HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-11-18; Parks & Recreation Commission; 1191-9; Citizen Request- Development of Alta Mira parkPARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION - AGENDA BILL
DEPT.
TITLE: CITIZEN REQUEST REGARDING
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTA
MIRA PARK (ACTION)
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
&""^ \ ftDeny request to establish public park golf at Alta Mira Park. frf AS
ITEM EXPLANATION:
Parks and Recreation Department staff have received a request from a Mr. George
Rodgers of 6749 Russelia Court to develop public golf facilities at Alta Mira Park. In a
letter dated October 30,1991, (Exhibit 1) to a representative of the Price Company. Mr.
Rodgers has outlined his proposal which would in essence alter the conceptual
development plans as they currently exist for Alta Mira Park. His proposal would
incorporate amendments to the preliminary plan and include property currently under
the ownership of the Price Company. Mr. Rodgers is proposing to relocate baseball
and soccer fields into an existing open space area which would, in his opinion, provide
open land within the Alta Mira Park site for a golf course or golf facilities.
Although Mr. Rodgers will address the Commission with more specific information
regarding his proposal. Staff is recommending to the Commission that his request be
denied for a number of reasons:
Jj* >yA
1. The preliminary park concept for Alta Mira has undergone review and
received approval by the Parks and Recreation Commission in terms of
the proposed park program. It is currently the subject of a more
permanent design consideration by the recommended park architect.
2. Mr. Rodgers's proposal incorporates the possibility for use of additional
property not currently under City ownership, without an environmental
constraints review and/or the authorization from the true property owner.
3. The City is currently undertaking an active role in developing a municipal
golf course at the Lake Calavera site.
4. The amenities as proposed in the preliminary park design for Alta Mira
Park help to satisfy the ballfield and facility standards as adopted by this
Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None at this time.
EXHIBITS:
1. Letter to David Bradstreet, November 1, 1991
2. Letter - George Rodgers to Kathy Nishihira, October 30, 1991
GEORGE RODGERS
6749 Russelia Ct.
Carlsbad, CA 92009
'#-&'
EXHIBIT 1
63
GEORGE RODOERS
6749 RUSSELIA COURT
CARLSBAD CA 92009
October 30, 1991
Kathy Nishihira
The Price Company
4649 Morena Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92117
Dear Mrs. Nishihira:
The City of Carlsbad has requested input regarding the
development of their Southwest Quadrant Park, sited just south of
your new Price Club between Paseo del Norte and the future Kelly
Drive on the east boundary.
/
We are going to submit a revised conceptual park plan to the
Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Commission for their approval. Our
plan encompasses relocating the baseball and soccer fields to your
Open Space site, next to your new Price Club. This move will allow
inclusion of some golf facilities in the existing park site.
The golf course will start in the park, go north down the Open
Space canyon to intersect with Price Company Open Space, turn east
about the 75' elevation through Price Company property, then
through Kelly property and proceed south, paralleling Kelly Road,
and back up the canyon, returning to the park.
We plan to present the revised conceptual park plan Monday,
Nov. 1£ , at the Carlsbad Council Chambers.
We are requesting a Price Company letter of intent regarding
the Open Space area for ball fields and about a 200' wide strip for
a fairway along the back or south side connecting your Open Space
to the Kelly property.
The proposed revised conceptual plan will serve youth's long
time need for public park golf, baseball and soccer fields. Your
stated willingness to participate will evince lots of positive
favorable publicity for the new Price Club.
I want you .to know how pleasant and fulfilling it has been
discussing this project with you and hope it is greeted likewise in
other quarters. Thank you.
Sincerely,
George Rodgers
64 EXHIBIT 2
October 18, 1989
TO: ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
FROM: Parks and Recreation Director
LIFEGUARD SERVICE BETWEEN OAK AVENUE AND BUENA VISTA LAGOON
Background
Since 1983 when shifting sand made the area between Oak Avenue and the mouth of
the Buena Vista lagoon attractive to beach users, the subject of providing
lifeguard service has been raised periodically by State Parks and Recreation
lifeguard employees and private property owners who border this stretch of beach.
Staff will discuss issues that relate to land ownership, contractual lifeguard
service costs, the City's previous position, potential liability exposure and
possible legislative assistance.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City decline to provide lifeguard service for the
following reasons:
>• The City owns no beach areas along its coast
line.
>• It is the State Lands Commission requirement that all public
trust lands under their jurisdiction be open to the public for
recreational use.
» The City is not in the beach lifeguard business.
«• Staff's position is that it is a State
responsibility.
«• Potential liability exposure to the City.
It is recommended that the City solicit the assistance of our local legislators
in pursuing the transfer of the subject beach area and the responsibility of
providing the requested lifeguard service to the State Parks and Recreation
Department.
Alternatives
1. Not a City responsibility.
2. Contract with the State Parks and Recreation Department for lifeguard
services.
3. That the State Parks and Recreation Department take over the ownership and
the lifeguard service responsibility.
Fiscal Impact
Only alternative (2) would have a significant fiscal impact. Under this
scenario, the City would enter into a contract with the State Parks and
Recreation Department for lifeguard services, the cost of which has been
estimated to be:
start-up and one year operation $228,000 per year
every year thereafter $128,000 per year
Discussion
The approximate one (1) mile of beach, stretching from Oak Avenue heading north
to the mouth of Buena Vista lagoon, is owned by the State Lands Commission from
the mean high tide west and by private property owners from the mean high tide
east. Between Elm Avenue and the end of Ocean Street, the City, through a
requirement of the Coastal Conservancy, provides six (6) approximately 50-foot
wide public accessways leading from Ocean Street down stairways to the beach
area.
The State Parks and Recreation Department provides lifeguard services on the
beaches under their ownership south of Oak Avenue. They will, however, make
rescues to areas not under their jurisdiction such as Oak Avenue north to the
Buena Vista lagoon, but response time may be longer than they desire.
The State Parks and Recreation Department has indicated a willingness to
consider entering into a contract with the City to provide guard service along
the stretch of beach from Oak Avenue to the Buena Vista lagoon.
The contractual cost of providing lifeguards according to Bill Fait, the area
manager, would be $228,000 the first year which includes start-up cost and
$128,000 per year thereafter. The schedule for the guards would be the same as
the State's system, full service between March and October and mobile patrol
between November and February.
In reviewing previous City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission action
on the lifeguard issue, letters and copies of letters were sent by the Mayor and
the Parks and Recreation Chairperson to: (Exhibit 1)
•- State Parks and Recreation Director
> State Parks and Recreation Commission
>• State Parks and Recreation Area Manager
•• State Land Commission
•• Congressman Packard
•• Senator William Craven
•• Assemblyman Robert Frazee
The attached letters requested that State lifeguard service be provided to the
approximate one mile stretch of beach owned by the State Lands Commission from
Oak Avenue and the mouth of the Buena Vista lagoon. The letters further
indicated it was the City's position that since the stretch of beach was owned
by the State Land Commission, it is the State's responsibility to provide
protection to the beach users.
Responses from the various agencies, Commissions, and legislative offices
indicated that:
1. The State Parks and Recreation Department has no legal
authority to expand funds for the use, maintenance, or
control of any lands which are not part of the State
Park system.
Mr. Ronald C. McCullough, Regional Director for the
State Parks and Recreation Department, indicated his
department at this time is unwilling to extend their
liability exposure by providing service to any but their
own beaches. However, the State may consider a
contracted lifeguard service if the City would pay for
start-up cost, salaries, equipment, and administrative
cost.
The State Parks and Recreation Department also indicated
that there are many miles of State, County, and City
owned beach areas along the California coast that are
used by the public without benefit of lifeguard or other
services.
Assemblyman Bob Frazee responded that the State Public
Resources Code Section 5003 and 5007 define the powers
and duties of the Department of Parks and Recreation and
limits the legal authority to spend money for care,
maintenance, or control on lands which are not part of
the State Park's system.
Assemblyman Frazee further stated that the beach area
in question above the mean high tide is privately owned
with the exception of the 50-foot wide stairway accesses
controlled by the City. It was reported to him that the
area at the base of the accesses are not suitable for
towers and the land below the mean high tide is also
unsuitable for tower installation. Furthermore, the
Department is not empowered to place facilities on
private property.
The State Lands Commission stated all of the public
trust lands at this location (lands waterward of the
ordinary high water mark) are subject to recreational
use by the public; however, as is true with the vast
majority of public trust lands in the State, in the
absence of any agreement with a local or state agency,
no lifeguard services are provided. The State Lands
Commission is not funded or staffed to provide lifeguard
services for any of the approximate 1,100 miles of state
coastline.
The State Lands Commission also indicated they would be
willing to help coordinate some type of contract or
agreement between the Department of Parks and Recreation
and/or the City of Carlsbad to insure the protection of
the public's health and safety.
The Commission Executive officer concluded that there
was legislation enacted that gives State parks the
ability to enforce their rules and regulations on
adjoining tidelands.
Comments
It is staff's understanding that there is no legislation requiring a City to
provide lifeguard service. When an agency does provide the service, it creates
a public expectation of safety and has the potential to create a number of
liability issues. As cited in the letter from Ronald McCullough, Regional
Director, State Parks and Recreation Department, "Court action has ruled that
agencies providing lifeguard services are liable for negligence." In the past,
cities were also liable for natural conditions that may be hazardous to the
public such as uneven sand bottom. However, recent legislation has restored
some of the immunity to cities for injuries resulting from land in its natural
condition. Mr. McCullough further stated in his letter that "the Cities of
Newport, Huntington Beach, and San Clemente did not renew their contracts for
lifeguard services with the County of Orange because of an award of 7 million
dollars in a Newport Beach case (Taylor vs. City of Newport Beach)".
According to the Risk Manager, because the City does not provide lifeguard
services along its coast line, there is no liability exposure. However, if we
did provide for such services the City can be liable for negligent provisions
of such a program.
This past June, the City again requested the State Parks and Recreation
Department provide lifeguards for the Oak Avenue to Buena Vista lagoon beach
area. The State's response was that they do not have the jurisdiction or funds
for such service. They stated it was the responsibility of the State Lands
Commission. The State Director did indicate a contract to provide the requested
services to the City at cost might be possible.
The City of Carlsbad does provide a number of services along this stretch of
beach such as on call police patrol, trash clean-up, and beach stairway access
maintenance. The City has also posted each access with signs that state, "No
lifeguard, swim at your own risk."
If the City still wishes to pursue the lifeguard services for this stretch of
beach that is used not only by area residents but is also frequented by visitors
from the County, State, and other parts of the country, it may be necessary to
achieve this goal through the legislature. A request could be made through our
local legislators to have the State Lands Commission deed the title of this
property to the State Parks and Recreation Department and also make sure there
was adequate State funding for the extension of the existing State lifeguard
program.
Summarv/Conclusion
Staff feels that it is not the City's responsibility to provide lifeguard
services along the beach from Oak Avenue to the mouth of Buena Vista lagoon
because:
»• The City owns no beach areas along its coast
line.
•- The City is not in the beach lifeguard business.
•• Staff's position is that it is a State
responsibility.
«• The potential for City liability issues.
DAVID BRADSTREET
dmm
Exhibits:
1. Area Map
2. Letter from Shirely Dahlquist, Parks and Recreation Commission, dated
9/27/83.
3. Letter from Herbert Heinze, State Parks and Recreation, Regional Director,
dated 10/13/83.
4. Letter from Assemblyman, Robert Frazee, dated 10/19/83.
5. Letter from Claire Dedrick, Executive Officer of State Lands Commission,
dated 11/29/83.
6. Letter from former Mayor, Mary Casler, dated 7/29/85.
7. Letter from Ronald McCullough, Regional Director, dated 8/16/85.
8. Letter from Henry Agonia, State Parks and Recreation, Director, dated
6/12/89.
BEACH LIFEGUARD ISSUE
STA LAND COMMISSION &
PRIVATE PROPERTY
BUENA VISTA LAGOON
STATE PARKS &
RECREATION PROPERTY
EXHIBIT 1
• . ^200 ELM AVENUE ./^X^TTJ^ '. ' TELEPHONE:
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA 92008-1989 M ^^^ H (619)433-5571
September 27, 1983
€itp of Cartebab
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
The Honorable Trusse Morris, Chairman •:*
State Parks and Recreation Commission •'
13301 So. Van Ness . . .
Gardena, CA 90249 '•..'•'. . ' .
.Dear Mr. Morris:
The Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Commission requests that State lifeguard'
services be provided to a one mile stretch of beach owned by the State Lands
Commission between the- area north of Oak Street and the mouth of the Buena Vista
Lagoon in Carlsbad, California. The influx of sand has made that beach the most
attractive one in the area. Thore are na lifeguards in the vicinity and,tha^;
entire area ia unprotected. ••••*.-.-•
It is the understanding of this Commission that this approximate one mile
stretch of beach is owned by the State Lands Commission frcrn the maan high tide
west, and is therefore under the State's jurisdiction. It is undoubtedly the
State's responsibility to provide reasonable protection to the beach-goers.
The State Department of Parks & Recreation, who provides lifeguard services
between Oak Street and South Carlsbad State Park, should show some flexibility
now and in the future and simply relocate the towers from where beach traffic is
down due to sand depletion to this more heavily used area. The City has agreed
to allow the State to use City access ways for the lifeguard towers.
Your immediate attention to this hazardous.condition would be appreciated by all
concerned. We will be waiting for your response.
Sincerely, • .
Shirley Dahlquist, Chair
Parks and Recreation Commission
SD/ds
Congressman Ronald Packard
Senator William Craven
Assemblyman Robert Frazee
Mayor Mary Casler
Carlsbad City Council
Frank Aleohire, City Manager
Some letter sent to: State Porks nnd Recreation Area Manager _ _... _ _ __.
State Pm:l<r, find Hec rnaUion .Director FYHTRTTState Lands Commission " L./VIIJLUJL I
.Tt Of CAUEOtHlA—Tut HtSOmCM ACUHCi GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN. Gortrnor
EPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION 083.3-403
~ uthern Region Headquarters . ,
05 Congress Street RfcA •-
October 13, 1983
Ut
Ms. Shirley Dahlquist, Chairperson
Parks and Recreation Commission
City of Carlsbad
1200 Elm Avenue
Carlsbad, California 92008
Dear Ms. Dahlquist:
Director Briner has asked me to respond to your letter of
September 27, 1983 requesting us to assume the responsibility
of providing guard towers and lifeguard services to a one mile
stretch of beach from Oak Street north to the mouth of the
Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad, California.
ou have correctly stated that" the beach below the mean high
tide line in this area 1s owned and under the jurisdiction of
-the State Lands Commission. The beach above the mean high tide
ine, with the exception of three City owned 50 foot wide
stairway accesses, is privately owned. The State Public Resources
Code, Section 5003 and 5007, define the powers and duties of the
State Parks and Recreation Department. My Department has no
legal authority to expend funds for the care, maintenance or
control of any lands which are not part of the State Park System.
However, we may enter into contracts with cities, counties, or
other political subdivisions of the state for the care, maintenance
and control of lands not under our jurisdiction.
As the land in question is not part of the State Park System one
way we can provide the services you are suggesting is to enter
into a contract with your city. The only other way I'm aware of
is by special legislation including an appropriation to cover our
costs.
The fact that no services are being provided on this beach is not
a unique situation. Many miles of state, county, and city owned
beach along California's^coast are used by the public for beach
recreation purposes without benefit of lifeguard or other
services.
EXHIBIT 3
Ms. Shirley Dahlqulst, Chairperson
Page 2
October 13, 1983
Thank vou for expressing your concern in this matter. I regret
That your request cannot be complied with as you suggested.
Si ncerely,
Oi-ig'.ral Si,::: : . '.y
Herbert L. Heinze, Regional Director
Southern Region
HLH:sel
cc: Senator Craven
Assemblyman Frazee
Director's Office
Commissioner Trusse Norris
State Lands Commission
Mayor Mary Casler
San Diego Coast Area
(Ealiforma
SACRAMENTO ADDRESS , /^f*z£r<§\ I COMMITTEES
STATE CAPITOL Aff \ &>\ REVENUE A TAXATION
SACRAMENTO 958 I 4 F"*M''''J^r^l GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
<916) 443-2390 V'^ '" /^A"v?/ LOCAL GOVERNMENT
DISTRICT OFFICE V'-'if'' W/ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
309B PlO PICO DRIVE. N^T^lX AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES
-,UITE 2OO ^"-i-—»^ JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT
CA BAD. CA 92OO8
j) 434.1749
ROBERTO. FRAZEE
ASSEMBLYMAN. SEVENTY-FOURTH DISTRICT
October 19, 1983
Ms Shirley DahlquisC
Chairperson
Parks and Recreation Commission
City of Carlsbad
1200 Elm Avenue
Carlsbad, California 92008
Dear Ms
I appre/Srate your sending me a copy of your letter con-
cerning lifeguards between the area north of Oak Street
and the mouth of the Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad.
A member of my staff has looked into the situation and found
that there are some problems preventing the State Parks
Department from complying with your wishes. State Public
Resources Code Sections 5003 and 5007 define the powers and
duties of the Department and limits it legal authority to
spend money for care, maintenance or control on lands which
are not part of the state park system. The system is allowed
to enter into contracts with political subdivisions such
as cities and counties in order to care, maintain or control
lands not under the Department's jurisdiction.
The beach in question above the mean high tide is privately
owned with the exception of three, 50-foot-wide stairway
accesses owned by the City of Carlsbad. It is my under-
standing that these accesses are not suitable for towers;
land below the mean high tide is unsuitable for towers; and
the Department is not empowered to place facilities on
private property
Thank you for keeping me apprised of your concerns.
Rob£rC C. Frazee
Assemblyman, 74th District
PYHTRTT ZL
RECEIVED DEC 0 5 1983
STATE OF CALIFORNIA GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN, Governor
ST ~'E LANDS COMMISSION
KEN fH CORY, Controller
LEO T. MCCARTHY, Lieutenant Governor
MICHAEL FRANCHETTI, Director of Finance
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
1807 - 13th Street
Sacramento, California 96814
CLAIRE T. DEDRICK
Executive Officer
November 29, 1983
Shirley Dahlquist, Chairwoman
Parks and Recreation Commission
City of Carlsbad
1200 Elm Street
Carlsbad, California 92008-1989
Dear Ms. Dahlquist:
I"
Your letter of September 27, 1983, requested state
lifeguard services for a mile stretch of beach between an area
north of Oak Street and the mouth of Buena Vista Lagoon in
Carlsbad.
The State Lands Commission holds title to sovereign
public trust lands which were acquired by California
statehood. These sovereign lands include
strip of tide and submerged land
lying waterward of the ordinary high water mark (Civil Code §
830). As to the area referred to in your letter, the exact
location of this line has not been determined or fixed by
agreement or adjudication.
at
the three-mile-wide
adjacent to the coast and
All of the public trust lands at this location
(lands waterward of the ordinary high water mark) are subject
to recreational use by the public; however, as is true with
the vast majority of public trust lands in the State, in the
absence^9^,rajiy^ agreement with a7 local or state agency, no
lifeguard "services^are provided. The State Lands Commission
is not funded or staffed to provide lifeguard services for any
of the appointed 1,100 miles of state coastline.
The State Lands Commission would be willing to help
coordinate some type of contract or agreement between the
Department of Parks and Recreation and/or the City of Carlsbad
to insure the protection of the public's health and safety.
EXHIBIT 5
Shirley Dahlquist -2- November 29, 1983
Recently enacted urgency legislation gives State Parks the
ability to enforce their rules and regulations on adjoining
tidelands. Given this, Parks may be able to respond more
readily to your request.
Enclosed is a copy of Chapter 897 of the Statutes of
1983. Should you desire further information, please contact
Georgia Lipphardt at (916) 322-7803.
CLAIRE T. DEDRICK
Executive Officer
cc: Herbert L. Heinze, Regional Director
Department of Parks and Recreation
Southern Region Headquarters
2505 Congress Street
San Diego, CA 92110
Honorable Robert C. Frazee
Assemblyman, 74th District
Attn: Richard Ledford
3088 Pio Pico, Suite 200
Carlsbad, CA 92008
1200 ELM AVENUE _ ^csy mm TELEPHONE
C- SBAD.CA 92008-1989 *^O/ ^J (619)438.5599
Ol,. j of the Mayor
Citp of Cartebab
Duly 29, 1985
Mr. William Briner, Director
State Department of Parks and Recreation
P.O. Box 2390
Sacramento, CA 95814-
Dear Mr. Briner:
I am writing to you on behalf of the citizens of the City of Carlsbad to solicit
your support in solving a very serious problem. The problem is that the State
^does not provide lifeguard services to a one mile stretch of beach between the
area north of Oak Avenue and the mouth of the Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad.
In years past this was not much of a problem because of the rocky nature of the
beach, but due to a large volume of shifting sands this has become the most
ittractive beach area along our coastline.
This is not the first time this issue has been raised with the State Department
of Parks and Recreation. I have enclosed copies of previous correspondence to
facilitate your prompt and personal attention to this matter.
In your department's correspondence you cite the State Public Resources Code,
Sections 5003 and 5007 and conclude "My Department has no legal authority to
expend funds for the care, maintenance or control of any lands which are not
part of the State Park System." You go on to state, "We may enter into
contracts with cities, ... for the care, maintenance and control of lands not
under our jurisdiction."
What you are suggesting is that if the City would pay, your department would
provide the lifeguards. I appreciate your position, but this City and many
other coastline cities are not in a position to pay but we do provide police,
paramedic and other local services to these beaches, and State beaches.
This is not just a Carlsbad problem so I would challenge you and your staff to
work with the Glty of Carlsbad to explore alternatives aimed at solving the
problem. A few Ideas which I have thought of are listed below. I would
appreciate your review and suggestions on how these could work.
EXHIBIT 6
A. Homeowners in the affected area could grant the State an easement to
Include the beachfront area in the State beach system during the
swimming season. How would your department react?
B. If the City authorized lifeguard stands on our beach accesses in this
area, would the State take advantage of the opportunity? As I
mentioned previously, this is the nicest beach in Carlsbad and is the
center of beach activity.
C. Is there any authority that rests with the State to form a lifeguard
assessment district?
D. If the Community were to raise funds to pay for lifeguards, how much
would the State charge to cover the specified area?
I am sure that if you look at this with the intention of solving the problem,
there is a means to do so. I have listed my ideas, but I know there must be
others I have not recognized. This is no doubt a liability problem statewide
that we would all like to solve. It makes no sense to me for our residents to
be placed in an unguarded, potentially unsafe recreation environment simply
becuase of rules or laws which may need amending. I solicit your help and offer
mine if I can be of any assistance in identifying a solution to this problem.
MARY CASL&fl
Mayor
MC:ds
cc: City Council
Parks and Recreation Commission
Paul Albertson, M.D.
Senator Bill Craven
Assemblyman Robert Frazee
Aseemblyman Bill Bradley
Enclosures
(ATE OF CALIFORNIA—THE RESOURCES AGENCY GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN. Govirnor
2EPABTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
uthern Region Headquarters
J3 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 200
San Diego.- California 92108
(619) 237-7961
August 16, 1985
Honorable Mary easier, Mayor
City of Carlsbad
1200 Elm Avenue
Carlsbad, California 92008
Dear Mayor Casler:
I am responding to your letter of July 29, 1985 to Director Briner. You requested
.that we review and comment on four suggestions you made regarding the providing
of lifeguard services on a mile long stretch of beach in the City of Carlsbad
.which is "hot part of the State Park System.
Item A - Our Department would not be willing to accept a temporary
easement during the swimming season on these private and
publicly owned lands. An easement is not necessary for the
State to provide the services requested if a contract is
executed by the owner(s) of the properties involved.
In the past, the City of Carlsbad contracted with our
Department for lifeguard services on properties the City
leased from San Diego Gas and Electric. The last such
contract terminated in mid-summer 1981, when the City
chose not to renew their lease on the property. Since
that time, San Diego Gas and Electric has been contracting
direct with us for the service.
Item B - As stated in our October 13, 1983 response to the City
on this subject, our Department may enter into contracts with
cities to provide services on lands not under Parks juris-
diction. Funds to pay for these services would have to be
provided by the contractee. However, because of recent
court cases in California (Gonzales vs. City of San Diego
(1982) and Taylor vs. City of Newport Beach (1984), contrac-
~ ting agencies have taken a hard look at the liability factor
when contracting out lifeguard services.
The courts involved in the above cases have ruled that agencies
EXHIBIT 7
•Honorable Mary Casler, Me./or
Page 2
August 16, 1985
are liable not only for negligence, but for any natural
condition that may be hazardous to the public such as
an uneveft sand bottom. In the Newport Beach case alone,
Taylor was awarded a verdict in excess of 7 million dollars.
Because of this action, the Cities of Newport Beach,
Huntington Beach, and San Clemente did not renew their
contracts with the County of Orange when they expired in
1985. Our Department at this time is unwilling to extend j£
our liability exposure by providing service to any but our
own beaches.
Item C - The State Department of Parks and Recreation has no authority
to form a lifeguard assessment district. The City does have
this authority and could form an assessment district in
order to provide the needed service to their constituents.
Item D - The Department would charge a contractee for the actual cost
of the services rendered (staff, equipment and operating
expenses) + 15% contract administration costs. Our staff's
estimate for providing contracted lifeguard service on this
beach would be $127,000 for the initial year start up costs
including equipment, salaries and communication system, and
$75,000 for subsequent years at current operating cost rates.
We can provide you with a breakdown of these costs if you
desire.
San Diego Coast District Superintendent William Fait has previously met with
Carlsbad City Parks Director David Bradstreet. on this particular subject. We are
agreeable to meeting with you and your staff again, to further discuss this matter.
Please contact me at the above address if I can be of assistance, or District
Superintendent Fait at the San Diego Coast District office, 2680 Carlsbad Boule-
vard, Carlsbad, California 92008, telephone (619) 729-8947 to arrange a meeting.
Sincerely,
C. McCullough, Regional Director
Southern Region
cc: San Diego Coast District
Director's Office
5 OF CAUFOHNIA — TM( XESOURCES AGBNCY GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN, Gonmor
>Ar~AENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
3OX i 36
94296-0001
(916) 445-2358
JUN 121989
Mr. David Bradstreet
Parks and Recreation Director
City of Carlsbad
1200 Carlsbad Village Jt^rive
Carlsbad, CA 92008-1B8Si
Dear Mr. BradstreelT:
r'you for your May 11, 1989 letter requesting a land exchange at
Carlsbad State .Beach. The land involved is known as the "Bluff Top Vfliale
Watch" and runs from Tamarack Avenue North to Oak Street.
' '.s Department, unfortunately, lacks adequate funds to develop and
italntain this'-'area to a standard compatible with the City's improvements
but welcomes the City's interest and offer to accomplish this task. The
£ be would be willing to enter into a development and operating agreement
for the City to accomplish these tasks at no cost to the State if the City
was willing to include the bluff area, parking, and restrooms. The State
would then operate the beach with lifeguard service and the City would be
responsible for the sea wall, bluff slope, bluff top, the restrooms, and
parking areas.
This Department does not have the jurisdiction or funds to provide
lifeguard services as suggested from Oak Street North to the City limits.
This is the responsibility of the State Lands Commission. A contract to
provide these services to the City at cost might be possible.
Sincere!
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EXHIBIT 8