Stand-up paddleboard restrictions remain

The Laguna Beach City Council voted unanimously to extend a new ordinance regulating commercial stand-up paddleboard operations at city beaches into next year, although questions about the new regulations’ effectiveness remain after a test run this summer.

The council approved the ordinance in May after concerns about beach safety were raised, and heard an update at Tuesday’s council meeting from representatives of the Community Services and Marine Safety departments. Several local stand-up paddleboard business operators also offered perspectives in public comments.

The ordinance requires the businesses that offer stand-up paddleboard instruction to register with the city and pay a $150 license fee with a yearly renewal cost of $100. Regulations call for a mandatory orientation for business operators, limitation on instruction class sizes, and proof of liability insurance in addition to a standard business license.

A July 3 deadline to submit complete paperwork was met by only one of eight operators applying for the license. The deadline was extended to Aug. 1, when all eight applicants reached compliance.

The length of the remaining season and heavy surf in August impeded further assessment of the new regulations, according to city recreation supervisor Kristin Buhagiar.

“We basically had a short time to enforce the ordinance,” Buhagiar said. “In general, we think the regulations have been beneficial in providing an additional tool to promote safety.”

“I think we’ve improved over last year by having that mandatory orientation with Marine Safety,” said Deputy City Manager Ben Siegel, adding the commercial operators, “have responded by improving their staffs’ knowledge of potentially hazardous safety issues.”

A discussion among council members concerning public safety, liability, compliance and potentially limiting the hours for commercial stand-up paddleboard classes was met with feedback from several business operators.

“As far as limiting the hours for the lessons, I gotta disagree with that,” said Rod Greenup, owner of Costa Azul Surf N’ Paddle. Greenup noted the restriction wouldn’t prevent board renters from going out on the water, only instructors, creating the potential for harm.

“Now you got a problem because they don’t have an instructor there,” Greenup said.

“It’s our jobs to protect the people we take out,” echoed David Berkman, who is opening Sea Legs Surf Shop. “That should help the lifeguards do their jobs better. If we just keep going forward to that goal, we’ll all profit and just be one big happy family.”

The staff assessment noted six citations were issued for violations of the ordinance this summer, along with four written warnings, 30 to 40 verbal warnings and several parking citations.

“The ordinance in itself is hard to enforce, other than [among] our few businesses,” noted Erin O’Malley, who operates mobile business Sunset Paddle. “A lot of surrounding areas and stand-up paddle businesses come and launch here all the time and do business, and local semi-professionals too.”

The system relies on color-coded arm or wrist bands identifying licensed operators. Councilwoman Toni Iseman called on staff for a more comprehensive measure to weed out those operating without a proper license.

“I just don’t think it’s fair to the people who follow the rules,” Iseman said.

In moving for a vote, Mayor Elizabeth Pearson asked staff to refine the standards for revoking an operator’s license if infractions occur. The panel requested an update in July 2015 with a full report in October next year.

In other action, the council voted unanimously to rescind a resolution offering lifetime shopper’s permits to past, present and future council members.

Pearson moved to reconsider the measure, which passed 3 to 2 in August. The mayor questioned whether the general negative perception after the fact is worth the intended sentiment.

“I thought it was just a nice thing to do, for people who work for a nickel an hour for years and years and years, as a parting thank you to City Council members for their service,” said Pearson.

The permits were estimated to cost the city about $1,200 per year for around 30 past and present members of the council. Residents pay about $80 for a two-year permit, which grants certain parking relief.

Council members voted unanimously to reconsider the measure before unanimously voting to rescind it.

Retired council members who have already received the permits will be allowed to keep them until expiration in 2016.