Committee members put best paws forward

Longboat Key’s most dogged committee held its second meeting Monday, Nov. 28. The seven members of the Dog Beach Feasibility Committee are still discussing the specifics of potentially opening at least part of the Key’s beach to dogs, according to Laurin Goldner, who, with her husband, Nelson, first proposed the idea in July.

The group has discussed wildlife concerns with representatives from the Audubon Society, Mote Marine Laboratory and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and is currently talking about how to make a proposal work — the whys, wheres, whens and hows.

The committee includes both residents who, like Goldner, support allowing dogs beach access, along with those who prefer to keep the beaches dog-free such as Cyndi Seamon, a longtime member of Longboat Key Turtle Watch.

“What I want to do is make sure that folks who really do want to have dogs on the beach understand what all the issues are,” Seamon said. “We want to try and figure out something to put back to the commission that’s the least disruptive to wildlife.”

Jackie Salvino, a committee member who supports allowing dogs on the beach, said that the group has been discussing other communities that have successfully allowed dogs on at least part of their beaches.

“Most all water communities have had dog beaches that are successful, and they can be fun for all,” she said.

Goldner said that the group will develop a proposal to bring before the commission for discussion, possibly in February. The group also will seek public input about its plan. But she also stressed that the idea is still in its planning stages and said that the group will incorporate other residents’ suggestions into any plan they bring before the commission.

“We, as a committee, have a responsibility to read these concerns and address them,” Goldner said. “We intend to do this. We want to hear legitimate concerns from people who live on the Key.”

Committee of seven
The following residents are members of the Dog Beach Feasibility Committee:
Shannon Gault
Laurin Goldner
Richard Perlman
Jackie Salvino
Cyndi Seamon
Peter Simonson
Peter Swain