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Residents urge clarity on dog access at Old St. Hilary’s Preserve after county ranger confrontation
Summary
Multiple residents told the commission they were stopped by a Marin County Open Space ranger while walking leashed dogs at routes they said are historically used as trails into Old St. Hilary’s Preserve. Speakers asked the commission to request a county presentation and to ensure trail signage and maps reflect public access.
Several Tiburon residents used the meeting’s public‑comment period to report encounters May 18 with a Marin County Open Space ranger who they said told them dogs must remain on fire roads rather than the unmarked trails into Old St. Hilary’s Preserve.
Kira (resident) told the commission she was walking two leashed dogs on a trail near Ridge Fire Road when a ranger “raised his hands above his head, waving to me and shouting out that I was not allowed to walk my dogs on the trail.” She said the ranger indicated dogs were permitted only on fire roads, not the trails, and that he was “warning me rather than citing me.” Kira said she gathered printed evidence showing trail entrances and signage at Lagoon View Drive that state leashed dogs are permitted and later saw a sheriff’s vehicle leave the same area. She asked the commission to: (1) raise awareness that people are being prevented from walking leashed dogs on Old St. Hilary’s trails; (2) request that the preserve’s trails appear on Marin County Open Space District (MCOSD) maps where they meet the district’s code definition of “trails”; (3) ask that the Lagoon View Drive trail sign and newly installed pedestrian gate on Mountain View Drive not be removed; and (4) request more transparency on how Measure A funds are spent.
Kira specifically referenced the Marin County Open Space District code language she cited from the district code (chapter cited in comment as Chapter 2.05 0.01) and asked that the town seek clarification from MCOSD. Jackie Leon (resident) said she submitted written comments making similar points and asked commissioners to ensure their correspondence includes those written materials.
Chair Holbrook said the commission will try to invite a Marin County Open Space District representative to address the commission at a future meeting in June or July so the district can explain its interpretation of trail signage and dog‑access rules. David (staff member) and commissioners acknowledged that enforcement practices sometimes differ from neighborhood expectations and encouraged residents to document locations and signage when they file concerns.
The commission did not take formal action on the issue at the meeting but said staff would attempt to schedule a county presentation and that the request will be transmitted to appropriate county staff for clarification.
