NAWILIWILI — Dog-lovers who crowded the County Council chambers Wednesday stood up and applauded Councilmembers after a majority of them passed the bill allowing leashed dogs on almost the entire length of the Eastside, coastal, multi-use path. Earlier in the
NAWILIWILI — Dog-lovers who crowded the County Council chambers Wednesday stood up and applauded Councilmembers after a majority of them passed the bill allowing leashed dogs on almost the entire length of the Eastside, coastal, multi-use path.
Earlier in the day, Kaua‘i Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau Eastside Lifeguard Supervisor Norman Hunter said he recently treated someone who got bit by a dog at the beach close to Lydgate Park. That person told Hunter he had been bitten before, but had not reported it.
Hunter said even the lifeguards have been victimized. “Our lifeguards run the beach for exercise and they have been attacked.”
Hunter made sure to tell the council he was not against dogs on the path. “Our position is basically public safety.”
Hunter’s comments, however, fueled Council Chair Kaipo Asing’s opposition to the bill. Asing made a lengthy presentation right before the final vote took place.
“I spent zillions of sleepless nights thinking about the consequences,” said Asing, questioning many times if the bill would be fair to the minority who do not feel safe around dogs.
As the bill passed, only about a quarter of a mile is off limits to dogs. This area is the path directly fronting Lydgate Park, in Wailua. The bill calls for the county engineer to post signs designating the area where dogs are not allowed.
“I believe I want to represent all of the people,” Asing said. He suggested that those opposed to dogs on the path should at least have the section from south of Kealia Beach to the north end of Kuna Beach, also known as Donkey Beach.
Asing said he is not against dogs on the path, adding that the budget that has just passed this week has money for a dog park.
“I’ll be voting against it. It will pass and life will go on,” Asing said.
All other members voted in favor of the bill. Councilman Daryl Kaneshiro stood silent, but his vote counted as a yes.
Councilman Jay Furfaro unsuccessfully tried to pass an amendment to allow leashed dogs only from the north end of Wailua Beach until the north end of Kuna Beach. His amendment was denied by four votes.
Furfaro’s concerns matched the same concerns that Asing and Kaneshiro had. But Furfaro was also concerned about how the state government would see leashed dogs walking alongside Kuhio Highway in Wailua and on the bridge over the Wailua River.
Furfaro, however, introduced a second amendment that made into the final version of the bill. It calls for the county Department of Park and Recreation to do a presentation in 18 months assessing impacts and possible problems.
Furfaro said the condition is not a sunset, only to evaluate if there were dog bites, citations, or even if there’s a need to install fencing in some areas.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. has 10 business days from the date he receives the bill to act on it. He has yet to veto a bill since taking office in December 2008.
Before Carvalho took office, he was the head of the county Department of Parks and Recreation. An internal survey in the department showed that the majority of workers did not want dogs to be allowed on the entire path.
If Carvalho vetoes the bill, it will return to the council, and will require a super majority of five out of seven votes to override his veto and become law.
