SR-802-009 (2)
City Council Meeting 7-22-03 Santa Monica, CA
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Resolution Establishing Additional Temporary Locations for Performers on
the Pier
Introduction
At its meeting of April 22, 2003, the City Council directed staff to evaluate whether
additional performance locations could be designated on the Santa Monica Pier without
impairing the safe flow of pedestrian traffic and emergency ingress and egress. If
additional locations could be designated, then legal staff should prepare the legal
documentation necessary to make those spaces available for performers this summer.
This staff report and the accompanying proposed resolution respond to those directives.
Background
The Pier is an unusual public space with limited ingress and egress which attracts very
large crowds, particularly during summer months and other periods of warm weather.
During these times, pedestrian traffic can be severely obstructed and emergency
ingress and egress can be impaired, particularly in the Pier?s Center Performance Area.
The current regulatory system, which is established by City ordinances and Council
resolutions, addresses these risks in various ways including restricting performance to
specified zones, specifying specific locations within those zones for both performers and
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vending carts, and establishing spacing requirements. Any modification to this
regulatory system must ensure that public safety is maintained on the Pier. This means
that the free flow of pedestrian traffic must be protected and that safety personnel and
emergency equipment must have easy access to all areas of the Pier.
Discussion
Pursuant to the Council?s directive, safety personnel and others have evaluated the
potential for additional performance locations on the Pier. Specifically, five possible
locations along the handrail west (seaward) of Pacific Park and two other locations (one
in front of the former Boathouse Restaurant and one in front of the vacant space west of
the Arcade) were assessed.
Based upon this assessment, staff proposes that six new locations be added on a trial
basis this summer. Five of those locations would be along the handrail west of Pacific
Park. That location could accommodate five performances so long as performers stay
within five feet of the railing. That restriction would ensure that the fire lane west of
Pacific Park remains open and available to emergency vehicles.
The sixth potential location is in front of the former Boathouse Restaurant, near the
center of the Boathouse facade and behind the existing metal stanchions which have
been installed to prevent vehicle damage to the structure. The particular features of this
location would ensure that a performer could work in a very busy area without impairing
the free flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
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A seventh location, in front of the middle of chain link fence which is east (landward) of
Pacific Park was also considered. However, because this area is often extremely
crowded and because performers already work diagonally opposite this site, safety
personnel have determined that using this particular location for performance would
create undue safety risks.
Staff presented these recommendations to the Pier Restoration Commission (PRC) on
July 2, 2003. The PRC voted unanimously to support this proposal.
The attached proposed resolution would make the six potential sites available to
performers this summer on a trial basis. It would expire on October 1, 2003. This trial
period will allow safety personnel the opportunity to assess whether the addition of
these new sites is consistent with the City?s need to preserve public safety through the
maintenance of the free flow of pedestrian traffic and the protection of emergency
ingress and egress. Staff will report back to Council after the trial period has concluded.
A map is attached to the resolution which designates the new performance areas. In
order to help Pier performers comply with spacing requirements, staff proposes to place
marks within the new areas if the attached resolution is approved.
Financial/Budget Impact
No direct financial impact is anticipated.
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Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council adopt the attached resolution establishing six
additional Pier performer locations on a trial basis.
Prepared by: Jim Hone, Fire Marshal
Marsha Jones Moutrie, City Attorney
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