Mayor to ask for beach curfew

Mayor Kelly Boyd would like to curtail late night carousing on beaches abutting residential neighborhoods in Laguna Beach. Boyd will ask the council at Tuesday’s meeting to direct city staff to come up with a city-wide curfew for all the small coves that are impacted by late night activity on the beaches.

“I originally just included North Laguna beaches where residents had complained to me, but people at the at the dedication of the Brooks Street stairs spoke to me about kids drinking and partying on the beach in the south end of town, so maybe I’ll go ahead and include all the small coves next to residential neighborhoods,” Boyd said.

The city has a curfew for minors on the books. They must be off public streets, alleys, playgrounds, vacant lots or other unsupervised places — including but not limited to parks, beaches and other areas to which the public has access- — from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next morning.

Exceptions include teens accompanied by a responsible adult or those on their way home from work or an organized activity such as a school dance.

Boyd’s request for a curfew on North Laguna’s beaches was prompted, he said, by the excessive noise and drinking, bonfires, altercations and other incidents endured by residents.

“The council should direct staff to return with a proposal that would provide relief to our residents from the anti-social behavior that occurs on these residentially fringed beaches,” according to the agenda item sponsored by Boyd.

However, unless specifically crafted with exceptions, crafted with loopholes, the curfew would also prohibit late night walks on the beaches, night diving and other non-raucous activities — including beach use by the residents.

“The council is not compelled to make an all-or-nothing curfew, but it must made on an even-handed basis,” City Attorney Philip Kohn said. “They could not allow just neighbors to use the beaches.”

Boyd’s proposal for a curfew comes on the heels of the City Council’s unanimous approval at the June 16 meeting of a ban on alcohol consumption on specified parks without a permit, prompted city officials said by a dramatic increase in alcohol-related incident. There have been 50 reported and an undocumented number of other incidents since December of 2008, according to Assistant City Manager John Pietig’s presentation to the council in support of the proposed restrictions.

December is the month that the city repealed its anti-camping statute after the American Civil Liberties filed a law suit against the city on behalf of homeless, who allegedly were targeted by the statute. City officials said they had not taken the law suit into consideration when crafting the ban on un-permitted alcohol in the parks.

Both the restrictions and the curfew fly against long-time traditions enjoyed by residents and visitors to Laguna.

“As a former police officer in Laguna, I can tell you that once a law is on the books, people expect it to be enforced and that is going to keep the department very busy,” said retired Capt. Danell Adams, a 35-year veteran.

However, Adams said, owners of million dollar oceanfront properties or visitors paying top dollar to stay at Laguna’s pricey hotels won’t expect the laws to apply to them.

“People who pay that kind of money won’t appreciate being told they can’t enjoy the beach after 10 p.m.,” said Adams, a former resident.

The council meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 7 at council chambers, City Hall, 505 Forest Ave.