SR-308-005 (3)
'1E
F: \atty\m u n i\strpts \m j m \beach perm its. doc
City Council Meeting 6-8-04
JUN 0 8 2004
Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Emergency Ordinance Adding Section 4.08.025 to the Santa Monica
Municipal Code Requiring Permits for Large Group Use of Santa Monica
Beaches for Water Activities and Amending Section 4.08.020 to Update
and Clarify Its Provisions
Introduction
The attached emergency ordinance would create and require a beach and water activity
permit for children's groups similar to permits already required by Los Angeles County.
The Ordinance would also amend and clarify a Municipal Code section relating to
lifeguards' authority. The ordinance is intended to preserve safety and is presented to
the City Council for adoption.
Background
Los Angeles County lifeguards maintain water safety at the beach in Santa Monica.
Municipal Code Section 4.08.020, adopted in 1974, gives lifeguards authority to
preserve water safety. Recently, Los Angeles County representatives expressed
concern that group use of the beach by children's camps, clubs, schools, churches, and
other groups, may threaten water safety. If two or more groups use the same area of
the beach at the same time, lifeguards may have difficulty keeping everyone safe.
7E
1
JUN 0 8 2004
Los Angeles County addresses this concern through a permitting system for beach and
water use by organized groups. County lifeguards have asked the City to promptly
establish a similar permitting system. Their request for prompt action is based on the
fact that increasing numbers of large groups are coming to Santa Monica because
demand has made it difficult to get beach use permits in Los Angeles.
Discussion
The attached proposed emergency ordinance would establish a permit requirement for
camps, clubs, schools, churches, and other organized children's groups using the
beach for water activities. A permit would allow use in a designated area. Designations
would be based on current use patterns, surf and water conditions, and the availability
of lifeguard personnel. The Open Space Management Division of the Community and
Cultural Services Department would issue the permits on a first come, first served basis
for specified areas of the beach. A draft of the proposed permit application form is
attached.
Groups larger than 150 people would be required to obtain a Community Events Permit
and would not need a beach/water activity permit. As in Los Angeles, groups without
permits would be asked by lifeguards to relocate to another area of the beach or to
return when the beach is less crowded. Los Angeles reports that enforcement of their
permitting system is not a problem and that lifeguards are uniformly successful in
attaining voluntary compliance. If the ordinance is adopted, signage will be posted to
inform the public of the permit requirement and groups that frequently use the beach will
be notified.
2
The proposed ordinance would also update and clarify Municipal Code Section 4.08.020
to reflect the facts that some lifeguards are female and to clarify that lifeguards are
empowered to preserve water and beach safety.
The ordinance is being presented as an emergency ordinance so that the permitting
system, which will help lifeguards preserve water safety, can be in place before the start
of the busy summer beach season.
Financial/Budqet Impact
The proposed ordinance would have minimal impact. The City could charge a fee to
defray the cost of processing permit applications.
Recommendation
It is respectfully recommended that the accompanying emergency ordinance be
adopted.
PREPARED BY: Marsha Jones Moutrie, City Attorney
Barbara Stinchfield, Director of Community and Cultural Services
Elaine Polachek, Open Space Manager
Trinie Garcia-Valdez, Community Use Administrator
ATTACHMENT: Proposed, Emergency Ordinance
Permit Application
3
SEE ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 2125 (CCS)
e .....
J
Date Received
Staff Initials
Santa Monica State Beach
Application for Beach/Water Activity Permit
City of
SaDta Monica'"
Dept. of Community & Cultural Services / Open Space Management Division
2600 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: (310) 458-8974 Fax: (310) 399-6984
. A BeachlWater Activity Permit is required only if your group includes 20 children or more
(17 years and younger) who will be entering the ocean. Permits are issued for Monday-Friday
only excluding holidays.
. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first serve basis and must be submitted a minimum of
2 weeks, but not more than 1 year, in advance of activity.
. Swim sites can accommodate a maximum of 100 participants; surf sites can accommodate a
maximum of 50 participants.
. Please see back of this form for details on requirements, available sites, parking and general
rules.
_1.._1-
ION-SITE CONTACT:
ORGANIZATION:
CELL PHONE:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
ZIP:
DAY PHONE:
FAX:
EMAIL:
CIRCLE ONE:
SURF CAMP (Beginners)
SURF CAMP (Experienced)
DAY CAMP
PRIVATE SCHOOL
PUBLIC SCHOOL
NON-PROFIT STATUS: YES
NO (If yes, attach a copy of 501 (c)3 letter)
."._"1:11" (Available sites listed on back of this form).
DAY CAMPS/SCHOOLS: 1 ST CHOICE: TOWER #:
2ND CHOICE: TOWER #
SURF CAMPS: Site will be assigned.
DATE(S) REQUESTED:
ARRIVAL TIME:
DAY(S) OF WEEK:
AM/PM
DEPARTURE TIME:
AM/PM
TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY:
SIGNATURE:
DATE:
1.1:..-
Approved certification form on file
Permit granted by:
Date:
IT'T::WJIII.IlII"jlll'T'tilll.[ISl.......*........
,,_JllIlJ_._..~!l,~.~I&l..,..., ~
. A Beach/Water Activity Permit is required only if your group includes 20 children or more
. (17 years and younger) who will be entering the ocean. Permits are issued for Monday-Friday
only excluding holidays.
. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first serve basis and must be submitted a minimum of
2 weeks, but not more than 1 year, in advance of activity. Once an area is full, no additional
permits will be issued for that area.
. Applications will be reviewed by the Open Space Management Division and Los Angeles County
Lifeguard Division. Allow 2 weeks from receipt of completed application for processing.
11II1111"1II...II_dllll
. General Liability Insurance coverage is required. An insurance certificate must be obtained in the
amount of one million dollars worth of general liability coverage, naming the City of Santa Monica
as an additional insured (original required). If school district is self-insured, a letter from the
District will be acceptable.
. A Hold Harmless and Indemnification Agreement is required.
. A Participant Release Form may be required. Permittee must require each participant in any
athletic event undertaken in connection with this permit, to execute a written City-approved
"Release of Liability" form. Permittee must retain each release form for a period of not less than
one year after the event.
. Non-Profit camps must provide a copy of IRS 501 (c)3 Status Letter.
~'l~~B.'~I".I'jJl!.'iil.'l.J'" jfA.%i:iJl-A.'l1rltlll~~..;~I'%.';1: !S:'1iTiSmiilitl-. i-d. "iii-jETI..'
__..~_~_=_.~.,..~._M.L______
. NOTE: Number of participants allowed is based on the maximum number that the Los Angeles
County Lifeguard Division can SAFELY handle.
. SURF CAMPS: Surf camps with permits may be assigned to Tower 25 (2600 block of Barnard
Way-south of the SM Pier) with a maximum of 50 surfers or to Tower 6 (500 block of PCH) with a
maximum of 50 surfers.
. Los Angeles County Lifeguard Division recommends a ratio of instructors to surfers (in water) of 5
to 1 and no greater than 7 to 1.
. DAY CAMPS: Day Camps with permits may be assigned to the following towers with a maximum
of 100 participants per tower.
o Tower 4 (400 block of PCH, north of the SM Pier)
o Tower 6 (500 block of PCH, north of the SM Pier)
o Tower 10 (900 block of PCH, north of the SM Pier)
o Tower 17 (2000 block of Barnard Way, south of the SM Pier)
. Los Angeles County Lifeguard Division recommends a ratio of children to teachers/counselors of
15 to 1 and no greater than 20 to 1.
lIllil.~'II:.qlf1I,I,1111111I
. Permittee is to maintain area clean of trash. Permittee is required to remove camp-generated
trash and place in trash receptacles before leaving the area.
. No alcohol is permitted on the beach or in a beach parking lot.
. No glass containers are permitted on the beach.
. No smoking, fire or cooking allowed on the beach.
. No dogs permitted on the beach or beach parking lot.
. No tents or temporary enclosures are permitted. Canopies must be no larger than 400 sq. ft.
. No drums or percussion instruments are permitted on the beach.
. Portable boomboxes are permitted. Please be courteous to neighbors.
. Small signs/banners are allowed to identify the location of the camp/school only.
. Parking: Authorized public school buses may park at a discounted rate of $10.00 in the 1550 lot
(north of SM Pier). If space is not available, buses can park for FREE in the lots south of Pier
(2030 & 2600 Barnard Way). The request for parking discount must be submitted in advance on
official school letterhead indicating number of buses, arrival dates and times. Fax request to:
Open Space Management Division at (310) 399-6984. All other groups must pay applicable
parking rate upon entry.
. Lifeguards have the authority and discretion to relocate the camp location due to hazardous
beach or surf conditions.
. Each camp must have a cell phone on the beach during operational hours. Cell phone number
will be on file with the Los Angeles County Lifeguards Headquarters for emergency contact only.
. Each camp must have a first aid kit with supplies mandated by Lifeguards.