(Aug. 16, 2018, 11:35 p.m.) -- At its Aug. 15 meeting, the City Council voted 8-0 (Gonzalez absent) to seek a future management report on methods to accomplish better enforcement of current city laws (and accompanying written memo suggests possible new laws) but didn't approve any specific actions at Aug. 14 meeting.
Their agenda item asked city management to work with the City's Homeless Services Department, LBPD, Mental Evaluation Units, HEART Team, Quality of Life Officers, Marine Patrol, Public Works, and Parks Recreation and Marine and "report back on how the City can better address or enforce beach violations as well as the associated impacts it has on our beaches and residents." It also asked city management to include in its report "possible ordinance changes to improve the enforceability of violations of beach hours; added methods of preventing alcohol and drug use on our beaches through the City municipal code and through changes to current enforcement practices; and approaches to minimize trash, human waste, food waste, and large-scale littering on our beaches." Seeking the proposed report comes just weeks after a teenager participating in LBFD's Junior Lifeguard Program stepped on a hypodermic syringe (June 26) in sand in the general vicinity of 55th Place/Ocean Blvd. (LBREPORT.com coverage here.) The item produced reluctance/resistance from some Councilmembers. Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce said it focused on enforcement against homeless individuals and others suffering addictions. Councilman Roberto Uranga said homelessness isn't a crime and he voiced concern about the continued right of the homeless to access beaches. Councilwoman Price responded by acknowledging the need for homeless outreach and services (which she said the City is already doing) but stated that city crews had recently cleaned up (literally) one ton of items that clearly went beyond simple litter, indicated the presence of homeless encampments and said allowing encampments becomes a slippery slope. Price said that she would do everything in her power to ensure that another junior lifeguard, or some other resident, doesn't step on a syringe in the sand...and pointedly added that those who feel otherwise should discuss repealing current laws they're reluctant to enforce.
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The Aug. 14 agenda item (on Councilwoman Price's letterhead, indicating she authored it) stated in pertinent part: ...[T]here have been growing concerns from many neighborhoods about the usage of our beaches. Homelessness in Long Beach as well as throughout the state continues to be a major issue that is difficult to solve and causes increasingly extreme and emotional responses from people on all sides of the topic.
Finally, beaches need a specialized approach. Beaches, unlike other locations in our City, are typically further away from residences and more difficult for emergency response to get to putting those on the beach after hours at greater risk due to lack of access and a lack of people to call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency or a crime. If we were able to more effectively enforce the current hours of operation and reduce instances of overnight beach camping, we could reduce these potential issues from leading to significant harms to individuals and to the city. Additionally, our beaches need a unique approach that is unlike other areas of the City because of the common practice of going barefoot at the beach, and laying, digging, and playing in the sand that necessitates more attention placed on maintenance than is needed in parks, sidewalks, or other public areas of the City. So, a unique approach is warranted to confront the number of issues that continue to be a concern and undermine the quality of our beaches by making residents feel alienated from part of the City's namesake due to safety concerns.
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