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| City returns to horse-riding rules By Mark Noack [ mark@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Thursday, November 19, 2009 11:50 AM PST Seeing some late-night political wrangling on the horizon, city leaders planned to revisit an ordinance to restrict horses on city beaches Tuesday night, a proposal that horse lovers across the Peninsula say threatens their favorite spot for riding. Horse advocates were expected to rally in force to urge the City Council to continue allowing horses to traverse freely along the beach stretch between Kelly Avenue and Poplar Street—a two-thirds-mile long expanse that is popular for both pedestrians and equestrians. “There’s no other place around like this beach, and it’s a blessing to have this in our backyard,” said Barbara Stogner, president of the San Mateo County Horsemen’s Association. “We’re worried that once there’s restrictions made on horses, it’s going to be way easier to make those restrictions stronger.” Stogner said she and many colleagues from her 600-member group would be coming out to Half Moon Bay to speak against beach restrictions for horses. Tuesday’s meeting occurred after Review deadlines. City leaders have long sought to examine the rules for horses on the popular stretch of beach and tighten the guidelines that have given horse riders more or less free rein. Horse riders share the same beach and access ramps with all other beachgoers, a situation that isn’t allowed in other nearby beaches. Police Chief Don O’Keefe said Half Moon Bay should follow the course of other coastal cities and limit where horses can go. The police chief said the city shouldn’t wait for an accident to occur before it establishes stronger rules. Tuesday night council members were expected to accept one of three alternatives. The first option would put up safety signs, limit all horses to staying within 20 feet of the coastal bluffs and restrict commercial horseback tours to essentially follow a one-way path. The second option is similar but would only restrict riders from the local ranches. The third option would put no restrictions on horses and would only post warning signs and establish a new volunteer group from the horse community to help promote beach safety. All of the options would require the city to re-examine the rules after one year. Horse advocates overwhelmingly endorse the third option, which would involve the least impact for them. “Education is always a great way to approach anything,” said Joell Dunlap, executive director at the Square Peg Foundation, a local horsemanship nonprofit. “The Coastside horse groups are very united to make sure we can stop these trails from being encroached on little by little.” The council broached the subject of horseback riding on beaches within city limits back in July, but strong reaction from the horse-riding community stalled efforts to curtail beach riding. A council subcommittee working with staff helped draft the new ordinance, based partially on input from local equestrians. Sitting on the city’s subcommittee on horseback riding, Mayor John Muller said he’d be entering Tuesday’s discussion with an open mind. But the mayor said the council should advance one of the options in the ordinance — which would then be put before the council for a final vote in December. “We need to make a decision now or move on. This is taking a lot of staff time,” Muller said. “We value our horse riders. But we also value the health and safety issues here.” Many equestrians closely associate the horse-riding ordinance with outgoing Councilman Jim Grady, who decided not to run for re-election and was to serve at his last meeting Tuesday. As Grady leaves office this month, many horse advocates are hoping the restrictions leave with him. “That’s the hope of the horse community,” Dunlap said. |