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Council discusses signs and bag dispensers as first step on park dog problem
Summary
Mount Pleasant council members agreed to order signage and explore installing dog‑waste bag dispensers now, with a leash‑requirement ordinance to be drafted later if signs fail to reduce off‑leash dogs and waste.
The City Council spent extended time debating how to reduce dog waste and off‑leash dogs in city parks, agreeing to start with signs and consider ordinances later.
Committee member (S6) urged immediate, low‑cost measures, saying the council should "put up in some a couple places where they can get a bag, you know, and pick up the dog." Staff (S2) told the council signage and dispensers can be ordered right away and that an ordinance specifically requiring leashes would be "super easy to do" if the council chooses to pursue it.
Council members said the problem is growing and that signage may encourage compliance through social pressure. Several members noted their existing city ordinance already addresses "dog at large," which requires owners to keep animals under control, but that changing the ordinance to require leashes would require a separate council action. Members asked staff to begin by placing signage and at least one or two bag dispensers in town and to put a leash‑requirement ordinance on a future agenda if needed.
The discussion produced a clear next step: staff will order signs and dispensers and return with a draft ordinance for formal consideration only if the initial measures do not reduce complaints.
The council did not take a formal vote on a leash ordinance during the meeting.
