Alki Community Council highlights: Offleash dogs; beach parking

| Crime | Pets | Safety | West Seattle news

From Thursday night’s Alki Community Council meeting: At left, that’s animal-control officer Brandi Homeier from Seattle Animal Shelter, invited to discuss concerns about offleash dogs on the beach. Instead of a prepared presentation, she opted for Q&A. Homeier reminded those in attendance that dogs aren’t supposed to be on Alki Beach, whether on or off leashes. Offenders, she said, are cited immediately – no “first warning.” So what if you see a dog on the beach? she was asked. Answer: Don’t confront the owner – call the SAS. Or even 911 in an emergency if you can’t reach SAS; animal-control officers respond to all calls, she said, but emergencies take priority – such as injured animals, or reports of dogs left in hot cars. And, she explained, there are relatively few officers available citywide – 7 days a week, somebody’s on duty, but there’s a lot of territory to cover. Also at Thursday’s meeting, the ACC got a crime update from Southwest Precinct Lt. Norm James – read on for his toplines:

According to Lt. James, Alki has been “very quiet” lately, as has West Seattle in general. The past month saw an overall drop in crime, particularly the past few weeks, with car prowls way down (as first reported here when he briefed the Southwest District Council last week). Home burglaries are down too, he said, and there haven’t been any recent disturbances on Alki.

However, there is one situation police are addressing: Parking complaints. According to Lt. James, a Sunday-only pilot project will put parking enforcement on a Segway three-wheeler (nicknamed “The Chariot”) starting sometime in the next few weeks. Police are also working with SDOT to make sure the appropriate curb markings and stripes are visible – repainting them if they’re not – so that no-parking zones are easy to see.

Also from SPD, the Alki council heard briefly from crime-prevention coordinator Benjamin Kinlow. His main points of emphasis: If you don’t have a Block Watch, get one going (here’s how to start); and sign up for a block party on Night Out, coming up August 3rd (here’s where to register).

The Alki Community Council meets the third Thursday of the month, 7 pm at Alki UCC. Online, find ACC info at alkinews.com.

Mike July 17, 2010 (7:25 am)

There’s a misleading statement “Homeier reminded those in attendance that dogs aren’t supposed to be at Alki, whether on or off leashes.” Not true, dogs are allowed at Alki, dogs are not allowed on the BEACH at Alki.
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There’s a reason for this. Dogs will poop in the sand and leave it, most of the time owners would not notice that if they are off leash. That’s a health hazard.
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I enjoy walking my dog at Alki, on leash. As much as I’d love to have her go for a swim and run free on the beach, Alki is not the place for it.
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I also don’t want my daughter playing in the sand and picking up some dog crap.

WSB July 17, 2010 (8:28 am)

The context was talking about the beach. Nonetheless, I will add “Beach” to clarify.

Tim July 17, 2010 (7:44 am)

“Call 911” if you see a dog on the beach??

Please don’t waste 911 dispatch time on that. It is not an emergency unless the dog is mauling people. How ridiculous.

guinivere July 17, 2010 (8:45 am)

Perhaps calling the non emergent # for SPD would be better. (206) 625-5011

WSB July 17, 2010 (9:01 am)

She really did say 911 – if (which seems to go without saying but we’ll add another word there too) it’s an emergency and you can’t reach animal control first – for example, animal in danger in hot car, etc. (206) 386-PETS is the main number, by the way, for SAS, and according to its website, that should be answered 7:10 am-8:45 pm, 7 days a week.

LE July 17, 2010 (9:45 am)

Oh, through the years, whenever I have called the non-emergency number for a non-emergency, (such as adding my name as a witness to a non-injury car accident), I have been told to hang up and call back at the 911 number.
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When I have asked what, exactly, is the non-emergency number for, then? The answer has been that it’s for parking violations. And that any call that would have the slightest chance of being responded to by a police officer, or even be routed by phone to an actual police officer, the call needs to go to 911 so a dispatcher can decide where to direct the info.
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This seems strange, but it’s what I’ve been told.
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Perhaps WSB can ask sometime about when callers are really supposed to use the non-emergency number.
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Re dogs on the beach, my major peeve is that there is a stand-up paddle board user who regularly paddles miles along Beach Drive, and has his dog run off-leash alongside on the beach. That’s not just off-leash, it is completely out of the control of the owner. And it means that every heron, eagle, etc for like two MILES is disrupted by this dog. I’m sure it’s a nice dog, but gee whiz – what if there’s a baby seal or something?

AlkiMom July 17, 2010 (12:10 pm)

It would be nice to have more one-way streets in the beach area. It can be done if there are two neighboring streets (SDOT calls them ‘couplets’). It makes the traffic much, much calmer with fewer confrontational standoffs. And why is there still no parking further down Alki Ave SW? We have a Water Taxi shuttle that can move the beachgoers. The old arguments about fire trucks is bogus, since the fire trucks can run on the rest of the beach area. Are the condo dwellers paying a higher property tax to keep the rest of the parking population out of their exclusive area?

K July 17, 2010 (3:02 pm)

Here’s the deal: Only in Seattle would people get flustered enough to call 911 for a dog on the beach. If a dog is on a leash with a responsible owner who picks up the poop it is no different than a dog that poops on the grass. It is when a dog is let loose to “run” the beach without supervision that I would agree to calling for attention. There is NO OFF LEASH PARK IN WEST SEATTLE. Again I am not saying to let off leash, but for criminy sakes, a dog on a leash with his owner is not hurting anyone. I personally am getting tired of seeing the broken beer bottles, cig butts, garbage, drunks, and gangs. How about we put our energy into cleaning that up for a change?????

WSB July 17, 2010 (5:49 pm)

There is an off-leash park in West Seattle.
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http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/PARKS/offleash_detail.asp?id=468

K July 17, 2010 (10:12 pm)

West Crest is in White Center. Pretty far away from Alki.

Out for a walk July 17, 2010 (11:56 pm)

Have you ever seen the off leash dogs at Lincoln Park? Almost every time I go for a walk at Lincoln Beach there are these nit wit dog owners who let their dogs run, jump, chasing sticks they throw at them in the water and on the beach … and even on the walking trail. And, if I say something like… this is not an off leash area.. they make some rude remark back to me.
These people are soo out of touch… selfish… not concerned for others or the environment. I wish the city would ticket them, charge them big fees and help balance our city’s budget!