By: ADAM KAYE
North County Times
Jan 25, 2008
In a report this month to the City Council, the city's Parks and Recreation Commission chairman highlighted the deteriorating condition of the beach structures, which are nearly 45 years old.
City officials say improvements are part of a long-term plan for the beach, but that there's no money in the budget to make the fixes now ---- even if they're badly needed.
"It's no surprise to any of you that the bathroom is really (nasty)," Deputy Mayor Maggie Houlihan said later. She said the stalls always seem to have water puddled on the floor. "You should never go barefoot in there."
The lifeguard station also needs attention, she said. "Deferred maintenance isn't working anymore, because it's just falling apart."
Chipping away at plan
In the early 1990s, the city created the Moonlight Beach Master Plan, which called for widespread improvements to the beach, blocks away from downtown Encinitas.
More than a decade later, two of the most expensive items in the plan ---- the lifeguard station and the restroom building ---- haven't been designed or budgeted, city officials said.
Other elements of the plan have already been completed, including:
a bluff-top overlook at C Street ---- a popular spot for wedding ceremonies ---- that opened in 1999.
landscaping around the parking lots and sidewalks that was done in 2002;
and a new playground that opened in 2004.
More recently, workers also expanded a loading zone and removed ice plant to expand heavily used volleyball courts.
Under the master plan, restrooms and a concession stand ---- which are now separate structures ---- would be consolidated into a single building at the foot of an embankment, opening valuable sand space as well as a view corridor down B Street, said Parks and Recreation Department Director Chris Hazeltine.
Before new buildings can go in, however, crews must replace plumbing, phone and power lines that date to the 1920s, he said.
And city officials would need to decide how to pay for the work, which a 2006 study estimated to cost $4.2 million.
The city's capital improvement budget shows $700,000 set aside for the design and development of Moonlight Beach improvements, but officials say that won't go far.
"What we left in (the budget) was enough money to do actual planning and designing," said Mayor Jerome Stocks. "We have an approved drawing, but the details have never been fleshed out."
Harsh elements
Meanwhile, at Moonlight Beach, sea air is eating away at the lifeguard station that officials say is held together by rust and coats of paint.
An exterior lighting fixture dangles from wires and salt air has chewed holes in a knee-level railing of a steel stairway.
"It's really and truly falling apart," said lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles.
Despite the conditions, he said, lifeguards are making do, handling ever-increasing crowds and rescues.
Moonlight Beach receives more than 1.4 million visits annually, according to city estimates.
Records for the 3.5 miles of city-patrolled beaches show that in 2007, lifeguards performed 1,277 rescues and administered 4,762 minor medical aids. At least half of the rescues and medical responses happened at the two-block-long Moonlight Beach, Giles said, where lifeguards are headquartered in a block tower containing two 12-by-12-foot floors.
Inside the structure, an entanglement of conduit is anchored to the walls and lifesaving equipment occupies any available nook.
A steel shipping container and wooden sheds add to the storage space, but vehicles, boats and other equipment still must be stored at nearby fire stations and at City Hall, Giles said.
"It gets congested," Giles said, "but we make it work."
City improvements to a state-owned beach
The city controls the 12.7-acre Moonlight Beach under a 20-year-lease with the state. By contract, the city gets free rent in exchange for providing maintenance and lifeguard services. The city also must pay for any upgrades.
In talks last month, city and state officials negotiated the renewal of the lease agreement, which also applies to the state-owned shoreline between Swami's and South Carlsbad State Beach.
The lease extension represents nearly two years of negotiations and is scheduled for the City Council's consideration next month, Hazeltine said.
At Moonlight, the state property extends well beyond the beach itself and follows the Cottonwood Creek channel all the way to South Coast Highway 101.
The beach has ample parking and other features that are missing at other city beaches, such as a playground and turf area, concession stand, volleyball courts, picnic tables, fire rings and plenty of sand.
Moonlight is home to summer concerts, triathlons, surfing contests, surf camps and the junior lifeguard program.
Earlier this week, a playground at the edge of the sand provided excitement for Oliver Demian, 2, who climbed, swung and slid as his mother, Jessica, and baby brother, Ethan, looked on.
Jessica Demian said she is a lifelong Encinitas resident and that the playground and turf are great gathering places for families.
She said she would support more improvements for Moonlight Beach ---- especially the restrooms.
"My kids are in diapers now, so it's not really an issue," she said, "but I definitely won't be taking them in there with bare feet.
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