HUNTINGTON BEACH : Downtown Cleanup Plan Includes Dog Ban
Councilman Ralph Bauer says the downtown is dirty--and has gone to the dogs.
At his request, the City Council has agreed to consider an ordinance to ban dogs from downtown, make business and property owners pay for cleanups by city crews and outlaw the sale of stickers.
The effort, Bauer said, is to strive for an appearance like that of Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland: “That’s the standard I want to reach.”
Bauer said he wants to make it illegal to bring dogs to the downtown area because some owners don’t pick up after their pets.
With outdoor dining more prevalent on Main Street, Bauer said, “dogs urinating on light poles and going to the bathroom on sidewalks . . . is unappetizing.”
Bauer said he would like to see sidewalks steamed and streets swept clean of trash, debris and dog droppings on a regular basis.
Bauer said that, in his last three years on the council, he has noticed downtown’s appearance going downhill and he finds it “appalling”--and not at all inviting to visitors. “The kinds of people who have discretionary income are not going to come to a place that’s a mess,” he said.
Bauer said he will work with city staff to come up with a proposal for future council discussion and action.
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