Summertime is perhaps the most beautiful and the most trying time of the year for residents of La Jolla. The blue skies, crashing surf and moderate temperatures draw us out of our homes to enjoy the many amenities our community has to offer. This appeal extends to visitors as well as residents, and the summer months bring thousands of tourists to our village from near and far.
While we enjoy showing off the neighborhood to our summer visitors, the influx of people along the beach poses logistical and law enforcement challenges. These include parking and traffic congestion, additional trash and disregard for policies related to commercial activity and park use. During my years on the City Council, I have worked closely with residents, merchants and city staff to address these problems and manage them in a way that allows all of us to take advantage of our beaches.
The newest tool to keep our beaches safe and clean is the one-year trial alcohol ban, approved by the City Council this past November. I proudly supported the citywide trial ban, with the hope that it would be as successful as the alcohol prohibitions already in place at the Shores and Marine Street. So far, the program seems to be working very well. Police and beach residents report that it is a great success, noting a dramatic decline in vagrancy and wild, alcohol-fueled parties. Most importantly, families are able to enjoy our beaches in relative peace.
The recent Independence Day weekend was the real test of the efficacy and enforcement of the trial ban. Thanks to the willingness of San Diegans and our guests to comply with the new law, and the even-handed enforcement by San Diego police, there were no major incidents at local beaches.
Other regulatory and enforcement programs help keep our beaches safe and enjoyable for residents and visitors. With the help of Mayor Sanders, I was successful in hiring a Lifeguard Ambassador for the Shores again this summer. A portion of revenues from equipment rentals and surf camps help support the ambassador program, created to monitor businesses for compliance with permitting requirements and safety regulations and to assist the lifeguards with their duties in the water, on the beach and in the park. These lifeguards also inform visitors of beach laws and regulations. We launched this innovative program at the Shores in 2004, and its success led the City to replicate the program at other local beaches.
Another important community issue at the Shores is the regulation of the kayak tour businesses that operate along and at the foot of Avenida de la Playa. I have been working very closely with the community to create a plan to alleviate vehicular and pedestrian congestion and other negative impacts caused by the proliferation of these tour operators. I have urged the mayor to make this issue a priority and am working with his staff to implement such a plan so that we can have a permanent solution in place before next summer. In the meantime, the city uses a month-to-month permit system administered by the Park and Recreation Department. I also worked with city staff and the community on some short-term solutions, including reconfiguring the launch area and allowing some limited and temporary equipment storage on the sand, and these measures are working nicely.
Finally, I was very disappointed to learn about the untimely removal of the playground equipment at Kellogg Park by the Park & Recreation Department due to safety concerns. I immediately began working with the mayor’s staff to come up with a plan to replace the aging and reportedly dangerous equipment. I am pleased to announce that I have identified funds to construct a new, beautiful playground set in its place. Knowing that many community members also donated funds for the replacement, I believe that we will be able to combine these funds to build a unique and enhanced playground set for children to enjoy.
Thank you to everyone who worked to make each of these programs such a success. Together we can protect our beautiful beaches and parks and keep them safe and enjoyable for years to come.
” Council President and District 1 City Councilman Scott Peters contributes a monthly Council Corner column spotlighting City Hall happenings pertinent to the communities of La Jolla and University City.