{"id":315096,"date":"2022-09-14T09:11:36","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T16:11:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/?p=315096"},"modified":"2022-09-13T19:32:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T02:32:00","slug":"city-moving-forward-with-more-restrictions-for-beach-fires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/city-moving-forward-with-more-restrictions-for-beach-fires\/","title":{"rendered":"City moving forward with more restrictions for beach fires"},"content":{"rendered":"

Community planners support a proposal to ban wood bonfires on City beaches (including Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, La Jolla, and Ocean Beach) outside designated fire rings, but beach-access advocates insist the measure is yet another attempt by local government to restrict public freedoms.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are trying for an Oct. 10 docket date,\u201d said Victoria Joes, chief of staff for District 1 Councilmember Joe LaCava representing La Jolla.<\/p>\n

LaCava chairs the City Council Environment Committee, which in May unanimously endorsed his proposed amendments clarifying beach fire regulations.<\/p>\n

LaCava\u2019s proposal\u00a0confining\u00a0beach fires to City-provided fire rings and portable propane-fueled devices is meant to resolve conflicting language,\u00a0improve\u00a0public safety,\u00a0and provide\u00a0clarity for beachgoers and public safety officials alike.<\/p>\n

\u201cI support safe, legal beach fires,\u201d\u00a0said LaCava.\u00a0\u201cThese amendments are essential in\u00a0keeping\u00a0our public beaches safe\u00a0while preserving\u00a0the public\u2019s access to the unique experience of beach fires.\u201d<\/p>\n

La Jolla community planners said their City advisory groups have vetted LaCava\u2019s proposal and the general consensus is that fire-ring restrictions are necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe at La Jolla Parks & Beaches discussed this issue about a year ago, and narrowly voted against having bonfires outside of City rings. And we supported LaCava, too,\u201d said LJP&B chair Bob Evans. \u201cJust about everyone one of us in the community has had great experiences over the decades on the beaches, and all of us talked strongly about banning versus not banning. But now with so many more people (both locals and tourists) visiting our beaches, it’s gotten way out of control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Evans: \u201cThe police aren\u2019t able to effectively patrol and enforce, especially in the smaller pocket-type beaches along the La Jolla shoreline. There are so many people overcrowding on weekends, loud music and parties, leaving trash, commercialism, and events, and unsafe fire remains. Thus, unless the City can properly enforce and manage reasonable regulations on the beaches, we had to majority vote against bonfires outside of rings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not everyone, however, favors the new proposed beach-fire regulations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fun police are after your freedom to use and enjoy your public beaches,\u201d La Jolla beach-access advocate Ken Hunrichs said. \u201cNot satisfied with extreme restrictions on beach access and fireworks displays, Councilmember LaCava is proposing banning wood fires in privately owned fire bowls on City beaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe proposal would prohibit the use of your own fire bowl to have a natural wood fire. Their idea of a beach fire would force you to use only a propane fire in your device,\u201d Hunrichs said. \u201cThat would be like lighting all the burners on your kitchen stove and sitting around it. Not a good experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Longtime La Jollan Melinda Merryweather concurred with Hunrich\u2019s view.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t want you to have wood or charcoal anywhere on the beach,\u201d she said. \u201cThey just want you to have propane. I want my grandchildren and great-grandchildren to have beach fires and the smell of hot dogs and marshmallows. They tried this (new fire regulations) in Newport Beach. There was so much anger about it they brought the fire pits back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dorie DeFranco, vice president of Barber Tract Neighborhood Association, said her group supports the proposed beach fire ordinance changes. \u201cThey clarify the current municipal code, which was confusing to everyone and not enforceable,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is a great start to reduce burns and air pollution for everyone. With enforcement, it will reduce the number of illegal fires.\u201d<\/p>\n

DeFranco noted there are numerous health and safety issues caused by beach fires, noting many illegal fires are built directly on the sand, leaving charcoal ash debris and burnt logs from fires. \u201cThe City bans smoking on the beach, but a typical beach fire produces thousands of times more toxic smoke than second-hand smoke from cigarettes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Scripps researcher Meinrat O. \u201cAndi\u201d Andreae, a member of the La Jolla Shores Association, detailed the dangers of beach fires. \u201cThe fires release toxic smoke that endangers the health of both beach users and residents in the adjacent communities,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery year, there are a number of hospitalizations resulting from people, especially children, stepping on glowing embers buried in the sand. And finally, the fires act as focal points for a variety of illegal activities, such as underage drinking, drug use, and violent behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andreae noted the proposed modification of the existing ordinance would be a significant step to clarifying what\u2019s legal and what\u2019s not. \u201cIf enforced, it would eliminate the risk of burns from buried embers,\u201d he said. \u201cIt would reduce the overall number of fires, reducing the impact of smoke air pollution. All the while, it would still allow people to enjoy a picnic around a fire on the beach, either using the city-provided fire rings or their propane-fueled fire pits. I\u2019ve seen several of them on the beach and asked people how they liked them. Everybody I asked told me they love them. Lots of fun without the mess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Janie Emerson, president of LJSA, concurred with Andreae\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up with beach fires,\u201d she said. \u201cI also grew up smoking. When we learned smoking caused cancer, I stopped. This is a similar moment. These beach fires are damaging to us and our environment. So, time to change the type of fires at the beach to keep all healthy and safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Proposed beach-fire amendments include:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n