---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jonathan
Date: Mon, Dec 21, 2015 at 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: "Dog Beach"
To: Diane Dixon
Diane, 
2
Where and when is this hearing in January ?
Thanks,
Jon
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 21, 2015, at 7:29 AM, Diane Dixon wrote:
Jon
Let's let the citizen process proceed. My role is to make
the public process available to all points of view to
determine next steps: enforce the current regulation on
the books or remove it. Willful disregard of a posted city
ordinance by visitors to the beach and code enforcement
is not good government, nor smart. There is potential
liability to the city.
A few loud voices on either side should not determine the
outcome. A reasoned public debate will identify the issues
and the solutions.
I hope to see you at the hearing in January.
Best regards,
3
Diane Dixon
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On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 11:26 PM, Jonathan wrote:
Diane,
Just resending this to make sure you received!
Thanks,
Jon   
From: Jonathan
Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2015 3:03 PM
To: 'Diane Dixon'
Subject: RE: "Dog Beach"

Diane,
4
Thank you for your reply. It is encouraging to hear your response. So that I may learn a bit more about
the nexus of the issue can you tell me the exact nature of the complaints from residents ? Also, can you
quantify what “ a fair number”  of residents is..5 ? 10? A dozen?
Best regards,
Jon   
From: Diane Dixon
Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2015 11:11 AM
To: Jonathan
Subject: Re: "Dog Beach"

Dear Mr
Thank you for your thoughtful email. I personally have no
dog in this fight as the saying goes (and we have 2
goldens who would love to run without leashes just about
anywhere!) yet I promised to listen to residents -- on
both sides of an issue--. The issue is not about a new
regulation but the enforcement of current code which
prohibits dogs on the beaches of Newport Beach without
leashes. This code has been on the books for many
decades. It's that simple.
There are a fair number of residents who have strongly
and persistently requested a public airing of this issue (I
do not recognize the names of many of the residents on 
5
the 800 list so I am not certain the folks are 1% of the
city's populace or even residents of Newport Beach.) I
am fulfilling my promise to listen to both sides. The
opinions of all residents matter to me. I am not going to
foreclose a public discussion on a persistent code
violation just because a few people are opposed to the
discussion.
I will let common sense prevail and see what the residents
prefer. If there is a demand for a leashless beach and an
ordinance is necessary to amend the code, I will listen to
that option. The current situation has been created
because the code is not enforced and many residents
have complained to me (and to Mike Henn) for many
years. Their position is as strong as yours and needs to
be respected as I respect your position. It is not right for
me to ignore the pleas of residents while the city looks the
other way while a city code is being violated. The
county's failure to enforce their regulation has an impact
on residents of Newport Beach. I will be directed by the
wishes of the majority of the residents to what is best for
the majority and what is best for the city.
Thank you for writing and I hope to see you at the
meeting.

 
6




Best regards,


Diane Dixon

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On Sat, Dec 19, 2015 at 10:43 AM, Jonathan wrote:

Hi Diane, 
7

Just wanted to drop you a quick note on this issue (and belatedly welcome you to the
neighborhood as I reside on Lido as well). This County of Orange area terminus of the Santa Ana
River Delta area has been an area with tremendous local use for the last ..well forever. Its
generally clean in the summer and horribly dirty in the winter due to run off and upstream debris
from the entire county of Orange. To say that the area is dirty due to dogs (which 99.99% of the
owners pick up after) is laughable and each year after summer the County has no problem
scraping thousands of yards of sand from the river and depositing it right on West Newport’s
beaches.

At no time in my 43 years have I ever been aware of any enforcement by the County of Orange. I
have surfed River Jetties for almost four decades and taken my two Great Danes to this beach off
leash for swimming for 10 years. As you are aware living on Lido Isle space is at a premium
(and we all pay for it) and there is ZERO space for a dog to be a dog off leash (excepting the new
dog park). The ever changing nature and features on the Santa Ana River provide the perfect low
impact environment (sand) for dogs and a variety of different swimming options. My 10 year old
Great Dane learned to swim there and has been going each and every week for over a decade as
he cannot run due to spinal surgery at three years old. Swimming has provided a incredible
benefit in keeping him healthy and young! Comparisons to Huntington Beach’s “Dog Beach” are
inferior due to ocean swimming with waves and rough conditions especially for little dogs.

As you are likely aware there is a poll showing in less than 24 hours almost 800 respondents
(let’s call it 1% of Newport’s population) stating they wish the City of Newport Beach to not
become involved in any enforcement of this area. Per your comments in the L.A. Times article
about finding community support I think you have your answer right there overwhelming
community support for nothing to be done. It would be great if the City of Newport Beach would
see what a treasure and asset we have directly adjacent to the City with zero cost to the City.
Instead the optics on this issue are being perceived as another grab for power, regulation and
revenue with yourself being the tip of the spear. This is a “problem area” that needs no solution
and certainly not a government one. I am there multiple times per week and 99.99% of the
persons who use the area clean up after their pet, owners have leashes nearby in the rare case it is
needed to put one on and are respectful of the area as most of these people are LOCALS.

I would urge to City to back off of the perceived direction of more enforcement as a solution
particularly in light of the legal merit’s of the County of Orange now attempting to enforce
statues in an area that have had zero enforcement and attention in well ..forever.

Respectfully,

Jonathan