Culver City : Tougher Curb Law Urged

The city of Santa Monica has urged Culver City to toughen its law requiring dog owners to clean up after their pets to help reduce contamination of storm drains that empty into Santa Monica Bay. But Culver City officials say their law is tough enough.

Santa Monica Councilwoman Christine Reed asked Culver City to “assist us in the public education” to keep pet waste “out of the gutters and storm drains and, therefore, off the beaches and out of the ocean.”

But Joseph W. Pannone, city attorney for Culver City, said the law already requires owners to clean up after their dogs, with fines of up to $250 for those who don’t. Pannone said the city will send a letter to Reed explaining the scope of its law. “We’ll probably respond to her, ‘Hey, we’re way ahead of you,’ ” he said.

Last month, Santa Monica toughened its dog law, which had allowed pets to defecate in street gutters. Under the new law, pet owners may be fined up to $50 for permitting their dogs to defecate on any public or private property.

Los Angeles County officials have blamed waste from dogs and other animals for high levels of coliform bacteria found in effluent discharged from drain outlets along Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica and Redondo Beach.