The fate of the Children’s Pool returns to the forefront as the city’s Natural Resources and Culture Committee will take action on how to manage the beach on March 17 at 1 p.m. in the council chambers on the 12th floor of City Hall, 202 C St. The public will have the opportunity to comment. Those who cannot attend can e-mail comments to committee Chair Donna Frye at [email protected]. The battle over the use of the beach shifted gears when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill permitting the beach to also be used as a marine mammal park in late 2009. Until then the city had been obligated to maintain the beach as a bathing pool for children, according to Ellen Browning Scripps’ stipulations when she funded the breakwater and deeded the city the property to maintain in 1931. The City Council now has the authority to decide how to manage the use of the beach. If the City Council decides to close the beach to people and dedicate it to the seals, the city would need permission from the Coastal Commission. Advocates for joint-use of the beach for both humans and seals presented their ideas to the La Jolla Community Planning Association on March 4. Debbie Beacham, a former world surfing champion, proposed dividing the use of the beach into two seasons: seal season and human season. Seal season would run from Jan. 1 to May 31 to protect the seals during pupping season, Beacham proposed. Humans would have full access to the beach without a rope barrier from June 1 to Dec. 31. Designating a season for human use would not preclude people from violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) if anyone incidentally harasses or disturbs the seals. “There are plenty of beaches in the U.S. where pinnipeds haul out and there are no specific or special provisions about whether people can use the beach or not,” said Sarah Wilkin, a marine mammal biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “The general rule is, if people are not harassing the pinnipeds, then it’s not a violation of the MMPA.” Beacham also suggested the city set up a “free speech” booth for activists to rally for their causes that is away from the entrance to the beach. Swimmer John Steel also called for the city to protect public access to the beach at the meeting, saying it is “one of the best dive access points in San Diego.” Steel is president of Friend’s of the Children’s Pool, which advocates returning the beach to a recreation area.