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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/6/2004 - Agenda PacketJULY 6, 2004 PB &R COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA City of Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission Tuesday, July 6, 2004 - 7pm— City Council Chambers AGENDA ORDER AND ROLL CALL ELECTION OF OFFICERS • Chair • Vice Chair DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS Director Knight Director Niederhaus PUBLIC COMMENTS Members of the public are invited to comment on non - agenda items of public interest. Speakers are limited to three minutes. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC All matters listed under Consent Calendar (1 -4) are considered by the Commission to be routine and will all be enacted by one motion in the form listed below. The Commission Members have received detailed staff reports on each of the items recommending approval. There will be no separate discussion of these items prior to the time the Commission votes on the motion unless members of the Commission, staff, or the public request a specific item to be discussed and /or removed from the Consent Calendar for separate action. The City provides a yellow sign -in card for those wishing to address the Commission to assist in the preparation of the minutes. Speakers are not required to submit a card as a condition to addressing the Commission. If you do fill out the card please place it in the box at the podium. As a courtesy, please turn cellphones and pagers off or set them in the silent mode. Members of the public who wish to discuss a Consent Calendar item should come forward to the lectern upon invitation by the Chair, state their name and Consent Calendar item number. Speakers are limited to three minutes on all agenda items. *ONSENT CALENDAR 1. Minutes of the June 1, 2004 regular meeting. waive reading of subject minutes, approve as written and order filed. 2. Park and Tree Division Activity Report. Receive /file monthly Activity Report for activities and upcoming projects. 3. Recreation It Senior Services Activity Report. Receive /file monthly Activity Report for activities and upcoming projects. 4. Bench Donation. Accept donation from Scott Porterfield of one bench to be installed at the Newport Pier. CONTINUING BUSINESS 5. Smoking on Piers a Beaches. Consider if a no smoking ordinance is needed in the City of Newport Beach. Action: Forward to City Council the Commission's support for a no smoking ordinance that pertains to public piers, beaches, and certain other public areas; and designate certain areas for smokers on beaches and adjacent public areas. Equip designated areas with smoking urns and support funding for the maintenance of the urns. Deny: Do not support the recommendation as stated above. 6. Committee Reports. • Finance — Garrett & Skoro • Park Development — Skoro, Allen & Brown • Rec & Open Space Element — Garrett • Recreation Activities — Eiglebrecht, Ru icka& Tobin • Seniors — Tobin, Allen & Skoro • Beach — Garrett, Skom & Tobin . Ad Hoc — Community Service Award - Garrett, Ruzlcka & Tobin — Tree Committee- Allen, Skoro & Tobin — Youth Sports Liaison — Ruzicka *UTURE AGENDA ITEMS Matters which Commissioners may wish to place on a future agenda or raise for discussion. ADJOURNMENT Absent: Debra Allen Staff: Marie Knight, Recreation It Senior Services Director David Niederhaus, General Services Director Teri Craig, Administrative Assistant DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS Director Knight stated that each Commissioner was given a packet with a clipboard tonight that she wanted to share with the Commission. Matt Lohr, Recreation Manager oversees the Contract Class Instructors of which there are 65. She stated that he had put together an • extensive training this year for all of the instructors, which was mandatory that they attend one of three meetings (one was during the day, another in the evening and on a Saturday) to accommodate their various schedules. She went on to say that he created the brochure and all the supporting materials to make sure that all the contract instructors know the City policies as they are an extension of the City, an arm of the Department and wanted to make sure that they are giving the best quality services to our customers as possible. Director Knight stated that the training was well received by the instructors and we all were so impressed with the packet and wanted to share that with you and the clipboard is a token of our appreciation to you. She reminded the Commission that this weekend is the CdM 5K Run and would confirm with the Chair if she is available to start the women's race if not she stated that she would let Commissioner Brown know to be there at 8:30am. She also commented that all should have received the invitation to the Grand Re- Opening of Cliff Drive Park on Wednesday, June 9 at 3:30pm and urged them all to be there and if not to visit the park as much has been done including new playground equipment, building has been painted, basketball court has been resurfaced along with a new pole and backboard donated by some residents and the extensive mosaic tile work that was done on the retaining wall and is just gorgeous and really sets off the park. Director Knight also stated that they would be receiving letters very shortly reminding you of the annual 4`" of July festivities at Mariners Park to ascertain your attendance, and if you know tonight if you will be attending she asked that they let staff know. And lastly she asked if any of them would not be in attendance at the July or August meetings to see if they should be scheduled dark. • Director Niederhaus stated that the Adopt -a -Beach program was very successful on May 22 with Mayor Ridgeway, Council Member Rosansky and Commissioner Tobin in attendance and 33 sign -ups. He stated that all the buckets and clean up kits were taken the first day. He stated that Earth Resources has been asked by the City to squire that program and sign up volunteers. Stephanie Barger, Earth Resources has already rounded up 10 more volunteers and We m J. CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH J.LUkl U 2004 Parks, Beaches ft Recreation Commission • Regular Meeting June 1, 2004 - 7pm Convened In the absence of Chair Allen, Vice Chair Tobin called the meeting to order at 7:03pm ROLL CALL Present: Tim Brown Roy Englebrecht Bill Garrett Greg Ruzicka Val Skoro Tom Tobin Absent: Debra Allen Staff: Marie Knight, Recreation It Senior Services Director David Niederhaus, General Services Director Teri Craig, Administrative Assistant DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS Director Knight stated that each Commissioner was given a packet with a clipboard tonight that she wanted to share with the Commission. Matt Lohr, Recreation Manager oversees the Contract Class Instructors of which there are 65. She stated that he had put together an • extensive training this year for all of the instructors, which was mandatory that they attend one of three meetings (one was during the day, another in the evening and on a Saturday) to accommodate their various schedules. She went on to say that he created the brochure and all the supporting materials to make sure that all the contract instructors know the City policies as they are an extension of the City, an arm of the Department and wanted to make sure that they are giving the best quality services to our customers as possible. Director Knight stated that the training was well received by the instructors and we all were so impressed with the packet and wanted to share that with you and the clipboard is a token of our appreciation to you. She reminded the Commission that this weekend is the CdM 5K Run and would confirm with the Chair if she is available to start the women's race if not she stated that she would let Commissioner Brown know to be there at 8:30am. She also commented that all should have received the invitation to the Grand Re- Opening of Cliff Drive Park on Wednesday, June 9 at 3:30pm and urged them all to be there and if not to visit the park as much has been done including new playground equipment, building has been painted, basketball court has been resurfaced along with a new pole and backboard donated by some residents and the extensive mosaic tile work that was done on the retaining wall and is just gorgeous and really sets off the park. Director Knight also stated that they would be receiving letters very shortly reminding you of the annual 4`" of July festivities at Mariners Park to ascertain your attendance, and if you know tonight if you will be attending she asked that they let staff know. And lastly she asked if any of them would not be in attendance at the July or August meetings to see if they should be scheduled dark. • Director Niederhaus stated that the Adopt -a -Beach program was very successful on May 22 with Mayor Ridgeway, Council Member Rosansky and Commissioner Tobin in attendance and 33 sign -ups. He stated that all the buckets and clean up kits were taken the first day. He stated that Earth Resources has been asked by the City to squire that program and sign up volunteers. Stephanie Barger, Earth Resources has already rounded up 10 more volunteers and Parks, Beaches It Recreation Commission Regular Meeting June 1, 2004 • Page 2 that they have stated that they do not need to clean monthly that they will do it on a weekly basis. Staff is beginning to see improvement on litter abatement. He noted that on June 10 the groundbreaking of Mariners Library would take place and invited the Commission to attend at f pm. He also noted that on June 9 at 6:30am is a "Bee Prepared" event with an outside speaker that will brief employees on the African Bee threat as staff is beginning to see more swarms and are responding to this if they appear on public property, but noted that by law if they are not on public property they are unable to disturb the bees. Director Niederhaus stated that no changes were made on the G -1 tree policy by City Council during reconsideration and staff has committed that all tree removals will be replaced on a one for one replacement program and probably even more as staff has done in past years. Commissioner Skoro asked if the trees that are removed would be replaced in the same location or an adjacent location. Director Niederhaus stated that it would be in the same location whenever possible unless there are circumstances where one of the Council policies such as G -6 prohibits it and in which case the rule is that the tree will be replaced in the same neighborhood. Commissioner Skoro asked if it would be a 24" box. • Director Niederhaus stated that at a minimum it would be a 24" box and in some cases it would be a 36" box tree, but staff does run into circumstances where that tree cannot be planted at the home and staff collects a tree replacement fee of $700 and a tree is bought for the adjacent park and that happens on a monthly basis. He stated that heavy equipment have been moved onto Bayview Park as The Irvine Company has begun the grading on the lower and the upper portions of the park. He stated that fencing was put up today and the grading will continue through July. At the June 15 Park Development meeting landscaping issues will be presented and believed that City Planner Mr. Trimble we will be presenting the perimeter landscaping plan, and stated that as you know the inner landscaping is all set by the Coastal Commission as native plantings and so the Committee will only be discussing the fringe area and what could be done there. Possibly the architect, Mr. Lomeli and Mr. Trimble will be presenting that at the meeting. Commissioner Skoro stated that there is a fair amount of choices for native plants that can be put in to the park and so he stated that it is important that staff try to get copies of the proposed plan or suggested plan to the committee members a day or so early if at all possible to review them and then a more productive meeting can be held. Director Knight stated that Mr. Trimble has committed to doing just that and will have a set of plans sent to all of the Commission in advance so that if anyone wants to review them before the June 15`" meetings they will have them. • Director Niederhaus stated that it would be a really tight timeframe and staff will do their best. PUBLIC COMMENTS Jan Vandersloot, Newport Heights residents, commented on the Brown Act as the apparent practice of the Commission to send a -mails back and forth as stated and that since he also sits Parks, Beaches Ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting June 1, 2004 • Page 3 on the GPAC Committee as well, he asked Assistant City Manager Wood to took into this because they were told not to do that and so Sharon did some investigating and cannot seem to find where the City Attorney has said that it is ok to for the PBBR to do that but she stated that she opposed his doing that even though based on the Commission's representation at the last meeting that he had gone ahead and sent a -mails to all the GPAC members and stated that he believes that it is questionable, and that the Commission should be looking to the City Attorney again to see if that represents a serial meeting as they are communicating to each other without benefit of the public being in the loop. Mr. Vandersloot stated that he does not approve of the new G -1 policy and believes that too many trees will be removed and looked forward to the Commission making sure that an excessive number of trees are not removed and that a one -to -one replacement of the right kind of tree at the same property when at at[ possible be done and that they will continue to attend meetings to protect the mature trees of the City. Larry Porter, Newport Heights residents stated that the Commission should see the remaining Ficus tree over in Balboa and that it is incredible and wanted to share with them that the tree is very much alive. CONSENT CALENDAR • 1. Minutes of the May 4, 2004 regular meeting. Waive reading of subject minutes, approve as written and order filed. 2. Item pulled bV a member of the public. 3. Recreation Et Senior Services Activity Report. Receive and file monthly Activity Report for activities and upcoming projects. 4. Bench Donation. Accept donation from Mary Kilfoy of one bench to be installed at the Newport Pier. 2. Park Et Tree Division Activity Report. Jan Vandersloot commented on page 2 of the Urban Forester report of the possible removal of some trees in conjunction with some upcoming City Council beautification projects at Mariners Park Library and at Corona del Mar Centennial project and wondered if there is some way for the public such as himself could be brought into that process. Director Niederhaus stated that he would refer Mr. Vandersloot to item 5 on the agenda as far as the Corona del Mar Centennial project and the other issue at Mariners Parks he stated that staff was not to that point yet and that there is not even a firm landscaping plan yet and it would be too early to discuss tree removals. Mr. Vandersloot stated that it would be great to get in on the ground floor of that. Director Niederhaus stated that there would be an announcement made to the Commission about what the Public Works library plan would be and then that would be the appropriate time for Mr. Vandersloot and the public to speak on that issue will be when it goes to the • Council. Mr. Vandersloot asked if it would be possible to get in on that earlier than that so that they are part of the planning process rather than reading to a plan. Parks, Beaches Et Recreation Commission Regular Meeting June 1, 2004 • Page 4 Director Niederhaus stated that staff would try to keep him informed as an interested party of the process. Motion by Commissioner Ruzicka to receive and approve Items 1 through 4 of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by acclamation. CONTINUING BUSINESS 5. CdM Centennial Vision 2004 - Director Niederhaus stated City Planner George Berger, works with the CdM BID and is in attendance tonight. He stated that the General Services Department report has no recommendation as that this item is for information only. He stated that he had passed out a design handout and that this project is still in the early planning and that the volunteer architect Ron Yeo is on vacation this week and apologizes for not being here tonight. Director Niederhaus stated that this proposed plan will be developed and paid for by private contributions, but because the construction is occurring in the public right -of -way it will be up for Council plan review and approval. He stated that the only issue tonight really is just to inform you that there is a possibility, a strong possibility that 3 to 4 of the City trees that are in the right -of -way at that location may be removed. He asked the Commission to look at the sketch and notice the highlighted areas that are identified by species and stated that of course the adjacent property just for . perspective is the northwest corner of Marguerite and East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. He stated that this was the area chosen for the Centennial Celebration monument. He stated that the adjacent property is owned by Bandera Restaurant and that would be in their parking lot in the upper right corner and on the left is the City Bayside Drive parking lot. He went on to say that there is the sidewalk with a large Palm Tree off to the left and then a series of three parkway Ficus trees. He stated that the Ficus tree on the left probably will not need to be removed but that it is still a possibility. He stated that there is a possibility that 3 Ficus trees and possibly the Melaluca tree, which is a part of the landscaping that goes on up that page where there is a series of Melaluca trees and some shrubs that were planted by the previous developers of this property before Bandera. Director Niederhaus stated that the only issue the Commission tonight is information only and that there is a little bit of a time crunch with getting approval from the City Council, regarding the bid process and doing the work on the public right -of -way. He again stated that Mr. Berger has been the staff liaison with the Corona del Mar BID group. Director Niederhaus stated that he could answer any questions about the tree removals and announced that the Clock Tower area is also associated with the project but noted that it is not up for review by the Commission as it is not in a park and stated that it would go to the Arts Commission on June 10 at 5pm. He invited the Commissioners to attend if they have comments and or questions about the tower and that the architect and representatives of the Committee would be in attendance. He restated that this evening • the only thing that the Commission can talk about is basically the three Ficus trees. He stated that with the G -1 that there would be a one -for one replacement but at this time the group has not decided which of the three or four species of ornamental trees that they would like to put back there but because of the wall and the masonry work and the tiles that are in the third photograph there it is necessary to remove the Ficus trees and it is also prudent due to the fact that these will be pavers and it will be a very busy area Parks, Beaches Et Recreation Commission Regular Meeting June 1, 2004 • Page 5 and could cause damage in the future and so they will be re- landscaping the area and probably by next month he would have more information about this project. He stated that this is just a heads up so to speak on the tree removal and replacements. Commissioner Ruzicka asked if it would be an operational clock or is it just for looks. Director Niederhaus stated that it would be an operational clock and asked the Commission to review the four objectives that the Committee has developed to draw attention to the site for time immortal so to speak. Vice Chair Tobin opened the public discussion Jan Vandersloot stated that the City experience with Ficus trees has shown that they can be pretty severely pruned and asked Director Niederhaus if that were true, that the roots of the Ficus tree and that even the branches of a Ficus tree can be pruned and that the Ficus tree can recover and survive? Director Niederhaus stated that that would be a fair statement. Mr. Vandersloot stated that you can take a Ficus tree and put it into a 11 foot box and • move it and have it grow nicely and because the City is also spending more money on root pruning of the Ficus trees that it should be considered from an aesthetic standpoint keeping as many Ficus as we can and doing some radical root pruning of it and he stated that he did not understand why that would not be considered and that because it's a Ficus that it is automatically assumed that it is going to cause damage and believes that Ficus can be root pruned and trimmed so that they do not cause damage and stated that he would like the City take that because there are over 6,000 Ficus trees in the City and if they are considering getting rid of all the Ficus trees in the City then he stated that is not the right way to go and that he would much rather see the City accommodate what it has because they are beautiful trees and that is why they were planted in the first place. He stated that the fact that they may cause infrastructure damage has to be addressed but that can be done with root barriers and that Ficus trees should be looked at to see if they can be pruned to fit in the place that will fit in with the beautification project. Director Niederhaus stated that staff would pass Mr. Vandersloot's comments on to the CdM Committee to see if they might consider retention of the trees, but at this point it would be too early to tell. Vice Chair Tobin closed the public discussion OLD BUSINESS • 6. Committee Reports Finance - Commissioner Garrett stated that he and Commissioner Skoro would meet with Director Knight on June 8 at 8:30am Park Development - Commissioner Skoro stated that the next meeting would be June 15 at 8:30am in the Fire Conference Room. • Rec Et Open Space Element - Nothing to report. Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting • June 1, 2004 Page 6 • • • Recreation Activities - Nothing to report. • Seniors - Director Knight stated that a meeting had been scheduled for June 10 in the Council Conference Room. • Beach Activities - Commissioners Garret asked staff to include Beach Maintenance as part of the monthly Parks Et Tree Activity Report. • Ad Hoc - Community Service Award - A meeting will be scheduled in July. - Youth Sports Liaison - A meeting will be held in June. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Commissioner Skoro asked for Smoking on the Beach. Director Niederhaus stated that it was an item for discussion with the City Council and that it was expected to be sent to back to the Commission for their discussion. Limiting of Bench Donations, identify areas where they are needed • Donation Brochure- July • Irvine Terrace Park Encroachment • Review of Council Policy G -5 possibly requiring approval of HOA where benches will be installed or gage number of benches in parks. • Liability Aspects at Marina Park • Ordinance 11.04 — Conduct in Parks ADJOURNMENT - 8:02pm Submitted by: Teri Craig, Admin Assistant (1) TO: FROM: Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission Parks and Trees Maintenance Superintendent PB &R Commission Agenda Item No. July 6, 2004 SUBJECT: Parks and Trees Maintenance Divisions Activities Report Parks Maintenance Division Activities u 1. Parks Maintenance Division staff is currently working with the Recreation and Senior Services and Public Works Departments relative to the construction of the new Mariners Library and the anticipated impacts to Mariners Park. 2. David Marder, owner of Bee Busters, and the City's bee removal contractor, conducted three 45- • minute sessions on Wednesday, June 9th, at the City's Corporation Yard. Mr. Marder provided information for staff to perform their jobs safely when handling issues relative to the African Honey Bees and the public. Bee Busters provides the City with bee removal and control on public property, and also provides the same services to area residents and businesses. Over 100 City staff from the Animal Control, Fire, Recreation and Senior Services, Utilities, and General Services Departments attended the informative training. 3. Field improvement work was performed at Lincoln Athletic Center, Arroyo Park and Bonita Creek Park. The work consisted of aerification, seeding, sodding, fertilization, and top - dressing. 4. Parks Maintenance Division staff assisted the Recreation Division with the Corona Del Mar 5k Race. The work included race delineation, traffic control and related activities involving eight staff. Upcoming Activities for July 1. The planting of replacement shrubs and ground covers will continue Citywide. 2. Parks Maintenance Division staff will continue coordinating the control of rodents with contract services. • Tree Division Activities During the month of June, 345 trees were trimmed, 11 trees were removed as a result of claim • related settlements approved by the City Manager, 23 trees were planted, and 8 emergency tree calls were responded to. The Urban Forester received 184 tree maintenance requests. 1. The City's tree trimming contractor, West Coast Arborists, is currently trimming trees within the Corona Del Mar area. 2. The Urban Forester coordinated the Citywide Sidewalk Replacement Program with the Concrete Maintenance Supervisor and a Public Works Department Inspector. This work involved the Urban Forester inspecting City street trees as related to sidewalk repairs. 3. The attached Tree Activity Report summarizes requests and field activities performed during the past 12 months. Beach Maintenance Activities See attached General Services Department, Activities Report for May. ery respectfully, Mar elino . Lomeli Parks and Trees Maintenance Superintendent Attachments: (A) Tree Activity Report 2003- 2004 (B) General Services Department May Activities Report • • OEpCy �l i 6 g i y� w�7 � ll"ej o�t aQo - ItY Zjj�� QJ• jg � o � �'9ay •�^�, Qtr Q o •jag C N �aaa O p M 44 Q 0 9 Noa'o� Q � � � E..: '�" •ja9o�JO raj � W daS O Y cC w M T r o r r 6J N N M O O O O O r O N T V O O O O O N Q r r p I, O M O V r OD O O O O O O O r O O O O r f� O T U-) p O O O o N O T r W O O O O O O O UO O 0 O O 0 0 0 N M O O O p O O O M N O O O O O N O LO o o O o o co o M ti o o O o 0 0 0 co a .0. a N N CD H 3 6 w o O O a > O2 Q CL C O � O cr > o E ; a � � o °z w y x �yy j 0 m N A T N (n N o o 7 � C N D 06 W o � n (D W W � » - � v a 0 y W (D O 0 A W r c 3 (D (O A J N m O_ O P1 N c 3 cr 3 C 2 K —' O (� VI r CD ti o m O. O (D o o fl `< DI D � 7 O a N 0 0 0 o m m F O m m m v j V N N N N A -4 N O N -4 --1 n — W W m O O A A 0 O 0 N O (O N -1 O v m n CD (D Ol O A (.W N W O -I 0 0 0- 0- m v_ ° (O O N d. O O d j T m m cn y o m m c 0 m m n o. o d D Ln m CD m D M 3 y y CD o o w 3• m D m CL 47 � m m a N 01 3 m m 9 m (D 0, m m p_ ° a O. N x D 0 O N D 0 N CD 0 °. 0 fl- m m a 7 D O a m° c' t0 M. (D 07 N >> 0 CD m o C C O D) c (D (p CD (D " G (D M C C 3 (D Q O O O v D CD a CD CD m c CD QO T N 3 N v a � � o °z w y x �yy j 0 m N A T N (n N o o 7 � C N D 06 W o � n (D W W � » - � + N O m O A w N O W W U co O 3 O W O (O A J N W O_ O N K m N '0 C 2 K —' O (� VI CD ti o m O. O (D o o fl `< DI D � 7 O a N y < o m m F O m r v m n — < m c O v m n CD v v. m v_ ° w d. CD Ln m CD n m y D m CL 47 � m m a N 01 3 N 9 (^D 6 °' p_ ° a O. N m N Q O a (D CD r O n y O z m O ' z a y x y r O n y O z st n C go . u C rI L. • • • GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES REPORT May-04 This This Month Total to Date Total to Date Month Last Year Fiscal Year Last Fiscal Year FIELD MAINTENANCE DIVISION 3130:: Street Patching: Tons of Blacktop 249 371 4,477 5,536 Misc. Cement (cu. ft.) Footings, Meter Posts, etc 54 81 1,050 2,868 Curbing (Lineal Feet) 281 350 3,333 3,612 Sidewalk (Square Feet) 4" Thick 8,260 4,800 56,947 52,272 Concrete (cu yds) Sidewalk & Curb Replacement 151 98 1,238 1,216 Sidewalk Grinding (Lineal Feet) 920 520 7,672 3,972 Trees Root Pruned by Staff 72 - 366 - Sidewalks Ramped (Lineal Feet) 252 520 4,916 6,296 Sidewalks (sq ft) 4" thick Replaced by Contractor 0 3,569 19,671 34,529 Wheelchair Ramps installed by Contractor 0 72 0 72 Curb & Gutter (Iin ft) Replaced by Contractor 0 a 375 493 Trees Root Pruned by Contractor 0 - 205 Maintenance Debris (Tons) Street Sweeping, Beach Cleaning, Demo 504 472 4,872 6,192 Asphalt & Concrete Recycled 648--T 419 5,430 5,035 Signs & Street Markings Street Name Signs Added & Replaced 15 12 561 267 Traffic Signs Added & Replaced 136 132 1,661 3,116 Special Purpose Signs Installed 37 30 310 514 Beach Signs Installed 5 19 107 192 Street Striping (Iin ft) Total Added & Replaced 54,815 7,308 351,178 132,565 Pavement Markings (Messages) 17 363 730 861 Parking Stalls 53 177 1,298 2,142 Curb Painting (Lineal Feet) 7,931 150 67,455 74,041 Reflective Pavement Markers (included in Above) 0 72 155 731 Thermoplastic 296 3,489 3,790 14,739 Sign Posts Installed 32 24 553 736 Graffiti - Incidents Removed by Staff 233 85 1,887 2.014 OPERATION' &SUP bitt.thAWON.11 Beach Maintenance Beach Area Refuse (Tons) 40 104 1,106 1,139 Beach Debris (Tons) 168 145 1,722 2,117 Gutter Miles Swept (Large & Small Total) 4,687 4,457 51,700 47,212 Sweepings Picked Up (Cubic Yards) 506 432 5,685 5,596 Hand Sweepers (Cubic Yards) 85 54 839 756 Storm Drain Debris (Cubic Yards) 23 50 440 573 Sign Shop Traffic Signs 124 137 1,225 1,502 Street Name Signs 4 62 352 603 Regulatory Signs 300 1,000 5,468 9,170 Special Purpose Signs and Banners 23 42 234 455 Decals 24 0 2,922 2,092 lGraffiti - Incidents Removed by Contractor 30 16 268 243 I 1 LJ • GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES REPORT May -04 This This Month Total to Date Total to Date Month Last Year Fiscal Year Last Fiscal Year Refuse Collection Residential (tons) 3,145 1 3,389 36,410 35,951 Recyclables (tons) 1,301 970 10,985 10,625 Commercial 0 0 82 0 Special Pickup 0 0 0 0 Total Residential 3,145 3,389 36,492 35,951 Man Hours/Ton 1.05 1.12 1.08 1.16 Tons/Man Hour 0.95 0.89 0.93 0.86 Tons/Man Day 7.63 7.14 7.40 6.90 Total Miles Traveled 9,364 10,817 115,150 116,211 PACKER COMPARISONS - One Man Man Hours/Ton 0.80 0.85 0.74 0.82 Tons /Man Hour 1.25 1.18 1.19 1.20 Tons /Man Day 9.97 9.47 9.49 9.61 Total Miles Traveled 4,896 5,701 59,507 60,554 PACKER COMPARISONS - Two Man Man Hours/Ton 1.33 1.37 1.19 1.50 Tons /Man Hour 0.75 0.73 0.74 0.67 Tons /Man Day 6.01 5.83 5.88 5.32 Total Miles Traveled 4,468 5,116 55,643 55,657 REFUSE TRANSFER - Transfer Trailer Man Hours 533 574 6,139 6,246 Loads Hauled 137 137 1,582 1,566 Tons Hauled 2,797 2,762 31,937 31,175 Average Trailer Loads per Work Day 5.48 5.48 5.59 5.55 Aver age Tons per Work Day 111.87 110.49 112.85 110.55 Total Miles Traveled 4,926 4,931 56,915 58,442 (Item 3 ) July 6, 2004 $RECREATION & SENIOR SERVICES DEPARTMENT 1St Choice for People, Play Et Programs To: Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission From: Marie Knight, Recreation Et Senior Services Director Re: Recreation and Senior Services Division Monthly Activities Report The following are reports on the activities of the Recreation and Senior Services Department. CJ 11 Monthly Activities Report Page 2 RECREATION SERVICES • To: Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission • From: Andrea McGuire, Recreation Superintendent Re: Recreation Division Monthly Activities Report ADULT SPORTS (Item 3) July 6, 2004 Co -Ed and Men's Softball — The summer Slow -Pitch Softball league with 125 teams is swinging its way along and will slide to a conclusion on August 13. The program is conducted at Bonita Creek Park, Lincoln Athletic Center, Arroyo Park and Grant Howald Park (CYC). At the end of the summer league, over 650 games will have been played! All teams have been registered through the Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation (SCMAF) which provides rule books to each team, sets guidelines for league play and offers tournaments against other Southern California municipal league teams. The fall league registration packets will be available July 12, with a registration deadline of August 6. Fall league softball games will begin the week of September 7, 2004. Basketball - The 86 -team 2004 Spring hoop leagues wrapped up play on June 14. Champions in all leagues received nice T -shirts with printed designs on both sides. With just a week break, 72 teams tipoff the week of June 21 and will continue play through September 2. The renovation of Ensign School during the summer season resulted in a game site schedule at the Eastbluff Gym Monday through Thursday; West Newport Community Center Monday through Thursday; and Lincoln Gym Monday and Wednesday. No teams were turned away for this summer. The fall league registration packets will be available beginning July 12, with a registration deadline of August 13. Fall league Hoop games will begin the week of September 7, 2004. Ensign School Gym will feature a new scoreboard, windows, and glass backboards when the City leagues return to Ensign this Fall. The Ensign gym project is partially funded by the School District, NJB and the City. YOUTH SPORTS... Youth Summer Hoops 2004 - The Youth Summer Hoops program is officially underway with over 225 boys and girls, grades one through eight enrolled. Teams (grades 3 -8) began practicing on June 15, with the first games the week of June 28th. The four -week Tiny League Basketball clinic designed to introduce first and second grade boys and girls to the game of basketball is ready to go! The clinic will focus on teaching the fundamentals of dribbling, passing and shooting. The first meeting of the Summer Tiny League will be on Wednesday, July 7 `" at Lincoln Gymnasium. Monthly Activities Report (Item 3) Page 3 July 6, 2004 •Pepsi Pitch. Hit and Run - Over 50 participants competed in the Pepsi Pitch, Hit & Run Competition hosted by the City of Newport Beach on April 25 at Bob Henry Park. The winners from the Newport event went on to compete in the Orange County Sectional with winners from the Sectional competing in the Regional Team competition, held at Anaheim Stadium on June 5. Kyle Hill of Newport Beach won the 11 -12 age group at the Sectional event in La Palma and won the Team competition at Angel stadium. Kyle's overall score will be compared to the winners of the other Team competitions around the country and if his is among the top 16 he will compete for the overall championship at the Major League Baseball All Star Game in July! • Afterschool Programming and Camp News — • KidScene - The third and final inter -site decoration contest has been decided with Mariners taking 15` place, West Newport earned second, and CYC a respectable 3'd. Mariners decorations included many impressive kid - created features like a 4'x2' collage wave with pictures of all of the participants surfing, A sailboat mural and a school of paper plate fish. All parties were held during the last week of school, June 14-18. • Summer Camp - By the start of summer camp on June 21st, staff will have attended 18 hours of training including CPR & First Aid certification in preparation for the upcoming busy season. • Recreation Leader Staff Training - Recreation Leaders, Coaches and Pool Lifeguards (new hires and existing staff) participated in two days of summer staff training on June 18 and June 19. Friday night's training topics included identifying and handling suspected child abuse issues, customer service, organizational values and City policy. Saturday's training focused on day -to -day operations, games, sun safety and a water safety work shop presented by the City of Newport Beach's Marine (Lifeguard) Division. • • Staff also attended the Recreation Leader Training Consortium workshop on June 12 in San Clemente. Topics included games, customer service and team building. Monthly Activities Report Page 4 (Item 3) July 6, 2004 • And more training ... was conducted the week of June 7`h to certify all of our summer • staff in CPR and First Aid. CONTRACT CLASSES Summer is Here! - Summer classes began on June 21. Many swim, sailing and surf classes are already filled to capacity. The Recreation Administration offices are buzzing with activity as staff works to get everyone registered to have summer fun! Surf Newport - This year, staff worked with several local surf companies to offer new surf programs and have their summer registration go through our office. In past years, surf camps were offered throughout Newport Beach's without City approval or supervision. The City only had one instructor who provided surf instruction. With the growth of Newport Beach and the demand, the current surf instructor classes were filling up immediately after registration began. This year, the added surf and beach programs to meet the increased demands include: • BeachSports — Provides a summer camp on the beach • Quiksilver Surf Camp — Provides a daily surf camp each week for 6 hours. • NewportSurlSchool.com — Provides a 4 hour morning surf lesson and beach games. As of mid -June this year, the City collected $115,000 in revenue, compared to the entire summer last year of $26,545. In addition, by having all organized surf instruction go through the City our Lifeguards are informed of who is one he beach teaching lessons which makes their jobs easier as well. Aquatics Activities - The first of three, four -week Saturday swim lesson sessions began June 5. Weekday lessons began June 21 and filled quickly. Staff training and orientation was held on June 18 & 19 and included teaching updates and skills, lifeguard skills and City policies and procedures. On July 5, the CDMHS Boys Water Polo Boosters will be hosting an International Water Polo Tournament. This is a prep tournament for the Summer Olympics and will be filmed by NBC. Aquatics Classes Lap Swim (Cash participants) Annual Pass Punch Pass Summer Swim Lessons NBAC Swim NBAC Jr. Polo TOTAL FACILITIES USE AND REPAIRS Revenue Participants $ 1,249 416 670 4 200 4 16,830 - - 463 - (Summer Holding Account) 11,450 50 3,875 19 $34,274 956 A Fresh Look — West Newport Community Center received a fresh new look in May with a •paint job by Trojan Commercial Painting. The new colors blend well with the surrounding apartment complexes. New Surface Coming Your Way — The Grant Howald Park Basketball Ball Court bids closed Friday, June 4, 2004. This project will demo the present court and replace it with a new basketball court that will be ADA compliant and prevent tree roots from destroying the Monthly Activities Report Page 5 (Item 3) July 6, 2004 surface. Public Works Department received 4 bids, with the lowest bid 3% over their •estimate. Staff expects construction to start mid -July and completed by Labor Day, before the new school year. This project is funded through Proposition 40. Cabinets The Hard Way - Special thanks to Rick in General Services for his perseverance in finishing the storage cabinets at the Dance Room in CYC. Staff was able to clear the room for a couple days for him to install the cabinets. But then he had to work through dance and aerobics classes for the next month in order to complete the project. He never complained. The finished product was worth the wait. Thanks again Rick for your hard work and especially your talent and skill. FACILITY RENTALS: During the period of May 16, 2004 through June 15, 2004 there were: • 31 Picnic /Park Area Rentals • 33 Room Rentals • 5 Field Rentals There were a total of (4) wedding reservation rentals as follows: Inspiration Point : May 22 Lookout Point:: May 23 Begonia Park: May 28 Inspiration Point: May 30 • PARK PATROL Requested calls are assigned visits by staff or schedule or phone requests. Customer Contacts are the number of times they stopped and spoke to customers other than requested calls. During the month of May Park Patrol had the following contacts: 1. Requested Calls 132 with Youth Sports Groups - reminded group at Lincoln Field to remove all trash, illegal parking at BCSP, advised group to remove vehicle on grass at Lincoln Field, turned on field lights at Bonita Creek, turned off scoreboard that was left on at Lincoln and secured unlocked equipment shed, reported to NHBA equipment bags that were left at Bob Henry Field, reminded lacrosse group to remove all equipment from Peninsula Field, discovered un- permitted Junior All American Football Clinic at Bonita Creek, advised a youth soccer team of the policy and procedures for using City fields at Bob Henry, reported graffiti at Bonita Creek on - JAAF storage area. 136 Field related issues /checks - some examples are: damage to field grass caused by vehicles driving on them, excessive trash left behind at Lincoln Field, illegal parking at BCSP, un- permitted use of fields for various athletic activities at Grant Howald Park, Mariners, Peninsula Park, and Bonita Creek • 22 Picnic /reservation issues /checks - monitored set -up and use of bounce houses at various parks, advised group at Peninsula Park that the tables were reserved to another group, advised picnic at Grant Howald Park that alcohol is not permitted, • checked on park party with gymnastics group at Mariners Park, checked on permitted wedding at Inspiration Point, spoke with picnic group at Irvine Terrace regarding the proper clean -up of park. • 108 Community Center issues /checks - checked on AA group BBQ at CYC, turned off lights at West Newport CC, checked on AA meetings, reported a water leak at Monthly Activities Report Page 6 (Item 3) July 6, 2004 Cliff Drive CC, unlocked /locked various community centers for groups, checked on • condition of rooms after rentals, reported broken glass door at Bonita Creek, checked on after school programs and contract classes at various community centers, • 78 Playground checks — reported exposed cable at San Miguel Park playground • 39 other — water leaks, basketball after dark at Arroyo, Bonita Creek, Las Arenas, and 38'" Street Parks, reported graffiti on Junior All- American storage container at Bonita Creek Park 2 Special Event Permits • 6 Pre -event check -surf contest, volleyball tournament, triathlon, beach mass, field use with pa systems. 3. Customer Contacts • 61 education • 9 alcohol - Grant Howald (1), Begonia Park(3) , Lookout Point (3) and Peninsula Park (2) • 25 dog related • 39 other - homeless man sleeping in bushes at West Newport Park, discovered /reported martial arts class at Bonita Creek using weapons for training, stopped golfing at Bonita Creek, removed garage sale signs from park, stopped kids from kicking glass bottles on concrete at CDM Beach, reported un- permitted football clinic at Bonita Creek field, provided bandage to an injured player at Peninsula Park • Warnings issued — 5 (illegal parking violations) • Citations issued — 2 (parking violations 1 at BCSP and 1 at WNCC) • Special Events Permits As of June 15, 2004, there were 180 Special Event Permits processed and issued for the year. Those of note for this period are: • Volcom Surf Contest - May 14 -16 • Hyatt Jazz Festival - May 16 • Pacific Sports Triathlon - May 23 • CDM 5k - June 5 • Balboa Island Parade - June 6 • Quicksilver Surf Shop Contest - June 10 SPECIAL EVENTS 4T" of July Bike Parade and Family Picnic - The annual Mariners Family Picnic and Bike -- Parade on July 4 will begin at 10am at Mariners Park. Barnaby the Clown and a City fire - truck will lead the way with City Dignitaries following behind the fire truck will lead the Bike Parade down Mariners Avenue. There will be food, fun and activities for the whole family. So decorate your bike, stroller or scooter and head to Mariners Park with the whole family. Corona del Mar Scenic 5k - The 23'" Annual Corona del Mar Scenic 5k was held on June 5°i and was participated •in by over 2,400 runner and walkers. City staff were well represented in the race with the top City athlete being Sue Davis (pictured) who came in 3`d overall in the Women's Race and 1' in her age category! Other City runners included Paul Malkemus, Wyatt Morris, Sarah Boulton, Cathy Fisher, Mike Pisani and Tamara Campbell. Thanks Monthly Activities Report (Item 3) Page 7 July 6, 2004 to Mayor Ridgeway for starting the Men's race and PB &R Chair Debora Allen for the . Women's race. The sponsor recognition event was held on June 7 at the Five Crowns Restaurant. Special thanks Council Members Bromberg, Rosansky and Commissioners Allen, Skoro and Tobin for their attendance. Sunday Fun -Day - Come celebrate a fun day at Bonita Canyon Sports Park on Sunday, August 22 from 3 -10pm. This free NEW event will feature live music, games, a movie in the park, food and much more! At 5pm a live concert by "Porterhouse Bob and Down to the Bone' which plays Zydeco Blues and is presented to you by "The Newport Beach Arts Commission's Concerts in the Park 2004." Before, after or during the concert, continue having fun with games and activities for all ages. At dusk, a Movie in the Park will be played, with the type of movie to be announced. Food will be sold at a minimal fee. OTHER Recruitment - Interviews were held in June for the Recreation Coordinator position. Over 50 applications were received with 9 interviewed by a panel on June 15 with those highly recommended being interviewed by Andrea, Marie and Matt Lohr on Friday June 18`h. Staff was unable to find a qualified applicant so the position wil be filled with a temporary employee and the recruitment process will begin again in the early fall. Mariners Playground - The replacement slide finally arrived for Mariners playground and . should be installed within the next few weeks. Brochure Exchange Meeting — The City of Newport hosted the Quarterly Brochure Exchange at Peninsula Park on June 9. This quarterly event is rotated to various cities, which included over 40 cities from Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Riverside counties attending this event. The event included a catered lunch, sharing of ideas on how to improve city's brochures, new classes to be offered, trends, and etc. This event helps staff from our City to provide more classes and keep up with trends. • Monthly Activities Report Page 8 . SENIOR SERVICES To: Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission From: Celeste Jardine -Haug, Manager Subject: Monthly Activities Report (Item 3) July 6, 2004 Election Day - The Friends General meeting held June 4 included entertainment by Greg Schreiner — "Hollywood Fashion Revisited ". The music, songs and costumers were reminiscent of the Golden Age of Hollywood and he had models that resembled old movie stars. Elections were also held for the seven Board positions of the Friends of OASIS. Nine people ran for the seven positions. Computer Friends - Computer Friends networking group met June 9 at f pm. The topic for that day was "Dragon naturally speaking ". This program is the ultimate in speech- recognition software. The presentation was a combination of the features of Dragon and tips and techniques for better dictation. Rich Blumenthal, from Voice Factor, was the speaker and has been the President of the Saddleback Valley IBM PC User Group since 1998. The Irvine Chinese Chorus - The Irvine Chinese Chorus performed at OASIS on June 6. The program was well received and free of charge. Songs were sung in Chinese, English • and Latin. Health Screenings - Life Line came on June 10 to do Vascular Health Screenings. Ultrasound machines were used to detect stroke, abdominal aneurysm, arterial disease and osteoporosis. This is a prevention program. 75% of strokes can be prevented if early detection occurs. Sock Hop - The Friends of OASIS held a Sock Hop on June 18 and used the refurbished juke box donated to the Center by a PB &R Commissioner. Ice cream and Root beer floats were served. Motivational Health Program - "Be Healthy, Be Happy" a motivational program designed by staff was held June 25 with 90 people taking advantage of this special day. Speakers addressed topics such as, Reasons to Smile, the Secret to Better Balance, Healthy Eating, -- -- and Optimal Health Through Lifestyle Modification. Participants also had the opportunity to - -- have a free body fat test. The day began with a continental breakfast and concluded with a healthy lunch. Recreation Coordinator - Recreation Coordinator Jan Koriath, retired from the City on June 25. Jan had been with the Center for 7 years and left behind fabulous memories of the many events that she planned. Jan seemed to be able to plan and implement activities in a smooth fashion that never seemed to have a hitch. A new Coordinator was offered the position and staff hopes that she will begin by July 12. • Health Insurance and Advocacy Program Workshop - The Health Insurance and Advocacy Program held a workshop at the Center on June 30 and discussed the new Medicare Prescription Drug Card. This is a very confusing topic and many seniors needed help in understanding if they were eligible for this card. Monthly Activities Report Page 9 (Item 3) July 6, 2004 New Board Members & Officers - The Friends of OASIS will hold their installation of new •board members and new officers on July 2. Staff is looking forward to establishing a goow working relationship with new President Ed Romeo. Tony Roma's will cater the event and will have a seel out crowd of 200 people. Council Member Nichols will presidie over the installation. • Monthly Activities Report Page 10 • PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING RECREATIONAL CLASSES PERSONALIZED SERVICES PROVIDED Includes: (Item 3) July 6, 2004 7,999 CUSTOMERS 3,541 CUSTOMERS 1,889 CUSTOMERS Blood Pressure 66 Housing counseling 75 Braille 35 Information /Referral 1,180 Counseling - persons 50 Legal Assistance 7 Eldercare 3 Senior Assessment(hrs) 45 Employment 27 Telephone Reassurance 250 HICAP 0 Visual Screening 4 Homerepair Program 0 Transportation 147 SENIORS RECEIVING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES Care -A -Van 816 Shuttle 344 CUSTOMERS RECEIVING NOON MEALS AT THE CENTER VOLUNTEER HRS. OF SERVICES PROVIDED AT THE CENTER Includes: Kitchen Ft Home Delivered 98 PERSONS Meals Front Office Travel Office Gift Shop Library Instructors President Treasurer Vice President Bookkeeper Taxes E 1,160 CUSTOMERS 1,240 CUSTOMERS 1,185.25 HOURS ( *equiv, to 9 full -time employees) PARTICIPANTS IN FRIENDS OF OASIS TRAVEL PROGRAMS 71 CUSTOMERS Day Trips Long Trips Melibu Lagoon 40 Alaska Great Land Tour 1 Candlelight Pavilion 42nd Street 30 Valley View Casino 43 SPECIAL ACTIVITIES Pankcake Breakfast Computer Friends Movie - Something's Gotta Give UCI Lecture - Brain Attack Hearing Screening 98 PERSONS N/A OASIS Golfers N/A 90 Sunday Movies - 35 The Quiet Man 23 95 Little Women 16 24 Top Gun 17 The Searchers 16 Shakespeare in Love 26 • (4) TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Fi'� Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission General Services Director Bench Donation Request Recommendation To accept a bench donation for installation at the Newport Pier. Discussion PB &R Commission Agenda Item No. 4_ July 6, 2004 Staff received an inquiry from Mr. Scott Porterfield regarding a proposed bench donation at the Newport Pier. The donor submitted a letter dated June 15, 2004 requesting the approval of a bench donation to replace a previously removed deteriorated bench (Attachment A). The bench will be the "Santa Monica" model that was selected from the Official Bench List. The plaque verbiage will read "Donated for J. Michael Porterfield ", which conforms to City Council Policy G -5 (Attachment B). Attachment C is a photo of the type of the replacement bench and Attachment D is a map of the proposed location of the bench. Mr. Scott Porterfield has received a copy of this report and a notice of the Commission meeting. Very respectfully, David E. Niederhaus Attachments: (A) Mr. Scott Porterfield's letter dated June 15, 2004 (B) City Council Policy G -5 (C) Photo (D) Map n I►J JunI10. CUU4 12;22 PM GonIractin9 tn9ineefs Inc No,1143 P - 2 �A&A& CONTRACTING ENGINEERS �,v� ORADINO-UNDEROROUND UTILITIES, STREET AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS Ucerree #734350 June 15, 2004 Mr. Marcelino G, Lomeli Parks and Trees Maintenance Superintendent City of Newport Beach Post Office Box 1758 Newport Beach, California 92658 -8915 Dear Mr. Lomeli, I would like to donate a bench at the Newport Pier. This bench would replace an existing one. The donor plaque to read "Donated for, J. Michael PorterfieldO, along with the standard 2" x 6° plaque. I understand that this request is subject to approval by the City of Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission. If you should have any questions or need additional Information, please do not hesitate to call me at 949 - 863 -0202 ext.120. Thank you very much for your assistance with this matter.. Sincerely, Scott Porte d I.._ . um n.—;1 o:.n.n .0..::n U . KI ..... . r1 0-1, PA narcn , ou nnn ora mna . CAV nnn 090 nano . A —i 0 G -5 PARK AND STREET IMPROVEMENT DONATIONS The City Council recognizes the need to provide residents with the opportunity to donate trees, benches, and drinking fountains or related park and street improvement items. This policy establishes criteria for donations to assure attractiveness, usefulness and the capability to be maintained. TREE DONATIONS The tree -lined walkway at Oasis Passive Park beginning at 5th Avenue and Marguerite in Corona del Mar shall be identified as one area where a tree with a bronze plaque can be installed. Other trees with plaques can be donated and installed at locations recommended by the General Services Director and approved by the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission. BENCH DONATIONS It shall be the responsibility of the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission to • designate the type, style, design, and placement of City -owned benches on City property. Areas of placement may be parks, streets, along the beachfront, within villages, commercial districts, and neighborhoods, on a specific island, etc. Once an area has been designated with a certain style or type of bench, the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission may require that the designation be changed only by a formal request for a redesignation. The factors to be addressed in preparing the list of approved benches for the City as well as the final design for a specific site will include at a minimum: size, usage, vandalism, traffic, security, view obstructions, location, style reflective of neighborhood and cost. The Arts Commission will provide design review assistance as required. Donation requests will be submitted to the General Services Department and meet the following requirements. A. Bench donations along a City street or beachfront will require the approval of the General Services Director and the Traffic Engineer. B. Bench donations within a commercial district will require notification of, and an endorsement from, the local business association. 1 0 • G -5 C. Bench donations for parks within a residential community will require notification of residents within 300 feet of placement and an endorsement from the homeowners association, when applicable. PARK AND STREET AMENITIES Items such as benches, drinking fountains, tables, etc., can be donated to be included in the public park system. Recognition on the item shall be a 2" x 6" plaque and limited to Donated by (Name) or Donated for (Name) as a means of identifying the donation. Donors of major park improvement gifts may elect to provide a dedicatory plaque not exceeding 5" x 7" with name, date and appropriate text not exceeding 25 words. All donations must be approved by the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission. The cost of a donated item, including identification plaque, shall be borne totally by private funds. The City will assume ownership and maintenance if accepted and placed in a public park or on a sidewalk unless other arrangements have been agreed upon. The City will not assume responsibility for replacement due to vandalism or theft. Adopted - July 22, 1992 Amended - January 24, 1994 Amended - June 27,1994 Amended - June 24, 1996 Formerly I -15 • 2 D Z D O • n D O v m r • Map Output Page 1 of 1 0 htto: / /www6.citv.newDort- beach. ca. us/ serviet/ com. esri .esrimaD.Esriman ?ServiceName =nb info&... 06/17/2004 • � SEW PpRr o � ,n U S ac G< /iOM1N`P PB &R Commission Agenda Item No. July 6, 2004 TO: Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission FROM: General Services Director SUBJECT: Smoking on Piers and Beaches Recommendations Support a no smoking ordinance that pertains to public piers, beaches, and certain other public areas. Designate certain areas for smokers on beaches and adjacent public areas. Equip designated • areas with smoking urns and support funding for the maintenance of the urns. Issues Should the City adopt a no smoking ordinance for public piers and/or beaches? Should a no smoking ban be extended to areas adjacent to public beaches such as the boardwalk, sidewalks, street ends, and public piers and floats in the bay? What role would enforcement play in the reduction of smoking on piers, beaches, and adjacent public areas? What role, if any, should a public education program play in a no smoking ban? Are current field maintenance activities and facilities sufficient to address litter related to smoking? Should smoking areas be designated to permit smokers access to piers and beaches? Background Since the fall of 2003, various environmental groups have advocated a no smoking ban for City piers and beaches. • Due to the increased attention to this issue by other beach cities and the State legislature, the • Council earlier directed a discussion of a smoking ban on public piers and beaches that took place at the May 25, 2004 Council study session. The City Attorney's office prepared a comprehensive staff report that summarized the history and progress on smoking bans by various beach cities (Attachment A). After a lengthy discussion in which a number of new questions arose, the Council directed a review of a no smoking proposal for public piers and beaches by the Parks, Beaches and Recreation (PB &R) Commission. The results of the discussion and recommendations by the Commission are to be returned to the Council by staff within 120 days. The minutes of the Council study session are attached (Attachment B). Discussion City staff from the City Attorney's office and the Police and General Services Departments have studied the issues and comments that surfaced at the Council study session, particularly the health and litter issues. In addition, they have documented what other beach cities have or plan to do with smoking bans on public beaches and piers. Finally, staff surveyed the piers and beachfront public areas to define where smoking, or the litter from smoking is located, in order to offer recommendations on specific steps to counter the effects of smoking on the general public and the City. • Beach City Survev The City, with its numerous natural resources, particularly the beaches and the system of public piers and floats, attracts a large percentage of the general public. However, like any beach city, we must still address public behaviors or actions that degrade the natural atmosphere of public areas. Staff has provided a matrix of past, current, or intended actions of other California beach cities regarding a smoking ban (Attachment Q. As one can see by reviewing Attachment C, the trend of beach communities is toward banning smoking on public piers and/or beaches. In addition to a no smoking ordinance, various levels of enforcement, public education, and alternative maintenance activities associated with smoking litter are planned by beach cities. Potential No Smokine Areas Staff has developed a map of the City which identifies the two ocean piers, the ocean beaches, the bay beaches, the public pier and float system in the harbor, as well as numerous public beaches on the islands and in the Upper Newport Bay (Attachment D). In addition, we have provided a listing of public piers and floats, bay beaches, ocean vista points, and bench locations. We have also identified the areas of the greatest litter associated with smoking, such as public piers and floats, bay beaches, and ocean or bayfront bench locations (Attachment E). • No Smoking Ordinance The ultimate goal of a smoking ban ordinance is to reduce smoking - related litter on the beaches by increasing public awareness of the issue. The underlying theory is since people who smoke -2- • on the beach have no means of lawfully disposing of their cigarette waste, a smoking prohibition, with an increased public awareness of the prohibition and its related issues, will reduce the frequency of cigarette- related litter. A key element for this assessment is the objective of diminishing the frequency of the violation. The violation, whether it is a smoking or littering ban, will not be eliminated but will occur less often. As with litter control models, the successful smoking ban ordinance should combine public education, enforcement, providing appropriate disposal receptacles, and maintenance. Through such a collective effort we should experience, over time, a reduction in the amount of cigarette- related litter. After a survey of public areas and hearing testimony of the public at the Council study session, staff is favoring a no smoking ordinance for the public piers and floats (ocean and bay) and certain portions of public beaches or adjacent public areas. At this time, we are not advocating a smoking ban at all public outdoor areas. Current Smoking Bans Smoking is prohibited: a) b) C) d) • e) Inter( in restaurants and bars (State code) on or near playgrounds (State code) at entranceways to public buildings (State code) in City restrooms (City code) in City buildings and vehicles (City policy) xt Groups As noted in the Deputy City Attorney's study session report (Attachment A), a number of organizations adamantly advocate a smoking ban on public piers and beaches. While it is inconclusive and probably unlikely that second hand smoke on piers or beaches results in tobacco related disease, smoking in public places is still found to be objectionable by the majority of the general public. The Commission can expect a significant amount of public comments from special interest groups regarding a smoking ban, including their current and future roles in public education and litter removal. Litter The special interest groups who wish to see the City approve a smoking ban on the piers and beaches also have focused on the amount of litter created by indiscriminate littering by smokers. Beach maintenance staff focused on the cigarette butt litter issue late last year by modifying a beach cleaner with a special filter screen capable of retrieving cigarette butts from ocean beach sand. While the cleaner was highly effective in removing the cigarette butts from beach sand, the downside was that much of natural beach materials (shells and gravel) that facilitate traction for City beach vehicles was also removed. Some of the special interest groups identify public smoking as the main source of cigarette or cigar butt litter on piers and beaches. Staff opines from considerable experience that smoking butt litter on the beach emanates primarily from the flotsam that drifts southward from the upper Santa Ana River watershed to Newport beaches. In addition, much of the bayfront butt litter is -3- • also linked to the upper San Diego Creek watershed, and in some cases the boating public. If staffs opinion is true, then a smoking ban on piers and beaches may only have a minimal effect on the amount of litter caused by beach visitors. Litter Proerams In addition to the City full time pier and beach maintenance programs, there are the following additional City litter programs: a) Adopt -A -Beach Program — Authorized by a recently revised Council policy, this program is now managed for the City by a no smoking advocate, Stephanie Barger of Earth Resources. After a recent kick -off event, over 50 citizens have volunteered to clean public beaches with City provided kits. b) Summer Beach Litter Program (Grant) — For the third consecutive summer, the City has been the recipient of over $22,000 from the State to fund a beach litter program associated with recycling interests. The funds will be used to hire laborers to pick up litter on the beach and adjacent areas. c) Youth Employment Program (YEP) — An annual summer program (June to later August) wherein three to seven students are hired to collect litter on beaches and piers. Limits of Proposed Smokine Ban • Attachment D provides an aerial view of public beaches and bay and ocean piers and floats. Attachment E provides a listing of special public areas associated with ocean or bay fronts. Staff has developed the following list of areas using the two attached resources where staff is recommending that smoking should be prohibited: Balboa and Newport Piers Public Floats and Piers in Harbor (10) Oceanfront Beaches including Corona del Mar and Little Corona Beaches Oceanfront Boardwalk North and South Bayfront (Balboa Island) East Bayfrom (Little Balboa Island) 19`11 Bay Beach Rhine Wharf North Star Beach Pirates Cove and China Cove Beaches The Wedge N Street Bay Beach 10`h Street Bay Beach Marina Park Beach Inspiration and Lookout Points • Designated Smokine Areas In an effort to provide smokers an alternative to an ordinance violation, smoking areas should be designated, such as locations at the pier plaza areas and public benches along the various • boardwalks. Designated smoking areas are not recommended on the public piers due to fire hazards. Staff experience has been that smokers tend to occupy certain benches at street ends along the boardwalk and the installation of smoking urns and signage at those locations would be beneficial. One should expect in some cases for adjacent property owners to protest designated smoking areas. Staff would develop a list of designated smoking areas for Council approval. Photographs of two varieties of urns for cigarette or cigar butt disposal are attached (Attachment F). Examples of the urns will be displayed at the Commission meeting. Enforcement Enforcement is only one element of a multi - pronged approach to reduce litter on the beaches. Should a no smoking ordinance be adopted, we anticipate it will be a period of time until there is an increased awareness and corresponding shift in public attitudes. During that phase, there will likely be an expectation from some members of the public to see a higher level of compliance than what is practical. A smoking ban ordinance is difficult to enforce in a beach type of environment. As with littering in such areas, people are not likely to commit a violation when an enforcement officer is present. So until we see the anticipated shift in public attitudes, there may be increased frustration on the part of some of those same members of the public when they do not see an immediate police response to their report of the offense. If the ban is adopted, police officers will only be able to enforce such an ordinance during the normal course of their routine patrol duties, just as they do now with other similar nuisance regulations. We would not envision them to be dispatched to such a reported offense, but only advised of its occurrence so they could attempt to observe it while patrolling in the affected area. Obviously, when police Sofficers do engage in enforcement activities related to this ordinance as part of their routine activities, those public safety resources are diverted from other, perhaps more important duties. As it is now, police calls for service and enforcement responsibilities directly impacting public safety will always have a priority over non - emergency enforcement activities such as the enforcement of a no smoking ordinance. Public Education Probably the most important aspect of a no smoking ban is the value that it conveys in raising public awareness of the problems and hazards associated with smoking. Signage, passive enforcement, and designated smoking areas may do more to negate the effects of public smoking than active enforcement and a formal City public education program and at considerable less cost. Numerous public education venues regarding smoking are promulgated by various regulatory agencies by various public media and in most cases are paid for by tobacco companies. In addition, as noted by the special interest groups, there is a groundswell of emphasis by public media on the negative effects of smoking. The City should not be tasked to undertake yet another regulatory or public education mandate other than a no smoking ordinance with passive enforcement and an increased litter abatement program. Costs The costs of a smoking ban in public areas is based primarily on the level of enforcement of a • ban and the level of litter abatement. If a high level of enforcement is directed by the Council, the overtime costs to address smoking violations will also detract from the normal role of public safety. Neither police, fire, nor lifeguard personnel have sufficient resources to address a full -5- • time emphasis on banning smoking on piers and beaches. Earlier testimony by police staff noted a probable 85% public compliance rate if a no smoking ordinance was enacted. Estimated auxiliary costs for a smoking ban with passive enforcement would be as follows: a) Modification of pier and beach ordinance signs to include new smoking $ 5,000 ordinance b) Purchase and installation of smokers' urns for butt disposal $ 4,500 ($90 x 50 locations) c) Annual cost to service smokers' urns and signage $12,500 d) Signage for designated smoker areas $ 1,000 Total $23,000 Summary In this report, staff has provided further background information related to a smoking ban and as it might apply to the City public piers and beach areas. The goal of any no smoking ordinance should be to raise public awareness of health and litter issues. Our recommendation is that the Commission support a no smoking ordinance that would apply to certain public areas (as noted above) to the Council as well as passive enforcement of the ordinance, designated smoking areas with signage and urns, and future consideration of an enhanced City litter abatement program . that focuses on discarded cigarette or cigar butts if the various current litter programs do not reduce the problem. • Very respectfully, David E. Niederhaus Attachments: (A) City Council Study Session Agenda Item SS -4 dated May 25, 2004 (B) City Council Study Session Minutes dated May 25, 2004 (C) Matrix of Beach Cities No Smoking Intentions /Actions (June 2004) (D) City Map Depicting Public Piers/Beaches/Etc. (June 2004) (E) Listing of City Piers and Floats, Benches, and Bay Beaches (June 2004) (F) Photographs of Smoker's Urns CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT • Study Session Agenda Item No. ss4 May 25, 2004 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Office of the City Attomey Daniel K. Ohl, Deputy City Attorney, (949) 644 -3131 dohl(@city.newport-beach.ca.us SUBJECT: Smoking on Beaches and Piers Staff seeks direction from City Council from the following alternatives: Prepare an ordinance to prohibit smoking on City beaches and /or piers, with either passive or aggressive enforcement; or 2. Refer the issue to the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission for further study and public input; or 3. Gather additional information from other jurisdictions and report back at a later date. INTRODUCTION Staff has been asked to present a report on the implications of prohibiting smoking on public beaches and/or piers. The report reviews possible benefits and implications of implementing a smoking ban, including a review of what other cities have experienced. The report also addresses input received from the Police Department and General Services Department on enforcement issues, signage and public education requirements, and estimated cost to implement such a ban. BACKGROUND At a November 2003 City Council meeting, Earth Resource members carried a plastic bag containing an estimated 10,000 discarded cigarette butts which they claimed had been collected during a cleanup at the Newport Pier. In April of 2004, high school students also appeared at Council Chambers with discarded cigarette butts they had collected. Various organizations, including Earth Resource Foundation, Stop Tobacco Abuse from Minors Pronto (STAMP), Orange County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition have participated in efforts to ban smoking in other jurisdictions. According the Earth Resource Foundation, more than 450,000 people in the United States die each year from tobacco related disease and more than 50,000 people in the United States die from second hand smoke. In addition, litter from cigarette butts creates debris on the beaches and is one of the commonly left litter items. Attachment A 9 0 • According to the Office of the Governor of California, in California smoke, while estimates from the Orange in Orange County are lower at 11 %. It is estimated come to Newport's beaches and piers each year, population are adults, an estimated, 264,000 people and piers (8 million, x 30 %, x 11 %). Smoking on Beaches May 25, 2004 Page 2 as of April 4, 2003, 16.6% of adults County Health Agency for smoking that approximately 8 million visitors and, estimating that 30% of the smoke each year on City beaches The number of cigarettes smoked on City beaches and piers creates a litter problem, in addition to the health and environmental problems created by smoking and second hand smoke. For example, on November 15, 2003, the Earth Resource Foundation claims they picked up 10,000 cigarette butts with a 165 people the day after the beach had been mechanically cleaned. This figure was significantly higher than what was recovered in Huntington Beach (4,000), San Clemente (6,000), Laguna Beach (3,000) or Dana Point (1,000). SIMILAR BANS ON BEACHES OR PIERS Solana Beach: On October 7, 2003 the Solana Beach City Council approved an ordinance to ban smoking on their beaches and in their parks. Since this is a relatively new ordinance, there has been insufficient time to evaluate the effectiveness of the ordinance or enforcement issues. Enforcement was anticipated to be minimal or non- existence, with a goal of obtaining compliance by a public education and signage. Seal Beach: Seal Beach has a ban on smoking on the municipal pier. The impetus for the ordinance was to prevent fires on the pier. Enforcement is done by the police department with supplemental enforcement by lifeguards. According to the Marine Safety Chief, voluntary compliance has been high with signage on the piers stating that smoking is prohibited. Hanauma Bay, Hawaii: Hanauma Bay, a well known snorkel location on Oahu in Hawaii, has instituted a smoke free beach program to protect sea turtles from ingesting cigarette butts. San Clemente: San Clemente has recently banned smoking on beaches and piers. Santa Monica: Santa Monica has recently outlawed smoking at the beach. Los Angeles: The City of Los Angeles is considering a proposal to prohibit smoking at Venice, Cabrillo, Dockweiller and Will Rogers' beaches. Huntington Beach: Huntington Beach is considering a ban on smoking. Manhattan Beach: Manhattan Beach is considering smoke free beaches. Laguna Beach: Laguna Beach is considering a ban as well. Encinitas: Encinitas voted against banning smoking on the beach. Smoking on Beaches May 25, 2004 Page 3 • According to Narsis Kabid of the County of Orange Tobacco Use Prevention Program, the following cities in California have smoking bans in parks and recreational areas: Santa Monica (no smoking permitted in parks or beaches) Beverly Hills (no smoking permitted in parks) San Fernando (no smoking permitted in parks and recreation center) Pasadena (no smoking permitted in parks, including golf course) El Cajon (no smoking permitted in parks and recreational areas) La Puente (no smoking permitted in public places) Santa Cruz (beach, boardwalk is a non - smoking facility, considering banning on beaches) IMPLICATIONS OF BANNING SMOKING Positive: May help promote a healthy, tobacco free lifestyle by public showing support and general opposition to smoking. 2. May help reduce litter from cigarette butts on the beach, creating a more aesthetically pleasing beach. Negative: • 1. May create enforcement expectations that staff, whether police, lifeguards or code enforcements, cannot manage, given their current responsibilities and staffing levels. The public may expect City staff personnel to actively enforce violations by warnings or citations, and such expectations may not be met. Either additional personnel will be needed or enforcement personnel will be diverted from other activities. The need for additional personnel may be mitigated, to some extent, by adopting a policy of limited enforcement. 2. May have unintended consequences by displacing smokers to other public areas such as sidewalks, street ends and parking lots. Doing so may create additional problems at locations closer to storm drain openings. MUNICIPAL AND STATE CODES REGARDING SMOKING AND LITTERING Newport Beach Municipal Code Section 11.08.050 provides that no person shall throw, place, bury or otherwise dispose of non - combustible waste matter on any beach except in trashcans. A fine of $100.00 is imposed for a first violation. Newport Beach Municipal Code Section 6.25.020 prohibits smoking in public restrooms. A fine of $100.00 is imposed for violation. Smoking within 25 feet of a playground or a tot lot sandbox is prohibited by Health & • Safety Code 104495, with a fine of $250.00 for its violation. As of January 1, 2004, State law prohibits smoking inside an occupied public building, and within 20 feet of a main exit, entrance or operable window of an occupied public building. Smoking on Beaches May 25, 2004 Page 4 0 RIGHT TO SMOKE A question of whether or not this ban would be an infringement of a person's "right to smoke" may be raised. However, smoking is not a protected right under the Federal or State Constitution. The authority to ban smoking is expressly given in California Assembly Bill 846 and Health and Safety Code Section 104495 which authorizes cities and counties to implement smoking bans more stringent than what the state has imposed. PUBLIC EDUCATION If a smoking ban is implemented, an aggressive public education and -signage program will be necessary. Press Releases, notification to renters and property owners, and the Chamber of Commerce may all assist with this. The General Services Department has estimated the cost of additional signs on the beach at $15,000 to $25,000. It may also be necessary to install cigarette butt receptacles at beach entrances, parking lots, bay beaches and street ends. The estimated cost for such receptacles is unknown at present, but estimated to be in excess of $10,000.00. Such receptacles will also have to be cleaned periodically, most likely by hand, at additional costs. BEACH CLEANING Currently, the beaches are cleaned mechanically five times a week. During a three month period during the summer, mid June to the end of September, mechanical beach cleaning occurs seven days a week. Sqme areas are very difficult to clean mechanically due to their proximity to other items such as seawalls, sidewalks, and patios. In addition, the adjoining areas are subject to street sweeping seven days a week, and litter picking and hand sweeping seven days a week as well. Bay beaches and street ends are cleaned by hand. PARTNERSHIPS To assist with the implementation of a smoking ban, partnerships with local organizations such as the Surf rider Foundation, Earth Resource Foundation and/or other local groups may be considered. Prepared & Submitte d i Daniel K. 0 I, Deputy City Attomey F:\userslcatl shared\ da\ CCstaffReportslSmokingOnBeach.doc RECEIVED 0 CITY OF NEWPORT G9)KAQUES City Council Minutes Study Session May 25, 2004 - 4:00 p.m. Present: Heffernan (arrived at 4:15 p.m.), Rosansky, Bromberg, Webb, Nichols (arrived at 4:10 p.m.), Mayor Ridgeway Absent: Adams (excused) CURRENT BUSINESS 1. CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. — None. 2. BUDGET — CIP PRESENTATIONS. City Manager Bludau stated that the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is being reviewed at the current meeting to allow time prior to the adoption of the budget to make any changes requested by the City Council. Using a PowerPoint presentation, Public Works Director Badum displayed a bar graph showing the CIP expenditure history from 1986 through 2005. He noted that there has been a slow, steady increase in expenditures over time with a couple of spikes for projects such as the Arches Interchange, Bonita Canyon Sports Park, MacArthur Boulevard widening and some of the oil spill projects in Balboa Village. He briefly outlined the CIP process and stated that the departments submitted requests totaling $20 million. Through a cooperative effort with the department directors, the proposed projects were narrowed down to a preliminary program totaling $16.7 million. Public Works Director Badum displayed a list detailing the master project schedule. He stated that there are various factors that need to be taken into consideration when determining what can legitimately be accomplished in a given fiscal year, and pointed out that the schedule helps to reduce the number of rebudgets. At the request of Mayor Ridgeway, Public Works Director Badum further explained that the bar graphs to the right of the list show the staff members that will be assigned to the projects, which is one of the factors taken into consideration when determining the master schedule and what can be accomplished. Public Works Director Badum displayed a list of some of the CIP projects that will rebudgeted in 2004 -05. City Manager Bludau noted that the underground utility projects are not a part of the CIP because they are not completed with City funds. Public Works Director Badum added that for informational purposes, the costs for engineering and design will be included in the budget . even though the City would be reimbursed once a district is formed. Council Member Rosansky asked if the money spent by the City for INDEX (100 -2004) Volume 56 - Page 914 Attachment B City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 i_ OI s► • undergrounding on City property is included in the budget or the CIP. Public Works Director Badum stated that it's not included in either because it's difficult to predict what the City's share will be and the City doesn't have control over what will be charged by the utility companies. Council Member Rosansky asked how the expenses are handled. Public Works Director Badum stated that a request for a budget amendment to appropriate the City's share is usually included with the action before the City Council at the meeting where the ballot count is conducted. The information is provided in the Notice of Intent which is typically provided 45 days prior to the public hearing. City Manager Bludau added that the budget amendment transfers the money from the unappropriated general fund. Mayor Ridgeway asked where the money is assigned when the transfer is done. Public Works Director Badum stated that separate funds are set up for each district. Council Member Webb stated that whether it's in the CIP or the budget depends upon what is being constructed. He further stated that the amount that the City puts forward is partially offset ,by the money that is received from the assessment district. Public Works Director Badum added that staff is trying to find a better way to present assessment districts in the budget and that it's difficult to guess which ones will move forward and which ones won't. Mayor Ridgeway stated that it's a large amount of money and should be identified. City Manager Bludau noted that not all assessment districts have City contributions. When there are City contributions, Mayor Ridgeway asked if they go into the CIP or the general fund. Administrative Services Director Danner stated that it's both and explained that it's a general fund contribution to a capital project and is budgeted as a capital project. The budget amendment transfers the money from unappropriated general fund reserves into the fund established for that assessment district. Continuing with his presentation, Public Works Director Badum stated that with the CIP for 2004 -05, more money is being moved into the maintenance and operating budgets. He explained that several CIP projects are actually maintenance projects. He displayed a table showing the structure of the CIP and stated that the document is organized by fund. He then displayed a summary showing the projects transferred from the CIP to various department operating budgets. City Manager Bludau noted that comparing the 2004 -05 CIP to previous CIP's isn't a pure comparison because of the shift of funds from the CIP to the general fund and operating budgets in 2004 -05. In response to Council Member Webb's question, Public Works Director Badum stated that the money being budgeted for street light conversions is for individual conversions. Public Works Director Badum displayed a summary showing the expenditures by fund. He noted that some of the expenditures will increase because of the addition of project rebudgets that can't be calculated until closer to the end of the current fiscal year. Public Works Director Badum provided a list and a brief • description of some of the major projects being included in the 2004 -05 CIP. City Manager Bludau suggested that the City Council take a critical look at the Volume 56 - Page 915 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 INDEX projects being proposed in the preliminary priorities for the available funding. , and consider if there are other Public Works Director Badum continued listing some of the major projects in the various funds, including the general fund, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), gas tax, tide & submerged land, contributions, and transportation & circulation. Council Member Webb referred to Item No. 7, Dover Drive Sidewalk Design, of the regular meeting agenda and noted that it would be funded out of the transportation & circulation fund. He asked if it was possible that construction on the project could begin next year. Public Works Director Badum stated that it wasn't included in the budget because staff didn't know how much money would be required to get approval. He explained that the project is near a wetlands area, which could change the cost significantly, but that it could be included on the checklist, if desired. City Manager Bludau asked if the money would be available. Public Works Director Badum stated that there is some money in the transportation & circulation fund that is currently unappropriated. Public Works Director Badum continued listing some of the major projects in the building excise tax and Measure M funds. Council Member Webb asked if any commitment had been received from the Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA) on funding the bridge construction for • the Jamboree Road Widening. Public Works Director Badum stated that the TCA staff understands that they have a commitment, but have also stated that they wouldn't have funding available until 2010. Council Member Webb stated that the TCA needs to be reminded that the bridge construction is supposed to be their number one add on project. Public Works Director Badum stated that they have been reminded, but that other potential resources for funding are also being looked at. City Manager Bludau asked what the anticipated cost of the project is expected to be. Public Works Director Badum stated that it's expected to be approximately $4 to $5 million. Council Member Webb recalled that it was approximately $5 to $6 million. City Engineer Patapoff confirmed that it is expected to cost over $5 million. Public Works Director Badum provided a list of the assessment districts currently under consideration and the estimated costs to the City. In the category of miscellaneous projects, he listed the Bonita Canyon Sports Park storage facilities. In response to Mayor Ridgeway's question, Public Works Director Badum stated that the storage facilities would be paid for from the interest earnings of the park's bond proceeds. Additionally, he listed Fire Station #7 as a miscellaneous project, and stated that the land acquisition process still needs to be resolved. Council Member Rosansky asked if the figure of $2,750,000 for the fire station was just for construction, or if it included the land acquisition. After a brief discussion, Public Works Director Badum stated that the figure is just for land acquisition and that a more accurate figure would be determined towards the • end of the current fiscal year. Public Works Director Badum continued listing major projects in the various Volume 56 - Page 916 • City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 including the water enterprise and wastewater enterprise funds. Council Member Webb asked which pipelines were included in the pipeline master plan. City Engineer Patapoff stated that the two main transmission lines include those at Irvine Avenue, south of Bristol, and at Irvine Avenue and Dover Drive. Public Works Director Badum stated include the Mariners Branch Library, and Newport Coast Community Center. that other projects of note in the CIP Newport Coast Elementary Loop Road Council Member Webb asked if the shortage for the Mariners Library totaled $300,000 to $400,000. Public Works Director Badum responded in the affirmative and stated that it's a result of the increase in the price of steel and other construction materials. Mayor Ridgeway asked when the project was expected to go to bid. Public Works Director Badum stated that it would be shortly and that construction should commence in August of 2004. The grand opening is expected to occur in July 2005. Council Member Webb asked how the tennis court project is being handled. Public Works Director Badum stated that the tennis court project is being combined with the library in order to obtain a better price. Council Member Heffernan asked how much the school district is contributing to the loop road project. Public Works Director Badum stated that the entire project is being financed from the interest earning proceeds from the bond sell. The school district will maintain and operate the road once it is in place. Mayor Ridgeway noted that before the final CIP budget is adopted, the City Council will have the opportunity to incorporate any additional requests. He reminded the council members to think about what capital projects are needed in their districts. City Manager Bludau stated that the council members are encouraged to notify him of any desired projects as soon as possible to allow staff the time to determine solid cost estimates. Mayor Ridgeway stated that he has already talked to staff about the design drawings for the West Bay streets. Council Member Bromberg stated that he has also been working with staff on some projects on Balboa Island, and agreed that it's important to present the ideas as early as possible to determine what will be feasible. 3. TOP STAFF PRIORITIES FOR 2003/04 STATUS REPORT. Using a PowerPoint presentation, City Manager Bludau stated that the first priority of staff in the 2003 -04 fiscal year was to certify the land use and the implementation plans, which are both a part of the Local Coastal Program (LCP), and present them to the Coastal Commission for initial review. He reported that the City Council would consider the land use plan at the regular meeting, Item No. 21. He stated that the remainder of the LCP would be built • around the land use plan, and that final certification of the entire LCP is expected to occur by the end of the 2004 -05 fiscal year. Volume 56 - Page 917 INDEX (100 -2004) r i U City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 Mayor Ridgeway noted that a late fine of $1,000 per month has been paid by City since June of 2003. City Manager Bludau stated that staffs second priority was the implementation of a code and water quality enforcement program. He stated that this was accomplished and he displayed some of the statistics from the division. He specifically noted that approximately 95% of the notices of violations and 72% of the administrative citations that were issued in the current fiscal year were water quality related, and that education was a large part of the program. City Manager Bludau stated that the County looks at Newport Beach as a model in the area of water quality enforcement. Council Member Nichols asked how much water quality code enforcement is costing the City. City Manager Bludau stated that its listed separately in the budget and totals approximately $521,000. He added that $1.5 million in new grants were awarded for water quality projects and studies in the 2003 -04 fiscal year. Staffs third priority was to complete the baseline data and analysis for the general plan update and the evaluation of the land use plan. He reported that the City is on track with this priority. The fourth staff priority was to temporarily reconfigure the Mariners Park playfield and complete design development for the new Mariners Library. He reported the progress that has been made, as also discussed during the CIP presentation, and stated that the park playfield final reconfiguration and the opening of the new library is • anticipated to take place in the fall of 2005. The fifth priority, start and complete design of the Santa Ana Heights fire station, has not happened. City Manager Bludau explained that the City was delayed by site selection and acquisition. City Manager Bludau stated that staffs sixth priority was to complete the annexation of West Santa Ana Heights/Country Club/Mesa Drive areas and create a redevelopment agency. He reported that this did not happen and that no application has been submitted. He listed the reasons for this and stated that staff intends to bring an annexation application to the City Council before July of 2004. City Manager Bludau stated that very little progress was made on staffs seventh priority, the City Hall replacement project and addressing the long term space needs. He explained that this was due to a conflict of interest issue and the uncertainty surrounding the City's long term ability to do some financial planning. He stated that master planning efforts will begin, however. Staffs eighth priority was to negotiate cable TV franchise agreements with Cox and Adelphia. He reported that the first readings of the cable communications franchise and right -of -way ordinance took place at the City Council meeting on May 11, 2004. Once the franchise ordinance is in effect, the franchise agreement negotiations will take place. City Manager Bludau stated that the ninth priority of staff was to develop a standardized evaluation process assessing the need for a standardized form and training the organization in the new form and evaluation process. He reported that the new form has been developed and instructions are currently being prepared. • In response to Council Member Nichols' question, City Manager Bludau explained that the form is a written evaluation form for the annual performance Volume 56 - Page 918 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 INDEX evaluation of the City's employees. He added that it was determined that a more standardized form was desired. City Manager Bludau stated that staffs tenth priority was to continue the emphasis on disaster preparedness focusing on the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) process, development and training. He reported that progress was limited due to the maternity leave and then resignation of the City's Emergency Services Coordinator. A recruitment for the position is currently underway. City Manager Bludau reported that a complete update of the City's Emergency Management Plan was completed and distributed. Progress was also made in working with the various committees that focus on the roles that the different departments would play in an emergency. This process is ongoing. Council Member Webb asked how the City Council is involved in the training process. City Manager Bludau stated that, to date, they have not been. Council Member Webb expressed his opinion that the City Council should be involved. City Manager Bludau stated that two years ago, a Study Session item dealt with the issue and that the City Council has been invited to observe the disaster preparedness exercises that have been conducted. Mayor Ridgeway added that when it was discussed at the Study Session, it was agreed that the safety personnel, fire and police, effectively take over in an emergency. Council Member Webb stated that it might be appropriate for the City Council to participate in some of the training programs. Fire Chief Riley stated that under the current Emergency Management Plan, which was adopted by the City Council, the City Council's role is to continue doing what they already do, which includes promulgating rules and regulations, and making authoritarian decisions on major policy issues. The actual emergency operation activities are empowered to the City Manager and the support departments. Depending on the type of emergency, it is usually the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Public Works Director or General Services Director who would become the key person to manage the City resources in response to an emergency. Fire Chief Riley stated that regarding training, Citywide management training is conducted as well as spec training by function. He stated that the Department Operating Centers (DOC's) and their link to the EOC have been the focus. He suggested that staff could keep the City Council informed of training exercises and that the City Council could observe any of these that they desire. He further suggested that the City Council could plan to participate in the upcoming Citywide drill on September 9, 2004. Council Member Heffernan asked what the chain of command would be in an emergency. Fire Chief Riley stated that typically the Police Watch Commander or the Fire Battalion Chief would call for the activation of the EOC. All key EOC response personnel would be notified to respond and the situation would be assessed. If it is determined that a local emergency overwhelms the City's resources, the City Manager would declare a local emergency and the City Council would be asked to ratify that decision. He stated that this would be the most important role of the City Council because it enables the City to apply to • the State for a State declaration of a local emergency, which is then passed on to the Federal government for a Federal declaration of a local emergency. Fire Chief Riley explained that this process allows the City to obtain State and Volume 56 - Page 919 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 . Federal funding, and additional resources. The City Council would also be needed to make some major policy decisions. Council Member Heffernan asked who determines what situations are handled first. Fire Chief Riley stated that the City Manager would be the Director of Emergency Operations and would make those decisions. Council Member Bromberg asked if the City Council could change the procedures or if they were set by State mandate. Fire Chief Riley stated that the procedures are established in the City's Emergency Management Plan, which can be amended by the City Council. City Manager Bludau stated when discussing emergency response, it needs to be remembered that different people may be playing different roles. Fire Chief Riley agreed and added that the duties of the positions of the EOC are included in the supplies located at the EOC and that the first task of anyone responding to the EOC is to become familiar with their role. It may take two hours to get the entire EOC in place. Council Member Bromberg requested that a clarification be provided on what the City Council's role is and what decisions they would make in the event of an emergency. City Attorney Burnham stated that there is an ordinance that requires that the City Council adopt and periodically review the emergency operations plan. The City Council is not involved in the actual administration of the plan. Mayor Ridgeway stated that he observed an emergency drill earlier in the day and didn't know where the chain of command began. Fire Chief Riley stated that the drill was a part of the "Every Fifteen Minutes" education program, and . demonstrated the City's response to a two - vehicle collision involving kids and alcohol. He stated that the first arriving officer on the scene becomes the incident commander until relieved by someone of higher authority. In this situation, the activities of the police and fire departments are coordinated under a joint command due to the criminal nature of the event combined with the safety issues. Mayor Ridgeway complimented the City's efforts on disaster preparedness. Council Member Bromberg agreed that the City is very well off. He stated that at a future meeting, it needs to be determined what the City Council's role would be in a catastrophic event. Council Member Webb stated that it would be appropriate for the City Council to observe the drill in September and become more aware of its role. In response to Mayor Ridgeway's question, City Manager Bludau stated that some of the 2003 -04 staff priorities would probably be included in the 2004 -05 priorities and that he would present these to the City Council in August 2004. 4. SMOKING ON BEACHES AND PIERS. Deputy City Attorney Ohl stated that San Clemente recently instituted a ban on smoking, and is in the process of installing their signs and beginning enforcement. He stated that he has talked to several other jurisdictions and has learned that the ordinances have not been in effect long enough for them to • determine how effective they will be. Mayor Ridgeway asked if information was gathered from the jurisdictions on Volume 56 - Page 920 INDEX (100 -2004) 0 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 INDEX proposed enforcement. Deputy City Attorney Ohl stated that San Clemente plans to do passive enforcement, install signs and conduct public education, and that violators would be informed of the code. If they fail or refuse to abide by the regulation, they would be cited. Mayor Ridgeway asked if the ordinances are subject to Coastal Commission review. Deputy City Attorney Ohl stated that he had not heard of such a requirement. City Attorney Burnham stated that he did not feel that the Coastal Commission would have any jurisdiction. Council Member Bromberg asked how Newport Beach compares to other jurisdictions in terms of the number of visitors to the beach. Deputy City Attorney Ohl stated that with the exception of a couple of cities, Newport Beach has the highest number of visitors. He reported that the annual visits to Newport Beach totals approximately 8 to 8 % million. Council Member Heffernan asked if there was an understanding as to why some of the jurisdictions banned smoking on either the beaches or the piers and others banned it on both. Deputy City Attorney Ohl stated that Seal Beach banned smoking on the piers only and that it may have been the result of experiencing a pier fire a number of years ago. The other jurisdictions didn't express a problem with the piers, but included them because they were a part of the beach. Council Member Heffernan noted that Solana Beach has had the ban in effect the longest of any of the jurisdictions. Deputy City Attorney Ohl stated that he was unable to speak with anyone from that city. Council Member Heffernan asked if there were any court rulings on the matter. Deputy. City Attorney Ohl stated that his research has not found that the State and Federal constitution . guarantees the right to smoke. Council Member Heffernan asked if the findings of the ordinances that have been adopted focused on the smoking aspect or the trash aspect. Deputy City Attorney Ohl stated that the initial focus has been on the litter aspect and then secondly, the health aspect. Mayor Ridgeway asked if any of the jurisdictions created areas for smoking. Deputy City Attorney Ohl stated that San Clemente created an exemption for a restaurant at the base of the pier. General Services Director Niederhaus stated that one of the City's three beach cleaners was modified with a fine screen that could pick up cigarette butts. He stated that the problem is that it also picks up natural rocks and seashells. He added that smokers also tend to congregate near benches and that the butts in these locations have to be extracted manually. General Services Director Niederhaus displayed an example of the new sign that might be created if a ban is adopted. He noted that a decal can be applied to the existing signs, which will save considerable money. Council Member Rosansky asked how much the signs would cost to change. General Services Director Niederhaus stated that it would cost less than $5,000. He added that without enforcement, no headway will be made with the litter issue. Mayor Ridgeway asked if the other jurisdictions included sidewalks and parking areas adjacent to the beaches. Deputy City Attorney Ohl stated that in San • Clemente, the ban does not apply to those areas and that they plan to install cigarette receptacles in the areas. In response to Mayor Ridgeway's question, General Services Director Niederhaus stated that his employees do utilize Volume 56 - Page 921 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 • handheld screens in the smaller areas, but that the manpower is usually not available to perform the function. Mayor Ridgeway confirmed that the General Services Department feels that they are effective on the main beach. General Services Director Niederhaus added that it's difficult to get to the areas where the mechanized equipment can't be used. Stephanie Barger, Earth Resource Foundation, stated that it is fully documented that there is no constitutional right to smoke. She stated that she also has information about what the other jurisdictions are doing, and noted that Seal Beach banned smoking on the piers quite a few years ago due to the fire hazard. Legislation is currently underway to ban smoking on State beaches. Ms. Barger stated that her group is also working on making the violation result in an administrative citation instead of being considered a misdemeanor, so that the court system won't be clogged. She stated that tobacco is the number one drug and the number one cause of death in the country. She stated that the beaches are a play area for children. In closing, Ms. Barger stated that the smoke free beach issue should be looked at like the regulations for the environmentally sensitive areas and that the signs will be effective. She asked the City Council to put the environment and the health of children at the forefront. Council Member Bromberg asked Ms. Barger if she would have an expectation in the future that the City would expend resources to enforce the ban. Ms. Barger stated that unless people know they're going to get a ticket, they will . ignore the law. She stated that smoking is obvious and that the issue has received a lot of publicity, so people know it's coming. Any law should be enforced and she noted the success of enforcement at Hunama Bay. She additionally noted that if the City is willing to expend resources to write parking citations, they should also be willing to expend resources for this issue. Mayor Ridgeway noted that Hunama Bay is very small, whereas Newport Beach has 11 miles of beaches. City Manager Bludau asked Ms. Barger if she was aware of how the enforcement issue is being addressed in the proposed legislation to ban smoking on State beaches. Ms. Barger stated that the legislation was just introduced earlier in the day, but that she would follow -up on the issue and report back to the City. Jim Walker, Director of Stop Tobacco Abuse from Minors Pronto (STAMP), reported that there's a $250 fine that can be placed on any infraction for smoking on beaches. He stated that this would not be necessary very often and that the ban is expected to be complied with. He explained that over 60% of smokers want to quit and are supportive of a ban. Mr. Walker stated that substantial compliance will reduce trash and the risk of structure fires, and that 95% of the people will comply with the law. He stated that he sees the smoke free beach phenomenon sweeping through the country, that it's a health issue and that it's inappropriate to smoke around other people. Scott Moreland, Newport Harbor High School teacher, stated that several of the • people in attendance at the current meeting are his students and that they've been appalled by what they've found in the beach cleanups that they've conducted. He stated that one of his classes is a surfing class and the students Volume 56 - Page 922 INDEX City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 • have seen cigarette butts in the water. Additionally, there are pockets throughout the beach where the City's beach cleaners can't reach. Mr. Moreland stated that people visit Newport Beach and expect to have pristine beaches. He stated that cigarettes are a problem and the matter needs to be addressed. Ellie Burbenbeck, President of the Earth Resources Foundation Club at Newport Harbor High School, noted that various other public facilities have also gone smoke free, such as Disneyland, Irvine Spectrum and Angel Stadium. She felt that it could also be done on the beaches in Newport Beach. She reported that in November of 2003, her club conducted a beach cleanup just a few days after the beach was cleaned by the City and that they picked up over 13,000 cigarette butts. She stated that the ban is necessary. Council Member Webb suggested the process to adopt an ordinance begin. He stated that his concern is for both the smoking and the trash. He stated that he doesn't want to be forced to breathe others smoke and feels that it also creates a trash problem. Council Member Rosanksy stated that he doesn't see the issue as just a litter problem. He asked how the Police Department enforces the other activities that are prohibited on the beach. Police Chief McDonell stated that they are enforced based on calls for service, observation and discretion. He stated that it's a matter of priorities, and that enforcing no smoking on the beach would not be a high priority. Council Member Rosansky confirmed with Police Chief McDonell that there is a police presence on the beach and that some enforcement would • occur. Police Chief McDonell stated that it's important to understand that the public often gets frustrated when a law is adopted and there isn't adequate enforcement. He stated that there's a difference with the ban on smoking in bars because there's an incentive for the bar owner to maintain compliance. Mayor Ridgeway asked if a smoking ban would create too high of an expectation. Police Chief McDonell stated that it would create frustration on the part of those that want to see it more heavily enforced. Council Member Rosansky asked the Police Chief if he felt that people were generally law abiding. Police Chief McDonell stated that there is generally an 85% compliance rate with any law. Council Member Rosansky concluded that without enforcement, there is the potential then to reduce 85% of the smoking and the litter associated with it. Mayor Ridgeway noted the signs at the base of the Balboa Pier, which state that 3 -wheel and 4 -wheel bicycles on prohibited on the boardwalk. He stated that the police do not enforce it. Police Chief McDonell stated that it's a matter of priorities. City Manager Bludau asked if the Police Chief would expect his officers to respond to every call for service. Police Chief McDonell stated that he expects his officers to do their routine patrol and that responding to every report of cigarette smoking would not be a priority. Council Member Bromberg asked the Fire Chief his opinion on the lifeguards enforcing the ban. Fire Chief Riley stated that it would be highly contradictory • to the directive given to the lifeguards, which is to keep their eyes on the water. He stated that they are public safety professionals and it would not be an appropriate use of City resources. Volume 56 - Page 923 INDEX u City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 110 1) s► Council Member Rosansky asked if the lifeguards currently enforce any of the activities that are prohibited on the beach. Fire Chief Riley responded in the negative and stated that the exception is the blackball ordinance, which is a no surfing ordinance in effect during certain times of the year on certain areas of the beach. He stated that compliance is sought and if the lifeguard is not effective, the police are called for enforcement. Regarding smoking on the piers, Fire Chief Riley stated that it's not an issue in Newport Beach because the piers are concrete. Mayor Ridgeway stated that he doesn't like scofflaws and the expectations of enforcement. Council Member Nichols asked if there are any restrictions on the City enforcing a smoking ban on a State beach. Mayor Ridgeway responded in the negative. Council Member Nichols stated that there is no good evidence that secondary smoke causes deaths. It is even less relevant when done outdoors. Council Member Heffernan expressed his support of a ban for both the issues of smoking and trash. He stated that staff should be directed to draft an ordinance, and that enforcement shouldn't be an issue. It will be self policing and is a statement made by the City. • Mayor Ridgeway suggested that the matter be looked at by the Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission, noting that there are several issues that still need to be addressed. Council Member Heffernan stated that he doesn't want to see the matter get bogged down and that the City Council should still have the final say. Council Member Bromberg stated that the idea of having a ban is a good idea for the both health and litter reasons. He stated that he also doesn't like scofflaws either and that his primary concern is enforcement. Council Member Bromberg noted Ms. Barger's expectation that the law would be enforced. Council Member Bromberg agreed that it would be a good idea to have the Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission look at the matter further. He stated that there must also be an understanding that any ban would involve voluntary enforcement. City Manager Bludau noted that the Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission doesn't meet again until July 6, 2004, but that the City Council could set the timeframe for when the matter would be addressed and return to the City Council. Mayor Ridgeway suggested that the matter return to the City Council in ninety days. Council Member Heffernan noted that this would given the Parks, Beaches & • Recreation Commission an opportunity to study how the newly- enacted bans are working in the other cities. Volume 56 - Page 924 L_J • 1] City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes May 25, 2004 City Manager Bludau days. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None. ADJOURNMENT - at 6:15 p.m. it could return to the City Council in 120 *;rx:fxe *r,r�r:r�x,r��,r *,mot :x�,k,Eirr :+ The agenda for the Study Session was the City Hall Bulletin Board located Administration Building. posted on May 18, 2004, at 2:15 p.m on outside of the City of Newport Beach Re= cording Se�crettary i Mayor l City Clerk Volume 56 - Page 925 INDEX 0 0 v a 6 N J N d CO N 2 D L N C 7 0 r' p W � N 3 O N A T Attachment C LISTING OF CITY PIERS AND FLOATS, BENCHES, AND BAY BEACHES 0 (June 2004) PIERS Newport Pier — (2 donated benches, 40 wooden benches built in place) Balboa Pier — (8 donated benches, 15 wooden benches built in place) PUBLIC FLOATS Newport Peninsula M Street & E. Balboa Blvd. (2 wooden benches built in place) Washington St. & Edgewater Ave. Fernando St. & Edgewater Ave. (2 wooden benches built) in place 15th St. & Bay Ave. 19th St. & Bay Ave. Balboa Island Sapphire & N. Bayfront • Emerald & N. Bayfront Opal & S. Bayfront Coral & S. Bayfront Park Ave. & E. Bayfront *All public floats on Balboa Island have two wooden benches built in place at top of gangway BENCH LOCATIONS OCEANFRONT Grant Street 36th Street 34`h Street 32nd Street 30th Street 28`h Street 26th Street 15th Street 8`h Street 7th Street 6th Street C Street West Jett Park BENCH LOCATIONS BAYFRONT BEACHES K Street J Street H Street Palm Street Adams Street Crress Street Buena Vista Blvd 7" Street 8t Street 10th Street 15th Street Newport Island Park Channel Park • *All bay front street ends on Balboa Island have benches Attachment E n U • • PHOTO OF DEBRIS URN - CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE .�Y PYRAMID ASH STASH URN, Pyramid urn, 35" H x $165.00 $15900 ccS- 12" Sq (base) x 4" Sq (top) gj ibg, PCSPYU Attachment F I] 0 • PHOTO OF ALTERNATIVE DEBRIS URN Smokers' Cease -Fire $65.00 ea 268047 15 lbs. + 39/5" h z 17/5" dia. shipping Attachment F u from the May 04, 2004 edition - http:liw . csmnitar .comt2004/O504 /pOls03- ussc.htmi Teen activists a rising farce a <yainst smal;ing By Daniel B. Wood I Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. - As fog and dusk descend on Pacific beaches nearby, 15 teenagers in clogs and T- shirts scurry into the warmly lit city council chambers next to the town green. Snagging the first three rows of plush seats, they hoist their message on placards: "Don't let smoking knock you out." Eight- foot -high Plexiglas tubes filled with 13,000 cigarette butts gathered from nearby beaches tower over their heads. One steps up to an open microphone: "We have come to explain how important a beach smoking ban would be to our community," says Ellie Erpenbeck, a 17- year -old senior at Newport Harbor High School. The teenagers cite statistics on health and environmental costs while handing a stack of signed petitions to the row of suit - and -tie councilmen ensconced behind an elevated oak rostrum. • Where sneaking a smoke in school restrooms or behind the family garage used to be a rite of rebellious adolescence, a growing number of teens are targeting smoking, along with other social issues, as a way to effect change for the better in their communities. With 75 percent of young people disapproving of smoking one or more packs a day, the anti- tobacco issue heads a long list of issues that social researchers say is igniting activism among teens. Among them: air pollution, forest clear- cutting, pesticide use, drunk driving, teen pregnancy, and alcohol abuse. Fed by their own moral outrage that grownups have dropped the ball, and that real -life policymaking is not only an opportunity but a duty, teenagers are making a difference. "There has been a resurgence of high school activism and advocacy across a wide avenue of issues coast to coast," says Christine Kelley, a political scientist at William Paterson University in New Jersey and author of a book on social movements. "More and more teens are trying to end the image of youth as complacent and unengaged. They want the world to know they are a force to be reckoned with." Most recently, that reckoning has come to California beach communities. In March, 10 years after California set a national precedent by banning smoking in restaurants, the city of Solana Beach became the first California town to ban smoking at the beach - creating a wave of national and local interest that has led to similar laws in Santa Monica, San Clemente, and Los Angeles. Behind the charge: a group of teens - the Youth Tobacco Prevention Corps - who began lobbying three coastal cities more than two years ago. • 'Teens have been taking the lead on this issue and been successful where adults have failed," says Jim Walker, director of Stop Tobacco Abuse of Minors Pronto (STAMP). Ms. Erpenbeck, munching on pizza with friends outside city hall, says her backyard has become an ashtray, and she wants to do something about it. For its part, Philip Morns USA does not think banning smoking on the beaches addresses the issue of littering. "We actually have an antilitter message on each cigarette package and encourage increasing the number of ashtrays on beaches and other outdoor locales,' says Jennifer Golisch, spokeswoman for Philip Morris USA. In the past, teens might have balked at challenging organizations like Philip Morns for fear of being labeled a goody - two - shoes. "We don't get too many people frowning at what we do," says Ms. Erpenbeck, president of her high school chapter of Earth Resource Foundation. "I don't really know many peers who smoke, but in any case we don't care what these people think. We've grown beyond that in our club." Some observers say this shrug against traditional peer pressure is largely the result of 15 years of "service learning" that became the rage of school curriculums beginning in the late 1980s. "The research is very strong that when American schools began adopting curriculum requirements that kids go into the world and learn by doing, that that has had a lasting effect on activism," says Stephen Medvic, assistant professor of government and Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. Along with service learning that accompanied the national push for recycling in the 70s and 80s, Mr. Medvic and others say the fallout is reflected in the growth of several national organizations such as, Mobilize American Youth, Rock the Vote, and Youth Vote Coalition. • "More and more kids got involved in cleaning up neighborhoods, drugs, gangs, homelessness, which had an even bigger spillover among kids who weren't even taking the classes," says Medvic. Because many states won millions of dollars in tobacco settlements in 1998, antitobacco activism has become one of the higher profile teen issues, observers say. The state of Ohio, for instance, has a four -year, $50 million campaign - called "stand" - which, since November, has burgeoned from nine to 55 chapters as youths mount their own antitobacco ad campaigns. Last week, when state lawmakers introduced an amendment to cut their funding, students from across the state marched to the State House with placards and signs. They made speeches, held press conferences, and testified in legislative committee, helping to kill the amendment. "It was awesome. I was so nervous," says Sarah Cooper, an 18- year -old from north of Dayton who testified. She joined the "stand" campaign because both her parents, who she feels are endangering their own health, are smokers. "I think'stand' can do a lot to help offset the millions that tobacco companies pour into the state every week to get others to smoke." Observers say it is partly the power of the personal touch, unpolished and from the heart, that is persuasive. "When teens stand in front of legislators as a group which traditionally doesn't have much • voice in society, they often bring the element of shock that the issues they are addressing are affecting the most innocent among us," says David Smith, executive director of Mobilizing America's Youth. 'That's something that professional lobbyists can't do as effectively." But for the same reasons that teens may currently have more clout where some adults fail . - innocence, personal stories, grass -roots organization - some observers see a danger of exploitation. "It's hard to condemn kids doing this, but I feel that they are put up to this by the bigger movement," says Ray Domkus, the president of the California chapter of Forces Intemational, a organization concerned about the rights of smokers. At this point, however, teen activists show no sign of slowing down. Next up in several states: cigarettes on the silver screen. Teen groups in nine states will begin this month a united letter -writing campaign to stop cinematic portrayals of smoking as sexy, cool, and rebellious. Like the stand campaign and other teen activist networks, various state chapters are technically savvy, using websites and e-mail to coordinate efforts. 'Teens today feel like they are dealing with a lot more of these issues in their face than their parents did," says Yvette Childs, spokeswoman for the California Youth Advocacy Network, which staged demonstrations at the California State Capitol two weeks ago and is holding training workshops for teens in several cities. "But they also feel they have the advantage of new tools and ways to organize volunteers, harness their anger and passion and show decisionmakers that they care." Full HTML version of this story which may include photos grachics and related links w _csmenitor.corn I Copyright ® 2004 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint/republish this article, please email Copyright • ,r11 u F� lyl , ^-ad py� A^ Y1 ?i $ xdy ,r11 u F� lyl , ^-ad py� A^ Y1 ?i eY 3 q - k _. M� t" 0 r 1 u L, June 5, 2004 Daily Pilot. Volunteers hit beach About two- thirds of the shoreline from the Santa Ana River to The Wedge will be looldng a lot cleaner. Lolita Harper Daily Pilot NEWPORT BEACH — Five miles of beach have been swooped up by private entities in less than two weeks, and city officials are thrilled. About two- thirds of the shoreline from the Santa Ana River to The Wedge has been claimed by residents, organiza- tions and businesses through the Adopt -a -Beach program, city officials said. The Adopt -a- Beach program, which officially kicked off May 22, is sponsored by the city of Newport Beach and Earth Re- source Foundation in Costa Mesa It is similar to the state's highway program in that people commit to taking care of litter along a designated stretch of the beach, Earth Resource foun- der Stephanie Barger said. "Most of those people were already picking up our beaches — they were kind of like unsung heroes," Barger said. . "They have been doing it anyway, but now they are getting some rec- ognition — which is the least of their motivation for doing it, really. ,, Newport Beach Councilman Steve Rosansky said the pro- gram had far exceeded his ex- pectations. It was a pleasant surprise, he said. Large companies like Federal Express have adopted four blocks of the peninsula, on the ocean side, and organizations such as the Surfrider Founda- tion have staked their claim as well, Barger said. Along with the obvious contributors are lesser known ones like Lloyd and Ruth Dalton. Lloyd Dalton, a 25 -year de- sign engineer for the city's Pub- lic Works Department, said he and his wife make a habit of walling down to the beach and picking up peoples refuse. "I have another term for it, but it's not as polite," Lloyd Dal- ton said. "I don't know why peo- ple are like that, but they leave a lot of litter on the beach." The Daltons, who adopted two blocks from 47th to 49th streets, said cigarett e butts are the hardest pieces of litter to collect because they are so small. Although they are equip- ped with a bucket, gloves and "grabber" devices, butts fall right through the grips. It be- comes backbreaking work to bend down and grab the filters. Despite the unappealing.no- tion of picking up after others, Lloyd Dalton said he thinks the program is a "great idea" be- cause it not only cleans the beaches but raises awareness about the litter problems. "[People) will see us out there - collecting stuff and be a little more cognizant of their litter," Lloyd Dalton said. Linda Ramage, a Newport Beach Girl Scout troop leader, said the benefits of the program are two -fold for her girls. Ramage said each time the girls of Troop 2700 go out to pickup trash, they take turns recording the data and report it to Earth Resource Foundation. The ex- perience is beneficial not only for the environment but for learning responsibility. "It is teaching them how to follow up on the organizational side and report back," Ramage said. Aside from the good lessons, Barrage said the girls are having a blast using the "pickers." They also catit wait to see their troop number on a plaque at the en- trance to the 16th through 18th Street bridges. "They'd probably want their names," Ramage said, "but either way, they are excited." Los Arlgeies limes: )EUCents w111 asn .v CWPUiL w Uutt uu http aiww,,v. tatimes.com /news,'lociil/ pilot / news' ta- dpt- butts23 apr3i,1,739070.story Students will ask Newport to butt out High school students plan to bring bag holding thousands of used cigarettes to council meeting as a plea to ban smoking at their beaches. Alicia Robinson Daily Pilot April 23, 2004 NEWPORT BEACH — A trash bag full of cigarette butts undoubtedly smells terrible, but it might not be enough to convince Newport Beach City Council members to jump on the smoke -free beach bandwagon. Students from Newport Harbor High School will hold a press conference at the Newport Pier on Tuesday and then proceed to City Hall to ask council members to consider a ban on smoking on • Newport's beaches and piers. They'll bring with them a bag containing an estimated 13,000 cigarette butts collected during a beach cleanup on Saturday. Council has not acted on a similar request made in November after a beach cleanup that month. Both cleanups and the November visit to the council were spearheaded by the Costa Mesa -based Earth Resource Foundation. But Tuesday's lobbying is at the behest of Newport Harbor High School students. Some of the students helped clean the beach for a beginning surf class, which includes environmental education, said surf coach Scott Morlan, who teaches the surf class as well as geometry and a college prep program at Newport Harbor High School- "If s really neat because this was not my idea at all," Morlan said. "The kids are the ones that did the cleanup and were appalled by what they found and are seeking to make a difference in their community." But the council can't discuss the beach smoking issue unless it is on the agenda, Newport Beach Mayor Tod Ridgeway said. A smoking ban would be difficult to enforce and could cause trouble among beachgoers, he said. "I don't like scofflaws," Ridgeway said. "I don't like creating a law that will not be enforced, and we don't have the manpower to go up and down the beach enforcing a no smoking ordinance." • He added that he thinks city workers do a goodjob keeping the beach clean. "From my perspective, as one councilman, while I think it's a laudable goal ... without more information Los Angeles 1imeS: 3iUUCU L� wui U31%,,, w?. ,� w.. 11 I am not supportive of it," he said. Other city councils have felt differently. Solana Beach banned smoking on its beaches last year, and in March San Clemente and Santa Monica followed suit. Earth Resource Foundation has backed some of those efforts, and the group wants Newport Beach council members to at least study the issue, said foundation Executive Director Stephanie Barger. Implementing a beach smoking ban with signs, trash cans and enforcement cost San Clemente less than $15,000, she said. Although Newport Beach didn't respond to the request for a smoking ban in November, Barger thinks it's worth going back a second time. "For one thing, we are going to be more focused on Newport Beach," she said. "When we did our beach cleanup in November, that's when there was a lot of momentum going for San Clemente." Barger is hoping that council will be swayed by the fact that the effort is student -driven — or perhaps by the trash bag full of cigarette butts. "We hope that they will move along with the environmental leaders in Orange County," she said. Newport Harbor High School students will hold a press conference at the Newport Pier at 5:30 p.m. The city council meeting begins at 7 p.m. in council chambers, 3300 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach. • • ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment. She may be reached at (9 -49) 764-4330 or by e-mail at alicia.robirtson @latimes.com. If you want other stories on this topic, search the Archives at latimes.comlarchives. U.' &Tri Article licensing and reprint options Copyright 2014 Los Angeles Times • L_J • Tobacco beaches USA TODAY - MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2004 war hits in Calif. Statewide smoking ban, higher age limits among proposals USA1'OIk1Yer SAN FRANCISCO - As it did with the nations Cnst smoking ban in bars, California is open- ing new fronts in the waron to- 'm call- Los An- king a bill S on The nations first bid to out- law smoklt�z in vehicles carry- ing sma6 n failed nar-. rawly in the Legislatures lower house last month but its spon- sor says he may try again be- foreyears end Lawmakers still want to make California the lust scam to raise the legal smoking age to 21 from 18, a move backed by the California Medical Asso- canon. A Senate bill, the sec- ond attempt since 2000. was defeated in April, but its not a na- in San pressure on Hollywood to as- sign "It" ratings to movies that katuresmokung. "California has - landmark public - health policies to pro- tect workers against second- hand smoke," says Paul Knep- prath, vice president for go+rernment relations for me rican Association of rnia it just crakes serge that we beykn looking az other niche areas. When Californian bar ban took effect in 1997, the state boasted the nations toughest anti- tobacco laws, including strict measures to prevent un- derage access to cigarettes. Cig- arette taxes and mending on were indoor public place. in 2002. Delaware fol- suit Today, nine states that the American Lung Smoke elsewhere: Beachgoers at the Santa Motdca Piet The city has passed a no- smoking ordi- nnu nance covering the Pier and sunding beaches in whatcould bemme a national trend. Smoking restrictions Prevention says 440,000 pec- by state gm still die annually from to- of Minors Pronto: 'The beach - acco -related illness, costing How stares compare in bans and restrictions on smoking: Oren California has slipped playmgm "..�....._... Banned Most smokers object to Restricted IM No restrictions budget gaps. California and at thou R was a bit extreme. " fac- Last 17 other states have raid- ed their shares of a $206 bg- says ward tones, 54, a tory worker horn Hint, Mich, Bon, 1998 settlement with to- vacationing at Santa Monica �" piec were to pay for tobacco pre- The Youth Tobacco Preven- AlaM tion Corps in San Diego County, ® ® Mont.= year,the association hwnd ange County such as Back That SHII, California remains a Alaska M trend -senec And to tobacco pushed the beach bans are ® Neb. ® shifting focus to the California- to car seats from smoke was a 1� no-brainer. "We don't want to tryn resistance to curbs on limit individuals' private right smo mmovies... tosmokeintheucars, "says As -. Jack. tL head of the Mo- semblyymman Marco Firebaugh. Ark', "But Ipeople smoke and injure America, told a Senate panel r`. ,. N.H. W :'17! S W Calif. W lf� M W N.J. AR .. W -.try m pimp -start tt tits sum-: -the md to police itself.. -.. -.. . Conn.Mll■ M M N.Y. DeLOM M M N.C. __ W i - D.CM III III N.D. I� W M FIa.W W � Ohiom. W Ga.M Okla.MM Ili M Hawaii M One M W M Idaho W = I� N Pa lf� W M tILM W M RJ.W - M Iowan alig M M S.D.M " M W Kmn M W IM Term Ky. TM 10 M 14 Texas Ian fib M Utah= M W MaineM 0 r VC-1111111M IN W Md.== � 0 Val. W Mass. Wash.W W M Mich. ti W.Va. M as MbMW W W � Wis l� � M Miss. ffig M M wya. Millill i..+�amele ]o,m:lID�IUn aewmm.rrcwlml Mrtlalbn:M: e"uw� W bCa¢o-[on1,dMAfml most common in the East and on the West Coast, wile the South and Midwest lag, the as- socatrOn said Smoke -free policies now cover an estimated 70% of the Philip Morris took no stand. as beach bans swept Southern California on the strength of two arguments: a whiff of sec- ondhand smoke is dangerous, even on breezy days, and ciga- rette butts are the sands top polluters. to up m Just a tew hours, were swayed Where they weren't. In Endnhtas for examppl1e signa- ture gatherkg is urtd to put the iswe on the.. ballot However, m Pismo Beach, north of Santa Barbara; officials lastweek rejected a ban. Besides littering, butts don't break down in the ocean and are toxic if ingested by fish, en- vironmentalists say. Volunteers in annual statewide cleanup days pick up an average of more than 300.000 butts on Centers for Disease Control and Says Jim Walker, director of Prevention says 440,000 pec- STAMP - Stop Tobacco Abuse gm still die annually from to- of Minors Pronto: 'The beach - acco -related illness, costing es are turning into ashtrays, so S75 billion in medical costs and you can imagine what you're $82 billion in lost productivity lying in and what your kids are Oren California has slipped playmgm "..�....._... The states 87 -cent ctg'garareerte tax Most smokers object to - hasn't risen since l999 %dose open -air restrictions. 'I budget gaps. California and at thou R was a bit extreme. " fac- Last 17 other states have raid- ed their shares of a $206 bg- says ward tones, 54, a tory worker horn Hint, Mich, Bon, 1998 settlement with to- vacationing at Santa Monica bacco companies. Those funds piec were to pay for tobacco pre- The Youth Tobacco Preven- veMion, but nine states cut tion Corps in San Diego County, programs by 50% or more last and groups in neighboring Or -- year,the association hwnd ange County such as Back That SHII, California remains a Ash Up and IOds IOck Ash that trend -senec And to tobacco pushed the beach bans are foes, protecting kids confined shifting focus to the California- to car seats from smoke was a based entertainment indus- no-brainer. "We don't want to tryn resistance to curbs on limit individuals' private right smo mmovies... tosmokeintheucars, "says As -. Jack. tL head of the Mo- semblyymman Marco Firebaugh. lion Picture Association of "But Ipeople smoke and injure America, told a Senate panel kids in the process, then its the last month that he opposed states business." changing the raft system, cit- firebaughs bill lost by five irg F'irstAmendmemwrtcerns votes after vigorous tobacco- and the demands of artistic industry lobbying, but he may freedom .Senators caged for -.try m pimp -start tt tits sum-: -the md to police itself.. -.. -.. . Association rates as strong met tobacco cop daft smoke -free air laws. After New disputewarmrgsco thaanttessecond- YorkCnyshigh- profle bar and smokingwith higher taxes. Six- giveaways. -are mixed, the as. hand smoke rouses cancer and restaurant ban took effect last teen hams and the District of sociation said in its 2003 re- they or adults not to smoke year, New York state, Connectt-_ Columbiappaassedhikes .last_port.Satessuch asCaBforlda,.croon; .---- _:- -_._.. cut, Oklahoma and Massachu- year New.Jersey was the first Connecticut, Maine, New York, But a ban in cars, even to setts passed broad restrictions. to exceed SS22apack. Rhode Island, Vermont and protect kids, is a "matter of pri- Even Lexington. Ky., in. the Efforts to cutyouth access to texas, have cracked doom, but vate conduct and not some - heart of tobacco country, cigarettes - eliminating vend- the association gives nearly h thing that should be k�slat- "says Phdip mto a�� � e ette oug nation a fading eel, Jamie D Mote states�try to da' c�ouragc ee ag igarr Tough anti -robaao laws are laws a s5erso Morris USASpokesperson. an idea he says. Los Angeles Times: Beach Smoking Ban Is OKd by Council • http: / /www.latimes.com/ news / local/ la- me- smoke24apr24,1,4S31830.stor-y LOS ANGELES Beach Smoking Ban Is OKd by Council Page I of 2 Hahn is expected to sign the law, which would take effect 30 days later. Environmental dangers, public health are cited. By Jessica Garrison Times Staff Writer April 24, 2004 Los Angeles City Council members voted unanimously Friday to ban smoking on the city's beaches Public health and environmental advocates burst into applause upon approval of the ordinance, which could go into effect before June. • Following a similar vote by the Santa Monica City Council in March, the action; if approved by the mayor, would ban smoking from Malibu to Manhattan Beach. The Santa Monica council faces one more vote on its ordinance before the ban can take effect. Councilman Jack Weiss, who has pushed for the law for months after reading of a similar one in San Diego County, said he hoped Los Angeles' actions would "catalyze a discussion throughout the state about where it is socially acceptable to smoke." Not only does secondhand smoke pose a public health risk, he said, but discarded butts leach chemicals into the sand and water, endangering plants and animals. "I hope it leads to cleaner beaches up and down the California coast," Weiss said. But Richard Hall, a husky- voiced smoker who drove from Redondo Beach to make his complaints known, said council members are unnecessarily restricting the rights of a large segment of the population. "Where can a smoker go [if not] the open air of a public beach," he said. "I can't go to bars. I can't go to Little League ... I feel I am paying highly for my habit and lifestyle." In response to such concerns, council members agreed to form a task force to study whether to create smoking zones on certain patches of sand. • But that will not stop the ban from going into effect 30 days after it is signed by the mayor. A spokesman for Mayor James K. Hahn said he would sign it soon. Los Angeles Times: Beach Smoking Ban Is OKd by Council Page 2 of 2 Scofflaws could face a fine of up to $250, but city officials said they do not expect to be dispatching officers to march up and down the sand writing tickets. The point of the ordinance is to raise people's awareness of the public health and environmental dangers, city officials said. And, much as a similar ban on smoking in the city's parks, officials expect the law to be self - enforced. If you want other stories on this topic, search the Archives at latimes.comlarchives. Article licensing and reprint options Copyright 2004 Los Angeles rimes • • O No butts about it By Joe Segura Staff writer • • Long Beach Press Telegram Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - The sands of Long Beach's shoreline could soon be off limits for cigarette smoking. And possibly Seal Beach. Santa Monica and San Clemente have banned smoking, and Los Angeles is moving in that direction. Long Beach's 2nd District Councilman Dan Baker said he wants a ban in this area as well, citing the extensive pollution problem cigarette butts create. "It's really a concern,' he said this week. In Seal Beach, Councilman Charles Antos, who represents the coastal 1st District, said he will hold off suggesting a new ordinance until Councilman-elect Ray Ybaben takes his seat next month. Cigarette smoking already has been restricted on the Seal Beach Pier, which had caught fire a couple of times. "I wouldn't have any objection to it and I'm a smoker,' Antos added. Both Antos and Baker said they also have concerns about Styrofoam debris on the beaches. Cigarette butts and Styrofoam cups are among the most trash items picked up by beach - cleaning volunteers. Baker said he wants to know how much the additional enforcement might cost, but said he would like to get the ban on the books by this summer. Los Angeles Times: Butting out Page 1 of 2 bos�a • littp: / /www.latimes.com/news /local /indvnews/ news/ la- hbi- smoking2Omay20 ,1,3432340.story ?coll =la- ten- indynews -news Butting out Councilman Gil Coerper is proposing a ban on smoking at city beaches. By Jenny Marder Independent May 20, 2004 First it was offices. Then bars and restaurants. Now Surf City is poised tojoin a growing number of cities that have banned smoking at beaches and piers. The City Council on Monday gave its preliminary approval to such a plan and asked staff members to draw up an ordinance. • If the ban is approved at a future council meeting, Huntington Beach will join the nonsmoking trend. Beach smoking bans have already been approved in Santa Monica, San Clemente, Los Angeles, Oceanside and most recently, Sydney, Australia. The controversial measure, proposed by Councilman Gil Coerper, will only apply to the 3.5 miles of city -owned beach, which stretches from Beach Boulevard to Seapoint Avenue. Coerper hopes the ordinance will reduce litter, ocean pollution and exposure to secondhand smoke. The proposal drew mixed reactions. Surf City resident and former council candidate Norm Westwell thinks the ban reduces civil liberties and fears it will deter smoking tourists from coming to Huntington Beach. "We should not ban smoking on the beach simply to persuade smokers not to smoke," Westwell said. "Littering is the problem and we already have laws that address littering. We don't need more laws, we need to address the laws we already have." People should have the freedom to smoke, just like they have the freedom to wear bad perfume and listen to country music, Westwell said. But Bruce Vancil, director of promotions for the American Cancer Society, argued that as a Class 1 carcinogen, smoking on the beach "isn't merely a matter of civil liberties for people who smoke, it's a matter of liberties for those who don't. • We need to keep this away from folks who do not wish to be exposed. We want to provide a healthier Los Angeles Times: Butting out recreational environment for our citizens." ra�c _ V, Since the Police Department lacks the resources to enforce the smoking ban, it would mostly be voluntary. "We obviously don't have staff to put on the beach to enforce this," Small said, adding that police would respond to complaint -based incidents. Cook, who opposed the measure, questioned whether a smoking ban was really the right way to solve the problem. Most cigarette butts in the sand come from inland storm drains, she said, and objects burned in the fire pits are far more hazardous than cigarette smoke. She also worried that without a method to enforce the ban, it would be selectively enforced. "We really don't have all the information we should have when we vote on things," Cook said. The initiative will help to curb exposure more than littering, said Councilwoman Connie Boardman, who backed the measure. "Smoking causes cancer and secondhand smoke makes people ill," she said. "It leads to heart disease and increases strokes and emphysema. I support the idea of trying to restrict the exposure of nonsmokers to a carcinogen." • JENNY MARDER covers City Hall. She can be reached at (714) 96.5 -7173 or by e-mail at jenny.marder@1atimes.com. • If you want other stories on this topic, search the Archives at latimes.comlarchives. D SItepriv Article licensing and reprint options Copyright 2004 Los Angeles Times L J The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com — Marjie Lundstrom: What's new on smoke -tree beat... This story is taken from Mariie Lundstrom at sacbee.com. Marjie Lundstrom: What's new on smoke -free beaches, fight over inmate ;0* By Marjie Lundstrom -- Bee Columnist - (Publisher! May 13, 2004) My desk and e-mail runneth over. And so I take time out today to update you on some recent columns you've asked a lot abouta-A GET A WHIFF OF THIS ... The move to ban smoking on California's public beaches is gaining so much momentum that supporters think our sandy stretches up and down the coast could soon go the way of restaurants. No butts about it. This week, the Malibu City Council piled onto this long overdue movement by giving its initial approval to a beach- smoking ban. The action follows similar bans by Santa Monica, which I • chronicled last month, and the city of Los Angeles - and sets up the prospect of 34 miles of smoke -free beaches. "If you'd asked me a year ago if we'd be looking at 34 miles of smoke -free coastline ... let's just say it would've been a dream," said Robert Berger, chairman of the Los Angeles County Smoke - Free Beach Task Force. "The fact that it's a reality is just remarkable. We came so fast, so quickly." So fast, in fact, that opponents have not been well- organized or effective. It's a classic California wave that's being closely watched statewide and even globally. Solana Beach near San Diego was first to hop aboard last year. With Santa Monica, Los Angeles and Malibu right behind, Berger says there's now interest in Marin County and in the South Bay of Los Angeles. And he recently had contact with tobacco prevention people in Hawaii, who have been "inspired by what's going on here in California." Still more interest is drifting out of Australia, China, Germany, England and Portugal, to name a few, he said. Now some of my readers, never shy, have griped mightily about governmental "intrusion" and the trampling of smokers' rights. Let's get real here. Alcohol isn't permitted on public beaches. Neither is nude sunbathing. The fact is, smokers are turning beaches (and streets and sidewalks and parks) into ashtrays - a matter especially grave on the coast, where marine life and children are exposed to the toxic litter of others' bad habits. • And, honestly, the idea of cigarette smoke, wafting on a cool ocean breeze - need I say more? THE ORANGE COUNTY RMI Oct. 26, 2003 • Solana Beach bans smoking on seashore San Diego County town is the first in the state to draw a line in the sand against smokers. By BERNIE WILSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SOLANA BEACH -This seaside town has a message for smok- ers who want to light up on the beach: Snuff those butts. Solana Beach, in northern "San Diego County, is in the process of banning smoking on the beach, the .first Cali- fornia city to do so. Los An- geles might not be far behind after a City Council member proposed a similar ban. "A lot of people think it's •the right thing to do," Mayor Tom Golich said. "No one has said it's not the right thing." The ban on Solana Beach's 1.4 miles of beaches, unani- mously supported by the five - member City Council, will take effect Nov 20. First -time offenders will face a $100 fine. But Golich hopes that by educating the public, enforcement won't be a problem. Solana Beach will be the first California city to ban smoking on the beach, accord- ing to the American Lung As- sociation. But it isn't estab- lishing the trend. The Honolulu City Council -has banned smoking on the beach at Hanauma Bay, and Sharon, Mass., banned smok- ing at the town's two public beaches. Some beaches in New Jersey also have smoke -free zones. The California Department *of Parks and Recreation, which manages beaches mak- ing up one - quarter of the state's coastline, has no such prohibition and no plans to im- plement one, spokesman Roy Stearns said. REED SAXON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TIDE TURNING: A child shares Venice Beach with a cigarette butt earlier this month. Following the lead set by Solana Beach, Los Angeles is considering a beach smoking ban. - There were few smokers at Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach on a recent sunny afternoon, but there was plenty of evi- dence that they hang out there and puff away. Cigarette butts littered the beach, the stairs from the parking lot and a bluff overlooking the surf. Travis Stevens, 26, on a break from his construction job, leaned over a fence atop the bluff and took the last few drags on a cigarette. He's op- posed to the smoking ban. "I don't see how it bothers anybody," Stevens said. "If you're not blowing it in any- body's face or anything, just minding your own business, I don't think it should be a prob- lem. I guess people feel like it is a problem. "But this, I'm against all this," he said, pointing to the butts littering the ground. "I don't understand how people can smoke and throw it on the beach like that." Nonsmokers are happy with the pending ban. "It's a great idea," said resi- dent Douglas Alden, 38. He and his 2- year -old son, Clin- ton, had the cove at Tide Park all to themselves on a recent Friday afternoon. "Even in a wide -open space like this, the smoke tends to travel," Alden said. He mentioned the butts, too. "While there are many people who do .pick up after themselves, there's many more who don't," Alden said. "Seeing the butts on the beach is not a great thing." Solana Beach's action was prompted by a group of high school students who asked first that the city declare Sep- tember a nonsmoking month on the beaches and at city parks, then asked for a perma- nent ban. "We could find no reason not to do it," Golich said. "We don't have that much beach here, anyway." During a recent cleanup, cigarette butts were the top item collected, Golich said. "Cigarette butts just do not break down. They're harmful to marine life, and children pick them up and do whatever with them," he said. "This was something worth going after." Christine Junge, 25, was on vacation from Boston but said she grew up in New York, where "everybody smokes there on the beaches." "I guess it's kind of nice not to have smoke around, espe- cially with all the kids running around," she said. "And it just seems like the place not to smoke. It's so natural." Inspired by Solana Beach's ban, Los Angeles City Council- man Jack Weiss recently in- troduced a motion that would ban smoking on all city beaches. And earlier this month, a group of students asked the San Clemente City Council to consider banning smoking on the beach and pier. Weiss' motion will be con- sidered in the next several weeks. He thinks it will pass. "I want to change people's attitudes about where it's so- cially acceptable to smoke," Weiss said. "A decade ago when it was first proposed that smoking be banned in restaurants, they said it couldn't and shouldn't be done. Look around today. You can't smoke in a restaurant, and the world hasn't stopped spinning." I* �J rage 1 of 1 Niederhaus, Dave From: Dona Colombero [colomberos @msn.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 1:30 PM To: dniederhaus @city.newport- beach.ca.us Subject: PB &R July 6 Commission Meeting Dear Dave: Have received E /Mails and phone calls from Cindy McNeish and others. I shall be at the meeting and look forward to seeing you there. This is so important to the entire Peninsula and the people who use the beach, the parks, the playing fields and many other facilities. Thanks for being able to try thinking out of the box. Best, Dona Colombero, 1003 E. Balboa Blvd. Phone: 949 - 673 -6372 07/06/2004 Why the need for a Smoke -Free Policy? . Environmental Damage ■ Cigarettes that are not thrown onto the Pier, are usually thrown over the side of the Pier. • Cigarettes are the number one source of beach litter, and the butts are not biodegradable. (2002, Ocean Conservancy) • Marine animals and seabirds commonly swallow discarded cigarette butts, which causes starvation or malnutrition if the cigarette butts block the intestinal tract. Ingested items may also block air passage, thereby causing death. • This has affected 177 species of marine animals and 111 different species of seabirds in 2002. (2003 UN International Maritime Organization) • Tobacco litter can also leach toxic substances into water and sediment, contaminating the food supply or directly killing small animals. (2003 UN International Maritime Organization) Newport Beach Water Quality • By adopting a smoke -free policy, it could help the success of the water quality. • Storm Water & Urban Runoff Pollution (SWURP) may have a serious impact on water quality in Orange County. • The mission of the Newport Beach Urban Runoff Management / Water Quality Program is to protect and preserve the community public health and • the environment through implementation of activities to reduce and eliminate urban runoff pollution from industrial, commercial, new development / construction, and residential areas that may enter the storm drainage system. • One of the goals is to provide continuous pollution prevention, public education and outreach to develop community awareness and environmental stewardship. • Pollutants from the storm drain system can harm marine life as well as coastal and wetland habitats. It can also degrade recreation areas such as beaches, harbors and bays. • The city has to follow state and federal regulations to keep storm water drains clean. (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) Public Policy is moving in a positive direction • AB 846: The new law, California Government Code, Sections 7596 -7598 prohibits smoking within 20 feet of a main entrance, exit and operable window of all public buildings in California, including state, county and city buildings as well as buildings on the campuses of the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges, effective January 1, 2004. • AB 188/1867: Health and Safety code section 104495, statewide smoke -free playgrounds law that prohibits smoking and disposing of cigarettes, cigar or other tobacco - related products within 25 feet of a playground or tot lot • sandbox area. (A designated play area for children.) Secondhand Smoke ■ • Group A Carcinogen - No safe level of exposure (EPA) ■ Especially dangerous to children and people with respiratory ailments (e.g. asthma) ■ Harmful outdoors, especially in crowded settings. Secondhand smoke is heavier than air, therefore the smoke swirls and the particles fall down, they don't disintegrate. ■ Secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart attack in people at risk of heart disease. As little as 30- minutes exposure can have a serious and lethal effect. (CDC) Fire Risk • In the last year, the city of Santa Monica's Harbor Patrol responded to 450 cigarette related fires on the pier, with 15 of them considered substantial fires, or fires that have caused physical damage to the pier. • There have been over 125 burn holes on the Santa Monica Pier caused by smoldering cigarettes that have been discarded by the piers visitors. (05/01/03) SMPRC Staff Report) • This could be a liability to the city. It is also the reason why Seal Beach and San Clemente pier have chosen to be smoke -free. • Santa Barbara Smoking- related fires on Stearns Wharf led to restricted smoking policy, may move to total ban in near future • Venice Beach Pier is completely smoke -free • ■ Redondo Beach Pier, 1988 a fire destroyed 34,000sq.ft. of the Pier. Fifteen businesses, representing 30% of the pier's total commercial activity were destroyed. Damage to the Pier totaled over $7 million. The lost rent and sales tax revenue to the City since the Pier was destroyed in 1988 are estimated at $200,0004250,000 annually. • Pier reconstruction was expected to be complete by fall 1994 /winter 1995. The Pier will be constructed from high strength concrete with chemically based anti- corrosion agents and specially coated reinforcing steel. • Lighting a cigarette or cigar would be an incendiary device. When someone takes a puff the heat rises to about 1100 degrees, normal burning would be above 300 degrees. With these temperatures class A fires can result from a burning cigarette. • The dried plants could catch fire from a discarded cigarette, which is an • ignition source. The trash and debris build -up contributes to the spread of an uncontrollable fire. • People do not discard of their cigarettes properly. • Number one cause of residential fires is smoking in bed. • Other Cities are taking action Seal Beach (smoke -free pier) San Clemente (Beach and Pier) • Solona Beach (First smoke -free beach in California) Los Angeles City (unanimously approved smoke -free beaches, include: Dockweiller, Cabrillo, Will Rogers, and Venice) Venice has smoke -free parks and pier Malibu (smoke -free beaches) Los Angeles County (Mother's Beach (Marina Del Rey) and Topanga) smoke -free beaches Santa Monica (no smoking permitted in parks, pier, beaches waiting lines and bus stops) Beverly Hills (no smoking permitted in parks) San Fernando (no smoking permitted in parks and recreation centers) Pasadena (no smoking permitted in parks) El Cajon (no smoking permitted in parks and recreational areas) El Monte (no smoking permitted in playgrounds and Tot Lots) La Puente (no smoking permitted in public places) Santa Barbara (restricted smoking policy on pier) Santa Cruz (Beach Boardwalk is a non - smoking and considering smoke -free beaches) The cities are considering smoking bans in parks and recreational areas: Hermosa Beach (Considering smoke -free beaches) Redondo Beach (Considering smoke -free beaches) Manhattan Beach (Considering smoke -free beaches) • Laguna Beach (Considering smoke -free beaches) Huntington Beach (Considering smoke -free beaches) Seal Beach (Considering smoke -free beaches) Other Outdoor Smoke -free Venues Disneyland Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles Zoo Dodger Stadium The Rose Bowl Edison Field Nonsmokers Rights According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 87% of the population in Orange County does not smoke. These people have the right to clean, healthy air and safety when enjoying their beach, pier and park experience. Public Support for Smoke -Free Policy • Surveys conducted in Newport Beach at the beach clean -up show that 57% would be in favor of smoke -free outdoors. N =70 • Surveys conducted at the beach and pier show 74% would be in favor of smoke -free outdoors. N =50 r 1 U Bars, Restaurants & Tourism • ■ Studies have shown that restaurant and bar business has actually increased since smoke -free policies went into effect in California. ■ Sales taxes from restaurants and bars in California rose to $35 million in 2000, up from $25 million in 1995. (2002 CA DHS report) ■ After bars and restaurants went smoke -free, 1996 was a banner year for tourism in California. (1996 CA Trade and Commerce Agency) ■ 96% of diners are eating out the same amount or more often as a result of New York's smoke -free restaurant law. Cost • Cities such as Solana Beach, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Venice Beach, Pasadena and Beverly Hills have found there to be no cost involved with implementing smoke -free ordinances aside from signage and installation. • Proper signage and wording has historically been followed in implementing an ordinance. Since people are familiar with California's smoking laws, enforcement has not been an issue. • Posting decals on existing signs would not be expensive. • The new playground law AB 188 allows violators to be subject to a fine of $250 for each violation of smoking. This would be revenue for the City of Newport Beach. • The total cost of smoking in California for 1999 (including both direct and indirect costs) is estimated to be $15.8 billion, which means $475 per California resident, or $3,333 per smoker. (The cost of smoking in California, • 1999, Sacramento, CA: California Department of Health Services, 2002.) Enforcement • Any peace officer, including park rangers, police officers and code enforcement can enforce this policy and give warnings or citations. Violators can be subject to a fine of $250 for each violation of smoking • Proper signage, public education and wording have historically been followed in implementing an ordinance. Since people are familiar with California's smoking laws, enforcement has not been an issue. With several outdoor recreational venues being smoke -free community members and visitors often know they are not allowed to smoke. • Cities such as Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and Solana Beach have an enforced policy in which violators are subject to a fine of $250 for each violation of smoking Public Education • Public Service Announcements for smoke -free beaches are currently airing on cable stations such as COX communications. • Earth Resource Foundation and Stop Tobacco Abuse from Minors Pronto (STAMP) in collaboration with the County of Orange, Tobacco Use Prevention Program is available to provide FREE tobacco and environmental education to the city of Newport Beach. • ■ The County of Orange, Tobacco Use Prevention Program provides FREE smoking cessation classes for adult and youth throughout the County for those wanted to quit smoking. • All Smoke -free signs posted in the city will have the smoking cession/quit smoking number 1- 866- New -Lung. • Direct mail pieces can be mailed out to the community. Education efforts can • be through local/community paper. Why Should Parks be Smoke -Free? For Kids Sake!! ■ Children model adult behavior • Children of parents who smoke have more colds, flus, ear infections and asthma. • Cigarette smoke has more than 4,000 chemicals in it • Cigarette butts are hazardous • Citing smokers in parks is a potential revenue to the city • It will give probable cause to officers to stop and question persons Prevention: • Cigarettes are the gateway drug (patients in rehabilitation facilities often say it is easier to quit drugs like heroin and methanphetamines than giving up cigarettes.) • Nicotine is a drug that is as addictive as cocaine and heroin. • If you don't start as a teen, chances are you'll never smoke. • More people die from tobacco - related illness than from AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined. • • Ja&W16, 2004 TO: PARKS, 13EAC}fES AND RECREATION COMMISSION CUy of Newpovt8eac3v i/ 1 1 I I ♦ • 1 I I r ♦ I 1, / • 1 • I R' ♦ I 1 I I • I • / I //• I ♦ • r I 1 I• / S ! I I • I I I I !'/ 1 I // i / ♦ R' i I I I ♦ / I I I r.•. r. • /1.a.f r ,I lll.1. • I I I' F ♦ i • I 1 / /I I I I I I ♦ 1 I' / I. ' / 1 I' / / 7'ha*tk yoww t4bNdv for hecwLti* m&.. I r •• I • 1 1 •• I 10 it •/ i I I I / I i Nmportbeadv • Ph~ 949 -673 -6372 t�rre, 15, 2004 •RE: Overgrown vegetation on Ocean Blvd. bluff parks in CDM Dear Parks Commission: I would like to bring your attention to several problems on the bluff top parks along Ocean Blvd. above Big Corona in Corona del Mar. With summer coming it's time to take corrective action now. I walk along the bluff almost daily and noticed the vegetation on Nz os properties has been allowed to become overgrown, thereby blocking public views of the ocean and beach. One major abuser_ is the house-located _directly adjacent to_ "Lookout Point" (where the telescope which was replaced by the ugly binoculars, used to be). This property (2735 Ocean ? ? ?) has numerous trees and bushes which severely impact one of the premiere ocean views in the entire region. There are two dead palm trees which are unsightly and potentially a fire hazard. This area is becoming a disgrace to the community. dsecond area of concern are the two properties located on Ocean, between Iris nd Heliotrope. There is a hedge which hides the houses, but which has been allowed to grow up over the years until it is close to five (5) feet high in places. This severely infringes on views of the ocean. I'm not positive, but I believe there is supposed to be a three foot limit on vegetation on the bluff. Excluding various landmark trees and ornamental plants (such as Roger McKinen'= dolphin topiaries) which should NOT be included in an abatement program, , iere are a few other plants and bushes along the bluff which need to be trimme i. They are readily apparent if you walk along the bluff. Most properties are nicely landscaped and are within reasonable limits of trading views for landscaping. For example, a couple of nicely trimmed trees slightly impact views, but are beautiful to look at - my concern is NOT with such impacts, but with the overgrown areas which substantially block public views. I don't know how you separate the two issues and be fair to all - but I would hope common sense would prevail: Issue # 2 - Conversion of Public Parkland to Private Control. wo properties with serious impact on the public bluff park are the two roperties located at: 2727 and 2723 Ocean. These properties have (apparently with City approval or failure to act) usurped large portions of the •public park land adjoining their houses for their private landscaping. This substantially increases the value of those properties at little or no cost to the owners - but at considerable loss in property values to other residents of Corona del Mar, and the public who are denied use of the their parkland. I have City plan maps which show public property extending approximately 30 -40 feet from the roadway toward the ocean. In other words almost to the actual walls of the cliff side homes. I brought this matter to the attention of the City several years ago. Nothing has been done, except business as usual, to the detriment of the public. Therefore I'm _bringing _it now to the Park Commission, in hopes you will choose to take action and protect the rights of the public. Please understand, it is with the greatest respect that I am bringing this matter of public park access before you for the benefit of the public, and that I must insist on the full, complete, and immediate return of all usurped parkland. .he underbrush and plantings need to be cleared out and replaced with grass at the public could use. In fact the public used to be able to use these grassy areas - back when they were grass instead of sticker bushes. Properly landscaped there would be room for park benches where people could enjoy the shade of the mighty palm trees in the park while overlooking the ocean. I'm sure you will recall the media bru -ha -ha last summer over the issue of public, and especially minority, access to grassy areas of CDM beach parks. It is my hope that this matter can be handled without public fanfare. I only mention this to remind the Commission of the overwhelming public support for the positions I've outlined above. I think you will agree with me that it is your responsibility to protect the public from the predatory self interest actions of two extremely wealthy landowners who wish to exclude us from our land for their own privacy and personal profit. Lookout Point Palm Trees are Dying: The landmark palm trees at Lookout Point are dying. I would like the commission to please look into replacing these beautiful and majestic tress with milar mature palms - NOT the spindly King palms that this City seems to be so fond of. *Lookout Point is the premiere ocean view park between Palos Verdes and Point Loma. 1 don't know what mature trees cost, but such an investment would be worthwhile to the City. I understand the present trees have the lethal yellowing disease which affects such trees - and replacement trees could eventually contract the same disease. However I understand it takes many years to kill a new tree and I believe the public value would be worth the expense of replacing them every ten years or so if necessary. Perhaps the Visitors Bureau or Chamber could share in the costs. In addition the pine trees at Big Corona have grown over the years and they now block a substantial-part of the view from the bluff at Lookout Point. While I prefer to leave trees alone, this is a situation where they have out lived their benefit and they need to be replaced with something less intrusive. In addition the pine needles destroy the grass underneath the trees. The natural damage coupled with overuse of the picnic area by the public has •resulted in the grass area having to be replanted yearly. These trees should be replaced as part of the Big Corona redevelopment plan. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. I would appreciate a report on what action(s) you choose to take on each matter. Robert Walchli P.O. Box 603 Corona del Mar, Ca 92625 949 - 675 -0951 Thank you. 0 hujhPS rt i rf6 &100 VI-76W. March 18, 2004 Photo Page Reference Photo 17: Grass belt next door to 2723 Ocean Blvd. (2719 ?) - this area which is now planted with sticker bushes used to be a public area. The grass sloped down to the lower plantings and people could lean back against the slope and view the boats in the harbor below. There was a bench where people could sit and watch the ocean. This premiere public park land was apparently turned over to the private landowner over 10 years ago. It should be recovered. Photo 18: Bluff grass belt on North side of 2723 Ocean Blvd. Shows where the grass was removed to allow sticker bushes to be planted by the property owner next to the hedge_ to_keep_people_from using the-public land to look over the hedge into his driveway area - and the ocean beyond. Photo 19: 2nd view of above showing approx. 3-4 foot encroachment into what was formerly public grass area. This planting has reduced the public park area by about 15 - 20 %. Photos 22 - 23: Public park area between 2727 and 2723 Ocean Blvd. Approximately 50% of the usable public park has been usurped by the landowners with apparent city approval - they have replaced what was once public grass area with sticker bushes and agave plants. This border keeps the public away from their properties - and denies use of the public park. Further down Ocean between Iris and Poppy there are numerous properties where the public property directly adjoins the houses - and the public is allowed access to the public park areas. The area between 2727 and 2723 should be abated and returned to maximize public grass access. Photo 26: View of Hamilton's house at 2735 ( ?) Ocean. Showing Properl trimmed plants which screen the property but MINIMIZE IMPACT to the public view. The Hamilton's are long time residents and maintain their property to provide maximum public view access unlike their next door neighbor to the South in the photos below. Photos 27 -28 - 29- 30 - 31 - 32: View of the property adjoining Lookout Point - I'm not sure of the address. This property is seriously overgrown and the brush W IEeriously impacts Newport Beach's PREMIER VIEW and one of the PREMIERE WS OF THE ENTIRE SO. CA. COAST! There is a dead palm tree. The entire property is seriously in need of immediate abatement and may be afire •hazard. Photo 32: This group of trees and bushes is growing up into the public views from Lookout Point and will eventually destroy a major portion of the public ocean view. Some of this brush may be on CITY property. Photos 33 - 34: PINE TREES AT BIG CORONA: These two photos show the impact the pine trees in the park at Big Corona are having on the public ocean and beach views. You used to be able to see the beach from Lookout Point - now you not only can't see the beach from many locations, but even the ocean view is impacted. The Pine trees need to be removed and replanted with trees which will provide SHADE in the park, but not impact the bluff views. Photo 35: Property on Ocean Blvd. between Heliotrope and Iris showing the hedge which has been allowed over the years to grow up to where it completely covers much of the ocean view. In places this hedge is about 5 feet high. It needs to be trimmed back to a uniform 3 foot height - as it is on the far ends. It will still screen the roof lines of the houses - but not impact the public ocean views from the street and sidewalk. Ohoto 36: Sidewalk at Marguerite and Ocean Blvd. This is an overgrown and non - maintained property. This sticker hedge has been allowed to grow to approximately 6 feet and covers a substantial portion of the sidewalk - restricting public access and creating a safety hazard with the sharp stickers. have witnesses several people snag clothing and arms on the stickers. This entire bush should be removed. And in fact - the public sidewalk used to be routed on the ocean side of this bush and curved along Ocean Blvd. in a green belt / park like setting. About 20 years ago former Mayor Phil Sansone sanctioned the landowners request to take over the public park area and move the sidewalk next to the street. How much value does it add to the properties when public property is converted to the private use of the landowners for front yards and or eventual building zones. These views and public park land belong to the Public and need to be recovered and the publics rights upheld. And future maintenance needs to 6sure these properties continue to conform to requirements. DSC'N1203J • • a y a G• � � � � pxi p�^ o � � a• � � m p� w m O' '��'1 � 7 ym m °'v,nGnn �C��ao�.0 0m cq �. °'°,"wrryo�' maao' ,o.mia <ro d e1' o dam o� nF.� ct m ° d p p o �� w p" �, p• m ^y 1y � Z R1 s � o O j G r w r r w y O. fo O M 11. .°y w C .s N c 7 n u � mmf. w. tD off' O m Pi n m 0 n mNaan, o'a � np, °o r) (D �T \V 0 W � . L !D ro � F O ^ R R 1° O O � z m z 0 7 rn D Z m m ... � Z R1 ti April 14, 2004 *Addendum to Lookout Point Palm Trees In addition to the dying palm trees at Lookout Point itself I've noticed the group of truly majestic palms located in the "mini- park" between 2727 and 2735 Ocean (where the residents have planted sections of usable park space) are also dying. I don't expect them to survive the year. This will be a TERRIBLE loss to the Corona del Mar community. These palms are perhaps among the most majestic and often photographed trees and view point areas in the City, perhaps the whole LA basin. My suggestion is that the City budget money immediately for replacement of these trees with similar mature trees - NOT planting a 4 foot high starter tree and waiting a lifetime for it to grow. You need to emulate a real estate developer and buy trees that are already 25 -30 feet tall - that will provide shade and visual impact comparable with the existing palms. ven better would be a complete redesign and replanting of the entire park to better serve the growing need for public space. New trees could be planted and the existing vegetation replaced with grass - with a low hedge around the border to screen the adjoining homes. Yes I understand it may be a considerable expense but this view area is a substantial asset to the City and residents of CDM. I believe it is very important that this issue be addressed as soon as possible to enable sufficient time for replacement planning. appreciate your assistance in this matter. Please keep me informed as to any progress or lack thereof. 4 2,o g ups ; Thank you, Robert Walchli 49- 675 -0951 e -mail: PhotoTrackerPro @Yahoo.com 6rv,F ©r gD l"Vd- "4"1 'f4-fL001 —A lv 1gE11?0Y6;1!9 7-0.014V Mz�:_ /.S fS zr77..,T_ . " 1'. S �rte' i 'X =� �f.'�i NF i'. a. ✓' v i` x � `�� ,.y , April 14, 2004 *Addendum to Overgrown plants In addition to the previous pages on this subject I noticed several homes down by the Little Corona access ramp in the 3600 -3900 blocks have plants which are impacting public views and access. A visual inspection of the area will more clearly show the offending bushes. 3235 Ocean: Listed before but I also noticed they and the adjoining property have ice plant and ivy which has grown over onto the sidewalk - thereby reducing the width of the walk by perhaps 20 %. I don't mean to "nitpick" here, but with the growing crowds I think we need as much usable space as possible. Ocean (I think): This is the last house on Ocean next to the ramp to Little Corona. There are several plants which are growing up into the view and need trimming - these may be on City property. 03725 Ocean (I think): This is a non - maintained property. I think it may be slated for tearing down soon. Meanwhile it is substantially overgrown and needs abatement. PHOTO: This tree is next to the first house above the Big Corona ramp. It may actually be on City land. The problem here is not height but width. While it partially screens the adjoining house (Roger McKinens) - and that part should be allowed to remain - it is also growing out into the view down coast and will soon block views of "Arch Rock" and the tide pool areas to the south. 0