OB Surf Camps Request for Extended Hours Meets Opposition

First outside meeting of the OBTC?

Report of OBTC Meeting of Sept. 23rd

In an historic first – probably – the Ocean Beach Town Council held their monthly public meeting outside. Due to some kind of alarm problem at their usual venue – the Masonic Center – which made it impossible to meet inside, the Town Council met right outside using the blare of lights to illuminate their goings-on. Sixty audience members joined the ten or so OBTC board members.

It was a nice change – as it was quiet comfortable outside in the Masonic’s parking lot – inside would have been hot. It also made it almost impossible to read the agenda handed out.

Audience at outside OBTC meeting – some are trying to read the agendas.

Another reason the meeting was memorable, it had some contention with the last item on the agenda – the request by surf camps in OB to extend their hours. Admidst the usual reports from politicos’ reps and the more common agenda items – the issue of the surf camps drew some vocal opposition from local surfers, and an at time heated debate occurred between the surfers, their supporters and the surf camp managers and their seemingly lifeguard supporter.

(Editor Side note: why the OBTC places the community issues at the end of the agenda is beyond us. By time the long meetings roll around to important subjects, people are tired and many have already left the meeting.)

Proposal to Extend Surf Camp Hours

OB has two privately-run surf camps who use the sand and water at the foot of Newport Avenue. A San Diego city lifeguard manager – Lt. Garlen (sp?) presented the proposal to the Town Council and the community at large to allow the camps to extend their afternoon hours.

Some background: there was an RFP (request for proposal) process that occurred between the city and the surf camp concessionaires. The Real Estate Assets department of the city determined the location and signed the MOUs (memorandum of understanding) with the camps that outlined the rules of operation. Hours of operation, etc are set in the MOU.

The lifeguards, we were told, are the enforcement branch of the MOU and the liaison with the concessionaires. “As a good partner”, the lifeguards often represent the surf camps. They were there that night to shepard the surf camps through the community process of approval.

Now the surf camps wanted extra hours on water time, and extend their lease of the beach from 4 to 5pm, another hour.

The lifeguards have no issue with the hours, no extra lifeguard service would be necessary as the camps “run safe operations” and any extension will not affect lifeguard hours. “We’re not here to sell it, but we think it’s a good idea.”

Andy of the San Diego Surf Camp spoke first from the surf camp reps. He explained that they want to expand their after school program. They have 6 kids with 2 instructors, he said – and always maintain that ratio of 3 to 1. “These are local kids,” he added, and the parents have requested additional hours so they don’t have to rush from school or work.

The audience was invited to comment or ask questions. One point that was made was that the operation agreements allow 25 students per school per session. “That’s 50 students in one session,” the commenter concluded.

Another person complained of the large, over-sized truck that one of the schools uses – and the parking spaces it takes up at the lifeguard parking lot.  Another person suggested the schools – or camps – move to Dog Beach.

The rep of the 2nd camp spoke to the audience – from Pacific School Surf School – they’re in PB as well as OB. Someone pointed out that the location of the camps are chosen by the City’s Real Estate Assets. He also stated that expanded hours helps locals, as that’s whom they teach.

More comments from the audience:

• it’s a very small surf area – and the 2 schools take up valuable space and water;
• the space the camps use is the only legal surf area close to the OB Pier;
• there are 2 camps;
• the truck is over-sized;
• they take up the prime spot at the beach all day;
• it’s a horrible deal;
• camps should move to Dog Beach – it’s an easier surf break and there’s more space;
• the schools were using rope to measure out their space – then asked by lifeguards to remove the rope;
• one surfer who complained claimed he was physically threatened by surf instructors;
• another complained that he hadn’t seen very good surf etiquette out in the water with the students and/or instructors;
• one said “it’s not a school!” in the traditional sense, as up to 10 to 15 kids are left on their own in the surf, creating hazards for other surfers.

This reporter had a question: if the MOU can be amended to change the hours, why can’t the MOU be amended to have the camps moved to Dog Beach? No one really had an answer.

“The issue,” I continued, “is the private use for private profit of a public beach and public water.”

I also added: “It’s highly inappropriate for the lifeguards to be pushing this issue.”

Someone else in the audience made this point: “It’s a safety issue to have the schools have more people in the surf during the busiest times – after work and after school.”

OBTC President Gretchen Newsom asked the camps’ reps if they were open to move to Dog Beach? Without really getting any resolve, Newsom admitted that there are lots of questions but asked the audience via a quick hand vote whether they approved the extended hours. The vote was close in rejecting the expanded hours, but as one observer noted, the half dozen surf camps reps and employees and the lifeguards also voted.

It’s unclear if the issue will return to the OBTC in October or not.

In other news …

New Flight Path Being Considered by FAA

A new flight path for the jets landing and taking off at Lindbergh is being seriously considered by the FAA. They’re looking for public comments and the deadline for those comments is October 8th. The new paths will be implemented supposedly in November 2016. Someone in the audience mentioned that there is a petition at change.org against the new paths, and that they claimed 1500 had already signed it. Conrad Wear of Zapf’s office assured OBceans that the changes wouldn’t affect OB. He did add that the Peninsula planning committee has been active on the issue.

OBTC Treasury Bulges

Treasurer Donna Zoll, in probably her last appearance as a board member, announced that the OBTC currently has $37,153 in their bank account.

Orchard Cave

The city will finalize its analysis of the cave and the repairs by October 2nd. The contractor selected will basically crack the concrete covering and leave it as it is. Wear of Zapf’s office said construction will be during the week of October 12th.

Lifeguard Stats for August

Here are the statistics from the lifeguards – as read off by Sgt Lonny Stevens:

• 238,100 crowd count
• 8,282 preventive acts
• 194 water rescues;
• 93 medical assists;
• 1 cliff rescue;
• 4 lost and found kids;

The Arch Crack-down

The lifeguard reps at the meeting also reported the crack-down at The Arch – where they joined a task force with SDPD created just for Labor Day. So, over that 3 day weekend, they observed 800 visitors to the Arch on just one day and prevented 600 from jumping off the popular but dangerous spot. That was on Saturday. On Sunday, there were 600 visitors and 700 on that Monday. On Monday, they also had 20 rescues.

Simulated Airplane Rescue Off OB

Lifeguard reps also announced that 2 member of the current OBTC Board, Donna Zoll and Trudy Levenson, will be observers at a much-ballyhooed trial mock airplane  rescue planned off the coast of OB. They will have a hundred people in the water during the simulated rescue – Zoll and Levenson will be observers only. This will all come down Wednesday morning around 9 am on Sept. 30th.

Zapf’s Office Looking for Vacation Rental Solutions

The Committee of Planning Committees voted against the city’s proposed ordinance to deal with the issue of short term vacation rentals. Their rejection still allowed home-sharing. If you have a solution, send it to Zapf’s office via email.

DECCO Bikes

The firm will be opening up another DECCO Bikes stand at Sunset Cliffs and Newport Avenue.

Sunset Parks Ranger(s)

They should be up and on board by mid-October, says Conrad Wear.

Red-Strip Parking Placard for Police Sgt

The OBTC gave SDPD Sgt Sal a parking placard with the OBTC seal of approval that allows him – as far as they are concerned – to park in the red zones as he walks around the community. We were told that people actually “hassle” the cop when he’s parked his cruiser in the red.

OB Library AC Coming

It was announced that air-conditioning for the OB Library – the only library in the entire city system without AC – will be arriving in “a week” – around the time of the simulate airplane rescue.

OBTC Election Results Announced

(See our earlier post.)

Editor: I apologize for issues or subjects not covered and for not knowing names of people who spoke, but it was somewhat difficult to hear way in the back of the crowd.