The City of White Rock is trying again with extending hours for dogs on the promenade, long a contentious issue in the city.
At Monday's (July 15) meeting, council voted for a proposal allowing dog owners to walk their pets on a leash on the waterfront promenade between 5:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., for a trial period through this August and September.
The city currently allows leashed dogs on the promenade from October through March.
The vote followed council's receipt of a report by corporate administration director Tracey Arthur in which she relayed results of a survey conducted in May and June, through the city's online Talk White Rock platform.
Of 1,796 respondents to the survey, 1,378 said yes to the additional hours, 438 said no, and 21 answered that they were unsure.
Of 1,047 respondents who are White Rock residents, 742 said yes, 292 said no and 12 said they were unsure.
Of the no voters, many left comments in which they said they feared an increase in dog feces and urine on, and around, the promenade, and also anticipated negative interactions between dogs and other promenade users, including children.
But Coun. Elaine Cheung, who has championed the extended hours – and also had previously conducted her own informal survey supporting the move – said the results were clear.
“We have to address that times have changed,” Cheung said. “The public has spoken, twice. We need to be up to date and listen to what the people say. … Our responsibility is to make decisions for the benefit of the whole community, not just for the loudest voices of the people who threaten our re-election.”
Mayor Megan Knight – who said she had received extensive feedback from residents opposed to the move – said she would only vote in support of the motion if it were for a trial period of August and September of this year.
