People soon may be allowed to walk their canine friends at City Pier Park in Anna Maria.
City commissioners Oct. 19 directed staff to draft potential code changes to allow people to walk leashed pets at City Pier Park, 101 N. Bay Blvd., as recommended by the planning and zoning board.
P&Z member Dusty Crane, wife of Commissioner Jonathan Crane, attended the meeting on behalf of the board to request the city amend Section 38-28, which prohibits dogs and other domestic animals in city parks and certain public spaces.
Dusty Crane said the code should be changed to allow dogs to be walked by leash in City Pier Park, excluding the playground, and recommended the addition of a waste station.
“Many residents and visitors were not aware of the code’s prohibition of dogs in the park until new signage was installed,” she said. “This amendment would go a long way to improving both residents’ and visitors’ enjoyment of City Pier Park.”
The amendment would only apply to City Pier Park, since Bayfront Park, 316 N. Bay Blvd., is operated by Manatee County.
The amendment also would not allow owners to walk their pets on the beach, where domestic animals are prohibited.
Mayor Dan Murphy asked if the P&Z’s proposed changes would allow dogs in the park during events.
Dusty Crane said details like that could be left to the commission.
Commissioner Robert Kingan said the city may establish a dog park to keep things simple.
Murphy said the city had a few pocket parks that could be used for that purpose.
Commissioner Charlie Salem said he was in support of establishing a dog park but also wanted to encourage people to use City Pier Park as much as possible by allowing them to bring their pets.
During public comment, resident John Kolojeski supported allowances for dogs in parks, as well as a potential dog park within city limits.
He said dog-owning residents like himself have to travel down to the Holmes Beach city field to visit a dog park, so adding one within the city would be “wonderfully convenient.”
Murphy said he would bring drafted code changes back for discussion ahead of a first reading to gather as much public feedback as possible.
“I don’t think this is something we should do in a vacuum. There’s a lot of people that are totally opposed to this, and we need to hear from them.… We’ve only heard from one side,” he said.
The commission will meet next at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at city hall.
Directions to attend via Zoom can be found on the city’s website, cityofannamaria.com.