Excerpt from the June Bord Minutes.  The rest to follow on the Citylights website.

As it is getting hot under the scaffolding I thought this topic would be timely.

Although Citylights is a pet friendly building, dogs have become a problem.  It is in the building’s best interests to get control of the pet situation for several reasons:
1. Fire emergencies – where are the pets located?
2. Additional work and expense for our strained staff to cleanup sidewalks, hallway carpets, lobby, elevators, where many accidents occur.
3. Renters have illegal dogs and many shareholders have an illegal second dog.
4. Residents at the April House Committee meeting, including dog owners, requested a solution.

With the facade scaffolding covering our sidewalks for several more years, the accumulation of urine and feces will continue to be a problem and sidewalks will have to be hosed daily (winter is even more difficult with ice pee patches creating a danger). The smell was strong last fall and will be worse this summer.  Owner clean up of dog poop in the middle of the sidewalk doesn't solve the problem as residuals remain. The school and day care children march through the mess daily.  The current situation is unsightly, smelly and unsafe for adults and children.  Several residents, including dog owners in the March and April House Committee meeting, suggested a registration fee to help defer the cleanup costs and carpet damage.

Solutions
- Continue to have staff hose the sidewalk several times a day (big problem in winter).
- More descriptive signage to explain what "Curb Your Dog" means:
    Existing city law literally prohibits pet owners from permitting dogs to defecate on any public property;             however, in the past this law has been interpreted to mean that defecating dogs should be "curbed" - kept off     the sidewalk.
- Change the "dogs out of the back door" rule from suggested to mandatory.
- Register all dogs in the building.

(I say all of this as a dog owner).

The two things that could be done immediately.

1. Going out the back is mandatory. This will stop all those dog owners who let their dogs pee on awning and right around the door. Yes, I know who you are. The staff though would have to be told to be more strict about it. There are some safety concerns about that back area that need to be addressed with cameras and better lighting.

2. A yearly pet fee and registration for all dog owners that would cover the costs of extra cleaning and upkeep by dog owners. Yes, my dog has had an accident or two in the hallway and we try to clean it up but do understand it adds to the overall wear and tear on the building.

The only thing to add is to remember that not all poop around Citylights is coming from Citylights residents. There are just as many dogs in Avalon North and South as well as the two East Coast buildings. It would be great if all the buildings could work together to come up with some common proposals like strict policies and actually getting people who don't pick up poop in trouble.

Jake

Thanks Jake.  I don't have a dog, but I do have a grandson who likes to splash in the numerous yellow puddles in mid-sidewalk.  What a frustration to take him back upstairs for a bath and change of clothing.  The “care less” neglect of a few have unintended consequences for many. 

I realize that the scaffolding makes for a great sheltered dog run in the rain and dog owners from both Avalons use it.  However, it has been my observation that the dogs pee &/or poop immediately - many in the hall, elevators and lobby floor.  I dread to think what our new carpeting will look like if this callousness from many dog owners continues.  We need to clean up our act first.  If you see anyone sullying our luxury building, speak out – I do and will continue to.

I agree with Jake - and Larry, why is your grandson playing on the sidewalk - as a young child he should be in the company of an adult - and with the parks around here and open spaces - the last place he should be playing is in the middle of the sidewalk.

If there are dog owners who on your floor that are not responsible - report that to Patrick.  Take a walk around the other buildings that do not spend the time our building does spraying down the sidewalks and compare.  Those sheds do hinder "natures removal".   A Citylights dog tag to identify a Citylights dog is a good idea - then you can go ahead and make an issue to Avalon or East Coast  and their dog owners- and perhaps credit the responsible dog owners for taking responsibility of Citylights dogs. 

Curbing our dogs means walking down the middle of the street - as cars are parked in front and in the back of Citylights constantly - stepping on glass, building materials, nails and garbage or dodging the cars that do not stop or pay attention. 

And "the adopt a tree" program of the school - why did they not adopt the trees in front of the school.  Sorry to be insensitive but as a shareholder - I pay for the maintenance of those trees - and they were not available for adoption.  Perhaps the children should volunteer to the care of the Gantry - and be more proactive in  beautifying our parks and learn about nature and taking care of it.   Not just hang a sign on a tree with further admonishes about the dogs.- what care was given to the trees has hanging those signs that are now an eyesore rained on and now a wrinkled drowned out art project?  Have a cake sale, raise a donation for the Gantry -

If there is a problem with the Citylights Pets - create a pet policy - stick it on the door and get on with it. 

Are you serious?

Working my way backwards - I think the adopt a tree idea was great, and quite hilarious reading as well. That area has started to smell as bad as the front door of EC1. What would you have done, adopted a tree for dogs to piss on? I hope everyone realizes that urine kills plants, trees are plants, so you'd be adopting a tree to kill it - how very environmental.

Curbing your dogs is a great idea, and could mean several things. Curb it to an area without broken glass (I didn't realize broken glass was such a problem in LIC), building materials (I don't tend to see much of building parts laying in the street - call 311 if you do), and to cut corners getting to the dodging cars part... Again, seriously? If your dog is pissing in the middle of oncoming traffic... Yeah, anyway, whatever, can't you use the storm drains? Wee-wee pads? People get creative training dogs, why not be creative being sanitary too.

If his grandson wants to play on a sidewalk, then so be it. What kid hasn't. Do we live such a sheltered life now that we can only play in parks with cushy rubber mats so we don't scrape our knees? And hopefully that kid proof park doesn't have a dog piss puddle laying around somewhere either. If his grandson was playing in the middle of oncoming traffic (see: urinating dog) then that would be a problem.

So I disagree here, kids who want to play on sidewalks out of traffic where it is safe and not get pee all over them is a good thing. Kids who want to adopt a tree so it doesn't stink in the area, and be "green" by saving the tree's life, is a good thing too. Training your dog to piss in the bath tub or crap in the toilet would be awesome. But please, keep it out of oncoming traffic, that's no good for anyone.

On second thought, get a cat, no one ever complains about them.

Previously nicksmom wrote:

><p>I agree with Jake - and Larry, why is your grandson playing on the sidewalk - as a young child he should be in the company of an adult - and with the parks around here and open spaces - the last place he should be playing is in the middle of the sidewalk.<p>

><p>If there are dog owners who on your floor that are not responsible - report that to Patrick.  Take a walk around the other buildings that do not spend the time our building does spraying down the sidewalks and compare.  Those sheds do hinder "natures removal".   A Citylights dog tag to identify a Citylights dog is a good idea - then you can go ahead and make an issue to Avalon or East Coast  and their dog owners- and perhaps credit the responsible dog owners for taking responsibility of Citylights dogs. <p>

><p>Curbing our dogs means walking down the middle of the street - as cars are parked in front and in the back of Citylights constantly - stepping on glass, building materials, nails and garbage or dodging the cars that do not stop or pay attention. <p>

><p>And "the adopt a tree" program of the school - why did they not adopt the trees in front of the school.  Sorry to be insensitive but as a shareholder - I pay for the maintenance of those trees - and they were not available for adoption.  Perhaps the children should volunteer to the care of the Gantry - and be more proactive in  beautifying our parks and learn about nature and taking care of it.   Not just hang a sign on a tree with further admonishes about the dogs.- what care was given to the trees has hanging those signs that are now an eyesore rained on and now a wrinkled drowned out art project?  Have a cake sale, raise a donation for the Gantry -<p>

><p>If there is a problem with the Citylights Pets - create a pet policy - stick it on the door and get on with it. <p>

><blockquote>