Encinitas

Printer-friendly version Send to friend PDF version

Surfers Save Fellow Surfer

wayne's picture

Surfers Save Fellow SurferHeres a great story on San Diego 6 about a group of surfers saving the life of another. Read more »

Encinitas To Consider Surf Camp Regulations

wayne's picture
Tonight the Encinitas City Council will debate regulating businesses that operate on city beaches and parks. If an ordinance is passed it could mean surf camps, fitness and yoga classes would have to bid on use of the beaches to conduct business. The issue was brought to the city council after complaints the beach was becoming too crowded with surf schools.

Mayor Jerome Stocks said the goal is "to make sure the general public isn't being cut out of access to the beach."

Some say that Encinitas is becoming a surf-camp hub because it's a rule-free zone. There are rules governing surf camps in San Diego, Del Mar and Coronado, as well as at Carlsbad and San Elijo state beaches. Solana Beach, Encinitas' southern neighbor, doesn't allow surf camps.

This summer, more than a dozen surf camps were operating on Encinitas beaches – prompting complaints from beach-goers such as Don Lee, a surfer who said it's difficult to find a parking space at Beacons Beach because surf schools operate out of that lot.

The Encinitas City Council will hold its meeting at 6:00 P.M. today at Encinitas City Hall, 505 S. Vulcan Ave.

Encinitas: No Smoking On The Beach

wayne's picture
Encinitas approved unanimously last night to ban the smoking of cigarettes on the beach. Encinitas is now the 11th, of 18 cities, in San Diego county to ban smoking.
The law bans smoking at nine city-operated beaches, including overlooks and vistas, 17 public parks and five trails, including their parking lots.

Smoking will be allowed on state-operated beaches, such as Cardiff State Beach, that are within Encinitas city limits. It also would be permitted on outdoor patios at bars.

Violation of the law is an infraction under the city's municipal code, calling for fines of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $500 for a third.

Encinitas May Regulate Surf Camps

wayne's picture
Worrying a few surf camp operators and welcomed by others, tomorrow night Encinitas will review if regulation of surf camps on city beaches should begin. Currently Encinitas does no regulation of the 14 surf camps in the area. The city does supply a list of suggested practices including class sizes, class-to-instructor ratios, no signs on the beach, commute in vans and insurance minimums however they are not strictly enforced. Emily Vizzo tells of how this may all change: Surf camps under scrutiny

Encinitas beaches now are home to 14 surf camps, including some operating without a business license or insurance, the report said.

The city does not regulate the qualifications or training of camp staff members. By contrast, Del Mar requires that the city approve surf camps and that they operate within designated areas, fingerprint staff members, keep a daily log of enrolled students and pay the city a daily $6-per-student fee.

"One of the concerns of the commission, and it's a reasonable concern, is that if there's no regulation, there's going to be operators with different philosophies," City Councilman Jerome Stocks said.

"Some of them are going to have a whole lot of qualified instructors and a low student-teacher ratio. Others may not have that same approach. If there are novices in the ocean with varying abilities, and unregulated student-teacher ratios, this could be an issue."

Encinitas Approves Railroad Underpasses

wayne's picture
Encinitas has decided to move forward with building 3 new pedestrian passes under the railroad tracks starting in 2009. Projected costs will be $6.7 million to design and build the passes.

Walkway underpass project takes step

Except at approved crossings, it is illegal to walk on the railroad right of way. But Encinitas residents often cross the tracks because approved crossings can be up to two miles apart.

The proposed underpasses are spaced about midway between the current crossings.

UPDATE on 12/07/2007 10:22 am:

Man dies after being hit by Coaster train

UPDATE on 12/07/2007 11:51 am:

Turns out the person was a female. Woman runs into path of Coaster train, killed instantly
Syndicate content