Dog owners were put on a short leash by the Sonoma City Council Wednesday night as two agenda items that might have allowed dogs on city trails –the Montini Preserve trailhead and conditional canine access to the Overlook Trail — went against them.
Emotional comments from members of a large public audience provided a lively debut for new Mayor Steve Barbose. As planned and as per council protocol, Barbose was elevated from mayor pro tempore earlier in the meeting.
The lengthy meeting was adjourned before the final agenda item. The entire meeting will be rebroadcast on Friday, Dec. 4, at 7:00 p.m. on SVTV Channel 27 and svtv27.com
After years of debate over where to place a trailhead to the Montini Preserve trail system, the council voted to establish western access on Fourth Street West at Haraszthy. The alternate choice was the cow pasture on Fifth Street West south of El Verano.
A trail bisecting the nine-acre pasture has always been controversial, even more so with the addition of an adjacent fence. “The field has huge significance to the people of Sonoma,” Barbose said. “The clear choice has always been ‘no Fifth Street.’”
But by choosing the Fourth Street option, the council effectively banned leashed dogs from the trail. From there the trail crosses over a short segment of land owned by State Parks. Dogs are not allowed in any California state park.
The park system reversed a long-held ruling to make the land available for the trail, said Dave Gould, state parks superintendent, but won’t revisit the dog ban. So even if the city ultimately takes control of the preserve – it is owned now by the Open Space District – dogs will never be able to legally enter the trail from its western trailhead, he said.
The decision completes the plan for the Montini trail network, which will meander along the city’s backdrop foothills to link with the Overlook Trail. Construction of the trails and the primary entrance, at the Police Station parking lot on First Street West, is scheduled to begin in April.
The second council item concerning canines heard Wednesday night was a proposal to allow leashed dogs limited access to the city’s Overlook Trail. The idea, submitted by Bob Edwards, would have allowed dogs on the trail on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, for a trial period.
The details of the plan, the length of the trial perriod and how it would be evaluated, were never fully examined or shaped by the council. But the general idea drew spirited comment from some 18 members of the public. Opinion was about evenly split.
Proponents, many repeating their arguments from the Montini item, decried the lack of dog access to city parks and trails. Responsible dog owners would respect the trail, keeping it clean, they said, and not allow any harassment of wildlife.
Another key point, addressed by Councilor Brown, was that only irresponsible dog owners use the trail now. Responsible dog walkers, on the trail legally, would police both themselves and any troublemakers. “You already have a problem up there,” he said “Responsible dog owners will apply peer pressure.”
“We look forward to proving we are good stewards of the land,” said Jennifer Hainstock of Sonoma.
Karen Collins, a founder of the trail, said the well-studied decision in 2000 to ban dogs, horses and bicycles was a condition of its use permit.
“The trail was designed exclusively for hiking and walking, and to bring back and preserve and protect the wildlife on the property,” she told the council. “Dogs disturb the quiet, natural experience for other hikers.”
Richard Dale, executive director of the Sonoma Ecology Center, agreed. “The intent of the trail was to protect the habitat. Dogs are incompatible with that.”
The proposal failed to muster majority support. Newly appointed Mayor Pro Tempore August Sebastiani said he sided with members of the trail task force, “the ones who invested financial and sweat equity” to build and maintain it. Councilors Laurie Gallian and Joanne Sanders agreed.
In the minority were Brown and Barbose. “People without dogs can’t begin to appreciate how they become part of the family,” the new mayor said. “This is a huge mistake.”
