San Clemente council approves six‑month pilot dog beach at South T Street, limits hours and weekends

The San Clemente City Council on Aug. 19 voted 5–0 to approve a six‑month pilot program allowing dogs at a stretch of municipal beach south of the T Street access, with restricted hours, leash and licensing requirements and additional signage.

The pilot applies to a roughly 1,000‑foot stretch south of the T Street beach access restrooms toward Tower 9. Under the council motion, dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, be licensed and owners must remove waste. The approved hours limit dog access to mornings (6 a.m.–8 a.m.) and evenings (after 6 p.m.) during the pilot; the council also agreed the program should exclude peak weekend periods (no dog access from Friday afternoon through Monday morning). The pilot will run for six months and will take effect only after any required California Coastal Commission and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review is complete.

The pilot area and time limits were the product of weeks of public debate and an extended council discussion about locating a pilot in a relatively low‑use section of shoreline to limit impacts on tourists and families. Councilmembers said they wanted a short, tightly defined test period with a sunset clause and clear enforcement expectations.

Residents and dog‑owners gave opposing testimony during a lengthy public comment period before the vote. Amanda Quintanilla, a resident and frequent North Beach walker, warned of water‑quality risks and cited a 2018–19 source characterization study that she said identified human sources first and canine contributions as a component of bacterial exceedances. “North Beach is not going to be — we already have problems with the drain there as well,” Quintanilla said. Several residents — including Robert Kolakott and Ken Postakai — urged the council to reject a dog beach at North Beach and argued the proposal would reduce overall visitor and tourism value.

Dog‑owners and business representatives urged a narrowly tailored pilot. Donna Vadrine, who said she walks San Clemente’s beaches frequently, called for more dog‑friendly spaces in the city and suggested using State Beach or a rotating, limited pilot rather than a permanent, large‑scale change.

Council discussion focused on balancing water quality and public‑safety concerns with demand from local dog owners. Councilmembers proposed limiting hours, selecting a less‑used location, adding signage and bag dispensers, and returning with enforcement language and a sunset. The council also asked staff to coordinate with the Coastal Commission and to complete any required CEQA analysis before the pilot begins.

Enforcement and logistics: Council directed staff to return with ordinance language, required signage, biodegradable bag dispenser locations, and details about enforcement and coordination with the Sheriff’s Department. The City Attorney said there is no general anti‑loitering provision in the municipal code that would apply; deputies could enforce leash and other ordinances in the usual manner.

The council asked staff to pursue outreach to nearby property‑owner groups and to study parking and access impacts before the pilot begins.

What’s next: Staff will prepare the ordinance and operational plan, coordinate CEQA and Coastal Commission requirements, and return to the council with final language and an implementation schedule. If the Coastal Commission or CEQA process requires changes, staff will report those back to council for action.