Tamarack Beach

Giving the finger to the California taxpayer but also "Expressing sympathy for the state Department of Parks and Recreation's fiscal woes" the California Coastal Commission voted 11-1 to grant the agency to install a machine to collect fees to park at the popular Tamarack Surf Beach in Carlsbad.

Tamarack beach parking to cost $8 as fee is OK'd

The decision leaves just one state beach with free parking out of 12 in the county. Ironically, the remaining free lot also is in Carlsbad, at North Ponto State Beach.

"We share the philosophy that parks should be free," Ronilee Clark, state parks superintendent for the San Diego Coast District, told the commission as it met in Marina del Rey. "Unfortunately, we face a budgetary situation that hasn't been faced before."

...

Parks officials have said the fee can generate $250,000 to $500,000 a year at the lot, just south of downtown Carlsbad. The 122-space lot is popular with visitors who stop for an hour or two to eat lunch, surf or stroll along the city's beachfront promenade.

Carlsbad Mayor Bud Lewis spoke against the fee and criticized state officials as poor fiscal managers.

"This proposal goes against the spirit of affordable coastal access (for) all visitors," Lewis told the commission. "Charging young families, seniors and other coastal users an $8 fee to attempt to fund the (state's) projected $20 billion deficit is not the way to make ends meet."

He called for "proper fiscal discipline at the state level." The city and neighbors complained that the fee will only encourage beach users to park on city streets.

I wonder how much of this is about the $8 fee or the parking ticket for not paying... 

Previous SurfSD Posts:

$8 To Park At Tamarack Surf Beach

News today that the popular Tamarack Surf Beach in Carlsbad may cost $8 per day to park... even if you're just there for a quick session. The state's Parks and Recreation Department is looking to help fill a $13.3 million budget gap by charging people to park in the 122-space parking lot but the city of Carlsbad has asked for a one-month postponement while it considers the proposal: State's rising tide of debt may be felt by beachgoers

The idea of paying for parking doesn't sit well with surfers and other people parked at the Tamarack lot this week.

Nowell Lantz said he used to live across the street and still goes to the Tamarack beach, officially named Carlsbad State Beach, regularly to surf. He said he has a private place to park if the state beach starts charging a fee.

"If I didn't have that I'd be pissed," said Lantz, who lives in Encinitas. "A lot of people wouldn't be happy about paying if they paid taxes in Carlsbad." 

The state has always had the right to charge for parking but previously Carlsbadhad paid the $36,000 a year to keep the parking lot free.