In cooperation with public health officials as well as regional coastal agencies and lifeguards, April 22 Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer will join the mayors of Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Imperial Beach at 4:30 p.m. to announce a coordinated, safe and regional plan for the eventual re-opening of local beaches and bays.
Coastal city mayors have been working over the last several days to prepare for how – not when – to open shorelines in coordination with public health officials and regional lifeguard agencies. The plan aims to enable access to beaches when public health officials determine the appropriate time, while still maintaining mandated levels of public health and safety in accordance with state and county orders.
The two-phase plan was unanimously approved yesterday by the San Diego Regional Aquatic Lifesaving Emergency Response Taskforce. SDR ALERT is comprised of lifeguard leadership from the region’s coastal cities, Camp Pendleton, Harbor Police, State of California, and United States Coast Guard.
A County of San Diego public health order currently restricts recreational activity in local waterways, including oceans and bays. Cities and agencies will be ready to implement this regional plan when the County has enough data related to COVID-19 cases to substantiate modifying the public health order. Mayors from the cities of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, National City, Oceanside, San Diego, and Solana Beach have pledged to move forward in unison. The California Department of State Parks and Recreation, San Diego Unified Port District, and County of San Diego have been working closely with the mayors and their city managers on this effort.