HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-08-19; Parks & Recreation Commission; 891-13; Beach Parking IssuePARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION - AGENDA BILL
AB*
DEPT.
TITLE- BEACH PARKING ISSUE (INFO)
J*
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept and file staff report.
ITEM EXPLANATION;
As part of the impacts relative to the State budget, recommendations regarding the
possibility of charging for public parking at local beaches under State jurisdiction have
recently been at issue with the City of Carlsbad. Although no official action implementing
a parking fee has yet been instituted by the State, the issue is currently under review by
several agencies including local coastal cities, Coastal Commission, and the State Parks and
Recreation system.
Staff will give a verbal update regarding both efforts to initiate and prevent paid parking
at local beaches.
FISCAL IMPACT;
None at this time.
EXHIBITS;
1. City Council Agenda Bill No. 11,260 - Beach Parking Fee Proposal
2. Memo to City Manager from Research Office, 7-23-91
3. Mayor Lewis's letter to Henry Agonia, Director of State Parks and Recreation,
7-23-91
GIF' OF CARLSBAD — AGENT" BILL
AH* // £t(l?O
t
DFPT CM
TITLE:
BEACH PARKING FEE PROPOSAL
DEPT. HD. /£'
CITY ATPO
CITY MGRP
t&\^-s. j'-^W'
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Direct staff to prepare letters to the State Department of Parks and Recreation and the
California Coastal Commission in opposition to the imposition of beach parking fees at the
lot at the end of Tamarack Avenue. ~
ITEM EXPLANATION:
The State Department of Parks and Recreation has applied to the California Coastal
Commission for approval to install fee collection devices at 16 state park sites, including the
beaches in Carlsbad at Tamarack Avenue and Ponto Drive. These devices, either automatic
ticket machines known as "park-ur-self" devices or "iron rangers", would augment the existing
fee collection program throughout the State.
Each device will generally be located near the entrance to the park, in a previously paved or
disturbed area. Two by three foot information signs will also be installed along with each
device. The permit submitted to the Coastal Commission is only for mechanical devices;
other devices such as gates or metal teeth in the roadway to prevent vehicular entrance are
not included in the application. These are the same devices currently being used in
Oceanside at the harbor and beach parks.
As part of the FY 1990/91 budget, the Legislature and the Governor directed the State
Department of Parks and Recreation to increase its fees throughout the State park system
in order to make up a $16 million shortfall in funding for the operations and staffing of the
Department. Accordingly, the Department analyzed its existing fee schedule, the areas where
fees were not being collected and its fee collection practices and found that fees were only
being collected in about 16% of the day use areas of the system. The Department then
identified units and areas in the system where new fees could feasibly be collected, areas
where parking is available but no fee is collected, and areas where fees were only being
collected during the peak season (May - September). Based on this analysis, the Department
identified sites throughout the state, including the Carlsbad sites, where new or more efficient
fee collection practices could be instituted.
The Carlsbad State Beach at Tamarack Avenue does not currently have a fee collection
system. The State Department of Parks and Recreation is asking the Coastal Commission
for approval to install either a park-ur-self device or iron ranger at this 120-space lot. On
June 11,1991, the Commission postponed their decision on this beach, among others, until
the Department held public meetings. A public meeting has tentatively been scheduled in
Solana Beach on Monday, July 22, 1991 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
In January, 1991 the Coastal Commission denied coastal permit applications for the
installation of 16 fee collection devices at 11 state park sites because it was determined that
the imposition or increase in fees were not consistent with several policies of the Coastal Act.
However, Coastal Commission staff is recommending that the Commission limit its review in
this case to the physical impacts of the collection devices on the natural resources and
nearby communities. In denying the Department's prior applications, the Commission was
EXHIBIT 1
PAGE 2 OF AGENDA BILL NO.
concerned about the potential adverse impacts of new or increased fees on persons of
limited economic means, adverse impacts on natural resources and surrounding
communities, and the absence of any relation between fees and services or facilities. In
addition, the Commission was also concerned that the Department had failed to adequately
involve the public in its decision-making process.
In response to the Commission's action, the Department has taken several steps towards
addressing these concerns. First, the imposition of new fees has been deferred until a series
of public meetings have been held to allow public input on all issues relative to day use fees.
Second, the Department will look at the relation of fees to services and facilities provided at
the sites. Third, the Department has included in their application a monitoring component
which will result in an identification of potential impacts on natural resources and neighboring
communities and which is intended to result in corrective action being taken to mitigate any
significant adverse impacts. Fourth, the Department will provide the Commission with an
annual report as to the impacts, if any, in the areas of primary concern to the Commission
relative to the installation and operation of the fee collection devices.
As a result of the Commission's action denying the Department's applications for fee
collection devices, the Commission was asked to explain its actions to the Legislative Budget
Committees of both the Assembly and the Senate. Members of the fiscal committees made
it clear that the Commission's action, which had the effect of preventing the Department from
imposing new fees at coastal parks, was viewed by them as being in direct defiance of the
Legislature's and the Governor's intent as reflected in the FY 1990/91 budget.
The Legislative Committee of the City Council has reviewed this proposal, and is
recommending opposition to beach parking fees at the Carlsbad State Beach at Tamarack
Avenue.
54
1 • RESOLUTION NO. 91-235
2
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
3 CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA OPPOSING A PROPOSAL BY
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
4 TO IMPOSE PARKING FEES AT CARLSBAD STATE BEACH.
5
6
„ WHEREAS, the State Department of Parks and Recreation has applied to the
Q California Coastal Commission for approval to install a fee collection device at the beach
9 parking lot at Tamarack Avenue; and
10 WHEREAS, many residents visit the beach daily, including swimmers, seawall
11 walkers, surfers, and beachcombers; and
12 WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad has assumed the responsibility for improving
1 "^State owned property near this beach; and
14 WHEREAS, the Carlsbad State Beach is one of the City's greatest assets and
15 should be enjoyed without charge.
16
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad,
17
California, as follows:
18
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.19
2. That the City Council hereby opposes the imposition of fees at the 120-
&\)
p-i space beach parking lot at the foot of Tamarack Avenue.
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 e-r55
i
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of
the City of Carlsbad on the 16th day of July , 1991, by the following vote,
to wit:
AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Larson, Nygaard, and Stanton
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
ALETHA L. RAUTENKRANZ, City Clerk
(SEAL)
July 23, 1991
TO: ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
FROM: Management Analyst, Research Office
BEACH PARKING FEES
At their meeting of July 1 6, 1 991 , the City Council directed staff to look into the possibility of the
City taking over maintenance of the State-owned beach parking lot at the foot of Tamarack
Avenue. This matter was investigated previously by City Parks and Recreation Department staff.
In 1 989, Council instructed staff to negotiate a land exchange for the bluff top whale watch from
Tamarack Avenue to Cherry Avenue, excluding the rest rooms, parking lot and the west-facing
slopes above the sea wall. The City's concern was that because of City improvements made to
the bluff top to the north, and the high visibility and public use of the property, the area deserves
a higher level of maintenance than was being provided by the State.
The State Director of Parks & Recreation responded that they lack adequate funding to develop
and maintain these areas compatible with City standards. In addition, the State was not willing
to transfer any of their property to the City, but would consider a long-term operating agreement
at no cost to the State if the City would include the following:
• Tamarack parking lot;
• grass and hardscape area;
• restrooms; and
• the marine bluff/slope area from Tamarack Avenue to Oak Avenue.
In his report to Council in December, 1 989, Dave Bradstreet expressed staff's opinion that it
would not be in the City's best interest to assume ongoing improvement and maintenance
responsibilities and the liability exposure of the parking lot. Council agreed, and staff entered
into an agreement with State for the enhancement of the landscaped area of the bluff top
walkway.
Also in 1 989, Mr. Bradstreet's department prepared a maintenance and development cost study
of the whale walk and bluff top area from the cold water jetty north to Cherry Avenue (see
attachment). In order for us to provide the Council with current information in their pursuit of an
operating agreement with the State, it is suggested that Parks and Recreation staff once again
study the costs of such an arrangement with the State, and begin negotiations with Bill Fait and
State Parks and Recreation to reach an agreement.
JONI WILTGEN
jw
Attachment
57 EXHIBIT 2
City of Carlsbad
Office of the Mayor
July 23, 1991
Henry R. Agonia, Director
State Department of Parks and Recreation
1416 9th Street, #1405
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Mr. Agonia:
On behalf of the entire Carlsbad City Council, I would like to thank you for the opportunity
to speak at your public meeting in Solana Beach on July 22nd. As we expressed at the
meeting, we are quite concerned with the effect of beach parking fees on our community.
Not only will these fees preclude beach access for those who use it the most - the residents
of Carlsbad - but it will also cause beach goers to find other places to park in our
community, creating traffic congestion and pedestrian hazards. Because Carlsbad State
Beach is near residential and commercial neighborhoods, the potential impacts are obvious.
At our meeting of July 16, 1991, we directed City staff to look into the possibility of
entering into an operating agreement with the State, whereby the City would maintain the
parking lot at Tamarack Avenue at no cost to the State. Please consider this a formal offer
to begin work on an agreement. We are most anxious to keep this beach free of charge
for everyone and, as such, are willing to take on maintenance responsibilities.
Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Lori
Lieberman, Assistant to the City Manager, at (619) 434-2822.
Sincerely,
CLAUDE A. "BUD" LEWIS
Mayor
Pgk
c: City Council
City Manager
Assistant City Manager
Bill Fait, District Superintendent
Kenneth B. Jones, Regional Director
Assembly Member Robert Frazee
Senator William Craven 58 EXHIBIT 3
1 2OO Carlsbad Village Drive - Carlsoad, California 92OO8-1 989 • (619)434-2830