By Ruth Marvin Webster
North County Times
August 20, 2008
ENCINITAS ---- The Encinitas City Council directed staffers Wednesday to draw up an ordinance they can get on the books by next summer to regulate commercial uses of city beaches and parks.
The Department of Parks and Recreation brought the matter before the council amid concern that the proliferation of surf camps has begun to detract from beachgoers' enjoyment of the sand and surf, particularly during the summer months.
"I went out there to check it out last week, and I was amazed at how much of our beaches are taken up by camps," Councilwoman Maggie Houlihan said during Wednesday's discussion. "I don't think we are looking at this ordinance as a moneymaker per se, it's really more about the quality of experience."
In his presentation to council, the city's senior analyst Michael Stauffer said that the California state parks, San Diego, Del Mar and Solana Beach have all implemented guidelines and restrictions for the commercial use of their beaches, particularly with respect to surf camps.
Stauffer said the number of complaints by beachgoers has increased significantly in the last few years, and the city's department of parks and recreation knows of at least 14 commercial surf camps operating on Encinitas beaches.
Council members suggested certain provisions they would like to see in a draft ordinance, including giving preference to local businesses, banning camps during special holidays, having fees collected go to recreational services to maintain the beaches and parks, and criteria that balance times and quantity of beach and park use.
"As with so many things, this comes along because of over-use and abuse," said Councilman Dan Dalager. "I remember people coming up to me years ago saying that people were putting up cones and blocking access at Beacon's, but I do understand too what small businesses mean to our community."
A number of surf school operators spoke at Wednesday's meeting, including Robbie Nelson who owns and operates a surf school called Happy Barrels.
"We focus heavily on the quality of instruction," Nelson said. "Other communities, like in Australia, they heavily regulate surf instruction, and it weeds out those who should not be teaching it."
Bob Edwards, owner of Kahuna Bob's Surf School, said he welcomed the some regulation of surf schools.
"I think the council is going in the right direction," he said after the meeting. "I wouldn't mind if they charged a fee, I would have to pass that onto the consumer, but we still have the lowest rates in the area."
Contact staff writer Ruth Marvin Webster at (760) 901-4074 or rwebster@nctimes.com |
