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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 - Beach Fire Rings: Repeal of 2013’s Amendments to Rule 444 (Open Burning) - LetterMoya Diane Brooks Dixon Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Muldoon March 9, 2016 coi Manni Keith D. Curry Dr. William A. Burke, Chairman Marshan'Duffy" Duffield South Coast AQMD Governing Board scot Peotter Tony Pezras 21865 Copley Drive Edward D. serich Diamond Bar, CA 91765 100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, California 92660 949 64x-3004 1949 644-3039 FAX newportbeachca.gov Dear Chairman Burke and Members of the Governing Board: This letter is to formally state the City of Newport Beach's respectful request to you and your colleagues on the Governing Board to reconsider the July 2013 amendments to Rule 444 (Open Burning) that limited beach burning, specifically wood -burning beach fire rings within 700' of residences. We are aware of the Board's and staffs efforts on this issue in 2013, and certainly realize the difficult work that went Into adopting the amendments to the Rule. At this point in 2016, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach believes that the Rule should be revisited, and the 2013 provisions repealed. Doing so would allow us greater flexibility in implementing local solutions in concert with local and visitor desires as well as with the California Coastal Commission. Additionally, amending the Rule may also allow us to end a challenging struggle to appropriately enforce the Rule's provisions as we have implemented them. Regular enforcement of the varying fuels allowed to be burned in our fire rings, which are open to the public from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, has been costly and only marginally successful. The City would prefer that the Rule's provisions return to the language that was used prior to the July 2013 amendments relating to beach burning. If you have any questions about this request, please do not hesitate to ask. On<, Siincceerell�y, Brooks ixo Mayor, Newport Beac cc: Members of the Newport Beach City Council Dr. Barry Wallerstein, South Coast AQMD Executive Officer The Honorable Dwight Robinson, City Council Member of Lake Forest Office of the Mayor