HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupplemental - Letter from Rob Driscoll Good evening honorable council members,
My name is Rob Driscoll and I reside at 328 Regatta Way Seal Beach.
I am out of town on business this evening and unable to attend the council
meeting so I have asked that my friend Larry Moore read this statement on
my behalf
I was also unable to attend the last council meeting however I was able to
view it at a later date on video. I feel that both the surfers and windsurfers
have expressed their points of view adequately and the council has sufficient
information to render a fair and equitable agreement on the access issue in
the San Gabriel River. I trust that you will work out a plan that will allow
my son and I to surf in the river when the conditions dictate and to also be
able to wave sail in the river when the waves are blown out by the wind and
not suitable for surfing.
Having said that I would like to move on to why it is that I have provided
you with the 4-page letter that was written to Captain Steve Cushman two
and one half years ago. The intent of providing you with this letter is two
fold. First to show that this is not a new issue or one that I feel will go away
without a fair resolution. Second and most importantly is to dispel the
accusation made by Mr. Harbour at the last council meeting implying that
the black ball policy implemented by Captain Cushman was the doings of
Mayor Yost.
It is obvious by the date on this letter (Feb. 5th, 1997) received by Captain
Cushman and copied to city manager Keith Till as well as surfrider
foundation and United States Windsurfing Association that this issue started
long before Dr. Yost was a councilman or the Mayor.
Mr. Mitchell Dejarnet said in the opening comments in his speech on behalf
of the surfers that he had been working on this issue with Captain Cushman
for three years now.
I had several discussions with Captain Cushman during 1997 and it was his
idea to purchase a black ball wind sock and implement this policy as a way
to allow access to the waves for the windsurfers. I am certain being a man of
integrity that Captain Cushman will confirm that this is true.
I regret that this issue has reached personal levels where my neighbors have
lowered themselves to make false and unfounded accusations against the
character of the mayor of our city. I know Paul Yost on both a personal and
professional level. He is a man of integrity and high moral character and he
does not deserve this slanderous treatment.
I am not saying that Mayor Yost may not have a preference in this issue. I
have both surfed and windsurfed with him just like many other people have
surfed with councilman Boyd. For these two men to have opposing opinions
on this issue is not only acceptable but also a healthy example of what
democracy is all about.
What is not acceptable and is embarrassing to our community is that
unfounded and false accusations have been made regarding one of our local
elected officials. It is hard to find good people who are willing to put there
life on hold while they give there time to better our community, I ask you to
encourage and thank these people and stop slandering their hard earned
reputations.
Rob Driscoll
•
Captain Steve Cushman February 5th, 1997
Lifeguard Department
City of Seal Beach
I am writing to you on behalf of the Association of Seal Beach Sailors.
The purpose of this memo is to: introduce the Association,explain why we choose to windsurf at
Seal Beach, address the associations concerns with regards to water safety and access,present to
you helpful information on how other beaches handle their dual use areas,and to offer our
assistance,in helping maintain a safe area for swimmers, surfers and windsurfers to enjoy.
What is the Association of Seal Beach Sailors?
The association was formed to fund and construct the grass rigging area at the first street
parking lot. We are an affiliate of the United States windsurfing Association, a four thousand
member organization, and we currently maintain a mailing list of one hundred and eighty two
windsurfers who sail in Seal Beach regularly. The average age of our local group is forty six
and more than forty of us moved to Seal Beach specifically because of the excellent windsurfing
conditions that it provides.
Why do we windsurf in Seal Beach?
The strong afternoon thermal winds that occur primarily during the spring and summer are the
power we need to fill our sails with wind,however it is the direction that the wind crosses the
shore that makes Seal beach a prime location. Seal Beach is blessed with the,(side on shore)
wind that we require to be able to sail out and back from the beach. There are other beaches in
our area that have sufficient wind and waves that one might think are good for windsurfing,
unfortunately at these other beaches the wind is directly onshore making it almost impossible to
safely sail out and back thru the surf Seal Beach also provides us with an area to enjoy all three
disciplines of our sport; off shore course and slalom racing,recreational free sailing, and
notably wave sailing. The warm water, large summer south swells,grass rigging area, and ample
selection of restaurants are also reasons we enjoy windsurfing here.
Concerns regarding water safety and access
Our association is aware that the lifeguards received complaints last summer from surfers that
they were concerned with windsurfers in close proximity. We also had numerous members voice
concern over this issue. Even though there were no accidents involving surfers and windsurfers
this last summer our association realizes that it needs the help, guidance, and cooperation of the
Seal Beach lifeguards and the City of Seal Beach to further safeguard the sport and other users
of the beach. It appears to us that this primary concern of ours is two fold; the issue of fairly and
equitably dividing the available beach access and river area, and the issue of implementing and
enforcing this plan at our joint use beach.
Page 1 of 4
How other beaches handle joint use areas
We have researched other beaches that offer access for both surfing and windsurfing and have
studied how they handle separating the two. The methods these beaches use are:
a. Division by Time
b. Buoy system
c. Wind Velocity
d. Distance System
e. Geographical land marks
We offer two examples here for your review as well as phone contacts if you so desire.
1. Leo Carillo State Beach-Located just north of Malibu,Leo Carillo offers an area for surfers,
wave windsurfers, and free sailing windsurfers to share. The water is divided into three areas via
a geographical fixed marker( a large rock off shore ) and a single buoy. The area from the rock
to the buoy is for surfers, from the buoy to where the wave comes onshore for wave windsurfing,
and the area downwind of the wave area for the free sailing windsurfers.The system requires
only one buoy and is very easy to enforce. During calm winds, surfers are allowed the entire
area at the discretion of the lifeguard,and during extreme winds windsurfers are allowed the
entire area at the discretion of the lifeguard.
The head lifeguard for Leo Carillo State Beach is,Norm Chapman @ (310)457-2585
Diagrams will be made available if you so desire.
2. Maui Hawaii-Kanaha, Hookipa, and Camp One beaches_
The island of Maui is a perfect example of how multiple use areas are controlled because it uses
a combination of all of the above listed systems. There is no windsurfing on the entire island
before 11:00am to accommodate the fishermen and surfers in the morning. At Kanaha State
Beach the swimmers and windsurfers use the same beach but are separated via a string of small
buoys enclosing the swimming area. At Camp One there is no windsurfing within 700 feet of the
beach,however windsurfers are allowed to sail to camp one from different launch areas and ride
the waves off shore as long as the get no closer than 700 feet of the shore. At Hookipa State
Beach a wind velocity system is used. The agreement is that when it is windy enough to sail,
windsurfing is allowed. During those times when the wind is light enough to allow for both
surfing and windsurfing a geographical marker on the beach ( a picnic pavilion )is used to
delineate an imaginary line dividing the beach between surfers and windsurfers.
The water safety supervisor for Maui county is Wilfred Enriquez @(808)243-2585
Diagrams will be made available if you so desire.
Page 2 of 4
Our Thoughts
We agree that the beach needs regulations, and we wish to assist the Seal Beach lifeguards in
preparing a workable solution to the needs of all concerned parties. To that end we offer the
following thoughts:
a. Windsurfers,like other sailcraft should not be launched, sailed or ridden in close proximity to
swimmers or surfers. To avoid the possibility of a collision a separation of 100 feet between
windsurfers, surfers, and swimmers provides a comfortable margin of safety in our view. An
area marked off by signs on the lifeguard towers provides safe access from the beach for
windsurfers. This area must be kept clear of surfers and swimmers and like wise the areas
designated for swimming and surfing must be kept clear of windsurfers.
b. The San Gabriel river offers the best wave sailing during the summer months and therefore
the area between the river jetties should be fairly divided between surfing and windsurfing. after
much thought on how to most efficiently implement and enforce a policy on sharing the river we
have come up with the following suggestion.
During the afternoon from 3:00pm until 6:00pm if it is windy enough to sail,the river area
between the jetties will be for windsurfing. (When it is windy enough to sail in the river any
accomplished surfer will agree that the waves are blown out and not good for surfing). At all
other times between sunrise and sunset the area between the jetties will be closed to windsurfers.
Also,during the 3:00pm to 6:00pm time frame if the wind is insufficient for windsurfing
the river will be open for surfing, thereby not unnecessarily eliminating surfing from the river
if safety is not a concern. This system can be implemented without any buoys, and can be put
into effect by simply raising a flag on the lifeguard stand nearest the jetty where there can also
be a sign explaining the policy. We feel that in addition to posting the policy on the beach, that
since virtually all of the windsurfers enter thru the 1st street lot they could be given a copy of the
rules at the gate. Additionally local windsurfers would vehemently enforce the rules not only by
word of mouth on the beach but also on the water,thus greatly reducing the chance of the
lifeguards having to launch a boat or wave runner to enforce the policy.
Page 3 of 4
The Association of Seal Beach Sailors are anxious to prove to the Seal Beach lifeguards that
they are good citizens and can abide by the rules and regulations of the city.. To close the San
Gabriel river to windsurfing seems to us like a solution in search of a problem. If over use of the
area is the problem then surfers and windsurfers should share equally in any regulatory measures
necessarily to provide for the public safety and enjoyment of all. We feel that by only requesting
three hours per day,and then only if the surf is blown out and the conditions are better for
windsurfing than surfing that we are asking for very little and being more than fair to everyone
concerned. We would also like to point out that many of our windsurfers are surfers who grew
up in these waters and we also want to be able to surf in the jetty and not worry about a collision
with windsurfers.
The act of enforcing any rule or regulation is best accomplished with the help and assistance of
the citizens being regulated. A time share system would have the enthusiastic support of all of
the local windsurfers using it,and they would actively participate in enforcing the rules of the
beach. Banning windsurfing in the San Gabriel river at all times would send an anti-windsurfing
message to the local windsurfers. If the ban were to be put in place it is then predictable that the
local windsurfers would have no interest in helping to implement this policy_
We are looking forward to the day when we can meet with you and any other interested parties
to reach a fair and equitable solution to our concerns..
Respectfully,
Rob Driscoll
328 Regatta Way
Seal Beach, Ca.
430-6656
cc
Association of S.B. Sailors City of Seal Beach Surfrider Foundation USWA
Safety/Access committee: Mr. Keith Till Dr. Gordon Labedz Mr_ P. Oliver
Dr. E. Diehl
Dr. R. Pepitone
Mr. T. Sawyer
Mr. S. Sayre
Dr. P. Yost
Page 4 of 4