CITY COUNCIL: Recommendation from Forest and Beach Commission on Use of Beach Rake on Carmel Beach

Meeting Date: February 1, 2011
Prepared by: Mike Branson

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Receive the recommendation from the Forest and Beach Commission on the use of a beach rake on Carmel Beach and provide policy direction.

Description: During its regular meeting of 2 December 2010, the Forest and Beach Commission reviewed the use of a beach rake on Carmel Beach. The attached report includes its recommendation to the City Council.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: Will depend on the option selected.
Grant Funds: None

Staff Recommendation: Review the recommendation of the Forest and Beach Commission and provide policy direction regarding the proposed use of a beach rake on Carmel Beach.

Important Considerations: The Forest and Beach Commission reviewed the use of a beach rake on Carmel Beach during its regular meeting of 2 December 2010. The Commission has recommended not to use a rake on the beach and to fund additional manual labor for charcoal cleanup.

Decision Record: The Forest and Beach Commission reviewed the beach rake use on 2 December 2010; it also reviewed beach cleaning equipment at the November 2009 meeting. The Commission forwarded recommendations on charcoal cleanup and beach fires to the Planning Commission during its meeting of July 2009. The Planning Commission forwarded its recommendations on beach fires and charcoal to the City Council during its meeting of 12 August 2009.

Reviewed by:

______________________________ _________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR McCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THRU: RICH GUILLEN, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: MIKE BRANSON, CITY FORESTER
DATE: 18 JANUARY 2011
SUBJECT: RECEIVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE FOREST AND BEACH COMMISSION ON THE USE OF A BEACH RAKE ON CARMEL BEACH AND PROVIDE POLICY DIRECTION.

RECOMMENDED ACTION
Review the recommendation from the Forest and Beach Commission and provide
policy direction regarding the use of a beach rake on Carmel Beach.

BACKGROUND
Keeping Carmel Beach clean of man-made debris, particularly charcoal from beach fires, has been a topic of discussion for many years. Over the past two to three years, a renewed effort has been made to deal with the issues that fires present on Carmel Beach.

Both the Forest and Beach Commission and the Planning Commission have made
recommendations for increased cleanup of beach fire charcoal and other ideas to educate and inform beach users on proper fire etiquette. Funding was provided for an increased manual labor component to clean up charcoal from fires on a semi-regular basis during the summer months of 2009 and 2010.

Additional discussion of ways to clean up charcoal and direct contact by several manufacturers of beach cleaning machines led to some demonstrations of these machines and a short trial period of one company’s machine in late summer 2010.

The reviews and opinions from this trial period were mixed. Actual use was only for one week, but several things were noted by staff about the machines efforts:

o This was a smaller machine that only went 6” deep.
o Speed is dependent on how deep the machine is set to rake.
o Secure storage is not available at the beach and the Public Works corporation yard has very limited space for long-term storage.
o Fresh kelp gets bound up in the tines and requires regular on-site cleaning by the operator to maintain efficiency.
o The machine was a used model, and maintenance and repairs were an issue.
o Operators had to be constantly aware of off-leash dogs approaching the
machine.
o Turning radius, exposed bedrock, and rock fire rings limited the fire pits that could be raked – additional hand work is still required.

Other anecdotal comments staff received were about 50/50 on the use of the beach rake:
o Liked the clean groomed look of the beach.
o Disliked the overly groomed “resort” look of the beach.
o Objected to the noise of the tractor and rake intruding into the normal beach sounds.
o Worried about dogs getting too close – an attractive nuisance.
o Not getting to all of the beach fires – those on slopes and close to bluffs.
o Does a good job of picking up litter and seaweed on the beach.
o Picking up seaweed and natural debris is unnecessary and a waste of the fuel and time.

It also should be noted that although the beach is fairly static as far as tidal action in the peak summer months, tidal cycles and surf conditions during spring and late summer may significantly alter the beach over a very short time, making the beach cleaning efforts more difficult or appear to be in vain.

REVIEW
The Forest and Beach Commission reviewed use of the beach rake during its regular meeting of 2 December 2010. The issues previously mentioned were discussed along with the cost implications vs. value and benefit. The Commission determined that the primary focus of extra efforts of cleaning the beach should be directed at cleaning beach fires rather than picking up other things that wash onto the beach. After discussion and public input, the Commission recommends not using a beach rake on Carmel Beach, but funding additional manual labor for charcoal cleanup.

FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact will be determined by which approach the City Council wants to proceed.
Some funding remains in this FY budget. Options include (from lowest to highest cost):
o Status quo – maintain existing cleanup funding with Public Works.
o More funding and increased regularity of manual efforts – possibly hiring a
supervisor for the work to alleviate this from a staff function.
o Lease a tractor and use a no-fee demo unit for a longer term trial in 2011, including
funds for an equipment operator.
o Purchase a beach rake and tractor, plus operator funding.
SUMMARY
After discussion of the plusses and minuses of using a beach rake on Carmel Beach, the
Forest and Beach Commission recommends not to use a beach rake machine but to focus
more efforts and funding on manual means of cleaning up charcoal and other debris resulting
from beach fires. The unofficial minutes of the December meeting are attached.
108
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
FOREST AND BEACH COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
2 December 2010
Thursday
1:30 p.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Forest and Beach Commission of the City of Carmel-by-the-
Sea, California was held on the above date at the hour of 1:30 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Leslie Kadis
Tom Leverone
Joe Ford (Chairperson)
ABSENT: Todd Hornik
Victoria Lynch
STAFF PRESENT: Mike Branson, City Forester
Margi Perotti, Administrative Coordinator
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGANCE
Members of the audience joined the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
IV. APPEARANCES
Chairperson FORD opened the public hearing at 1:32 p.m. Clayton Anderson
appeared before the Commission. There being no further appearances the public
hearing was closed at 1:33 p.m.
Chairman FORD opened the public hearing again at 2:12 p.m. Greg D’Ambrosio
appeared before the Commission. There being no further appearances the public
hearing was closed at 2:16 p.m.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Consideration of the minutes of the November 4, 2010 meeting.
This item was continued to the next regular meeting for a full quorum.
109
VI. ORDERS OF BUSINESS
1. Discussion of the 2010 Arbor Day event with the Friends of Carmel Forest.
Chairperson FORD opened the public hearing at 1: 34 p.m. Barbara Livingston
and Linda Anderson appeared before the Commission. The public hearing was
closed at 1:43 p.m.
General discussion regarding the event and possible a tree walk event for 2011.
No further action taken.
2. Recommendation to the City Council on the use of a beach rake on Carmel
Beach.
Mike Branson, City Forester gave his presentation.
Chairperson FORD opened the public hearing at 2:02 p.m. Barbara Livingston,
Greg D’Ambrosio, Christie Downing, Linda Anderson and Clayton Anderson
appeared before the Commission. There being no further discussion the pubic
hearing was closed.
Following discussion, it was moved by Commissioner KADIS and seconded by
Commissioner LEVERONE to forward a recommendation to the City Council not
use the beach rake and tractor on Carmel Beach and the additional money should
be spent for manual labor. The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: KADIS, FORD, LEVERONE
NOES: NONE
ABSTAINED: NONE
ABSENT: HORNIK, LYNCH
3. Review of the period selected for completion of the annual tree survey.
Mike Branson, City Forester gave his presentation.
Chairperson FORD opened the public hearing at 2:16 p.m. Steve Brooks appeared
before the Commission. The public hearing was closed at 2:18 p.m.
There was a general concurrence with City Forester’s recommendation for
October – November survey. No action required.
110
VII. REPORTS FROM STAFF AND COMMISSION
1. Receive verbal report from the Ad Hoc Beach Committee.
No report.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Chairperson FORD adjourned the meeting at 2:25 p.m.

Approved, Respectfully submitted,

___________________ ____________________
Joe Ford, Chairperson Margi Perotti
Administrative Coordinator