FIDO - Fiesta Island Dog Owners

FIDO is a project of a California 501(c)3 non-profit corporation
and contributions are tax deductible according to law

Our mission is to preserve the Fiesta Island Leash-free Recreational Area (click for map).  We are a community based organization with just over 8000 members which is rapidly growing.  We are a diverse group of citizens who share a common passion and vision for Fiesta Island.  In response to a massive development plan that will change Fiesta Island forever, our mission is to preserve the fenced Leash-Free Area for families to exercise with their dogs.

We are the largest user group of Fiesta Island and unlike other user groups, we use the island 365 days a year, rain or shine. FIDO has a board of 9 members who are working hard with the city to find a reasonable solution that meets the needs of 'all' Fiesta Island Users.

Important Points and Clarifications

Though we may have lost the recent battle with the MBPC, its important to realize that the fight is not over.  The MBPC is simply an advisory committee and the more important and final decisions will be made at a much higher level.  As the plan goes forward, FIDO will continue to work for a solution so that we can continue to use our open contiguous area and enjoy shoreline access.

WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RESPOND TO SEVERAL CLAIMS MADE BY CITY STAFF AS FOLLOWS:

The city and the paddlers claim that FIDO is seeking "exclusive use" of the area and this is simply false.

• Our area is currently used by many people other than dog owners who come there to walk, run and bike in a lovely natural setting.  We will continue to welcome all users into our area. It is actually the paddlers who are seeking exclusive use of public parkland!  They are not only getting their own fenced storage area and shed but will commandeer the entire surrounding area for the dozens of events (click for map) that they hold each year, forcing the dog owners and other users out of the area.

The city/paddlers portray FIDO as selfish and not wanting to give up the 5 acres they need to build their aquatic center while we have 90 acres. 

• The truth here is that it is not the 5 acres we are fighting, but the location of the 5 acres that they wish to commandeer that we object to.  By locating the paddlers at the southern end of our area, it will necessitate a road, parking lot and fencing (click for map) that will section off the entire southeastern corner of our area.  We have no doubt, that section will ultimately be taken from us and used for 'special events', (click for map) as that is one of the goals of the development - to take events out of Crown Point and other locations in Mission Bay and place them on Fiesta Island. In the same vein, the fenced off area they are planning to place within the north end of our off-leash area, will also be lost to these 'special events'.  Instead of placing special events elsewhere on the island, they will not be happy until they take more of our space for these events.  The fact remains that the dog owners are the largest user group on the island and unlike the other users, have no other place to go. It seems unreasonable to reduce our space when other locations are available on Fiesta Island or in Mission Bay for these uses. We also wish to point out that the proposed road is not required by the Coastal Act and its elimination would be a significant saving.

Paddlers now claim that there are no other locations in Mission Bay that will accommodate their needs.  

• In their own meeting notes in Oct. 2006, the paddlers requested South Shores as a possible location for their facility.  However, they now state that it is unacceptable and each time FIDO has proven that South Shores or Mariners Basin fulfills the requirements that they themselves set forth, they change the requirements so that these locations are no longer acceptable.   This is all aided and abetted by the planner and Park and Recreation Staff. 

City staff tries to portray FIDO as unwilling to compromise.

• FIDO has compromised. (click for map) We have given up a large portion of the off-leash access elsewhere on the island and have requested they leave the fenced off-leash area as-is.  When every other user group has asked for something, the city has accommodated them. We, on the other hand, have had to fight from day one to even get on the plan and now face loss of acreage and intrusive city-ordered improvements within our remaining acreage. They moved OTL back to its current location after the OTL did not like the new location proposed by the Plan.  They are building several $ 1/2 million bridges so bicyclists can continue to do their circuits around the island.  The paddlers went from having a space on the beach to store their boats to a fenced storage area with a shed.   Subsequent paddler requests to have an expensive dock and buoys to mark their race course have also been added per their request. FIDO on the other hand, has asked for nothing other than to keep our area free from fences and roads.  We have even told the city that our goal is to do our own fundraising to make necessary improvements to the area; essentially to become the stewards of the area which will financially assist the city.

We continue to question the city's alliance with the paddlers and their continued reluctance to place them at either South Shores or Mariners Basin, where almost all of the necessary infrastructure exists. When costs are discussed, city staff tells the public that the money will come from state and federal grants.  Is this still not taxpayer money???  Doesn't the city have the responsibility to act more fiscally responsible in this current era where all levels of government are hurting so badly?   What would the parents of children whose rec centers and pools have been closed due to budget cuts think of this plan to spend $100 million on something that doesn't necessarily need to be fixed?