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The city council is scheduled to begin discussions tonight on extending or making permanent a pilot program to allow dogs on all areas of the city’s boardwalk in the off-season from Oct. 1 through April 30.

The current program expires on April 30, according to city attorney Frederick Raffetto. The question for the council will be whether to resume it on Oct 1, either on a permanent or continued trial basis.

The matter is scheduled to be discussed in the council’s workshop meeting tonight at 6 pm.

Raffetto said he  wanted to raise the issue with the council because the expiration date is approaching. The council need not take action at this time, as the resumption of the dog access to the boardwalk would be several months away.

Raffetto said this issue does not involve dogs on the surfing beach at the north end of the city. The ordinance allowing dogs on that beach have been enacted with no “sunset clause”, Raffetto said.

(Unleashed dogs are allowed on the surfing beach — stretching from the Loch Arbour border to the southerly edge of the Eighth Avenue jetty — from 6 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. all year, Raffetto said. Owners are also allowed to cross over the boardwalk with their leashed dogs to access and leave the surfing beach, he said)

 

 

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