate to a different dog-friendly project.

The county agency acquired the land and an adjacent conservation easement from the Montini family for $13.9 million in 2005, including a $1.15 million contribution from the city of Sonoma.