A large alcohol-oriented floating party on Mission Bay drawing an estimated 2,500 Labor Day weekend participants who floated around the beach alcohol ban Sept. 5 still has residents talking. Dubbed “Floatopia” after a similar event thrown by college students in Santa Barbara, the recent Mission Bay version left some neighbors wading through trash, concerned about safety and worried about the environmental impact. The bay is home to sensitive eelgrass habitat which can be disturbed by boats. Some residents, like homeowner and six year Sail Bay resident Rosalie Schwartz, were annoyed with the trash and safety hazards.  “It’s not a huge issue one or two days out of the year. It wasn’t a problem the rest of the (Labor Day) weekend … if it would happen all the time then it would be an issue,” Schwartz said.  “It’s the health and safety (problems) that’s my main concern.” Patricia Benesh, a Pacific Beach resident of 16 years, lives near the bay and walks it often. She said she noticed beer cans and potato chip bags floating days later. “What if hordes of people came to your neighborhood to drink? That’s what’s happening,” she said. San Diego Police Department officers handed out 52 citations for mostly alcohol-related and littering violations. Police arrested two during the event, Assistant Chief Shelley Zimmerman said. San Diego Lifeguard Services also trotted out extra resources including three lifeguard boats to handle the crowds. Lifeguards performed 18 rescues including two separate critical incidents, according to Lifeguard Sgt. John Strandmeyer with the boating safety unit. “We had to drag (one male) out of the water, monitor his airway and transport him to an ambulance,” Strandmeyer said. “He couldn’t stand or swim and was in danger of drowning.” Lifeguards found another, a female, intoxicated, “nearly unconscious” in the water and transported her to a hospital, he said. Small groups gathering in coves around the bay are not the problem, Strandmeyer said. It’s when thousands get together with the purpose to drink when safety becomes an issue, he said. The issue surfaced briefly at a recent Pacific Beach Town Council meeting where police officials said they don’t expect another flotilla until spring and summer. But because drinking on floating devices such as innertubes on the bay does not violate the city ordinance prohibiting drinking on the sand, the most concerned residents find themselves swimming against the tide. While neighbors feel the heat of thousands converging at Fanuel Park and Sail Bay, organizers of the event, networking through internet social networking sites Facebook and Twitter, could also find themselves in hot water. The San Diego Police Department Asst. Chief Shelley Zimmerman said the department will try to recover the cost of public safety staffing for the unpermitted event from the organizers. City special event regulations require event organizers pay for extra police during large events at a cost of about $75 per hour per police officer or lifeguard, according to city documents. An organizer of a previous floatilla in August called “Innertubapallooza” denied affiliation with the September party. Floatopia organizer Joe Schonert confirmed the events are not connected. The 24-year-old East County resident said he’s not worried about police calling him and that he shouldn’t be held liable if other people leave trash behind. He said the group plans to continue the event on a monthly basis as long as weather permits. “We’re not really doing anything illegal,” Schonert said. “More or less it was about being able to return to the beach and legally enjoy a beverage.” District 2 City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer declined to comment. Office Communications Director Tony Manolatos said the councilmember’s office received about half a dozen calls and complaints about the party.  Faulconer pushed for the 2-year-old beach alcohol ban. City voters approved a permanent prohibition in November after a temporary ban took effect in November 2007.