The Carmel-by-the-Sea WATCHDOG!: Carmel Beach Fire Management Pilot Program: Correspondence from Dan Carl, Central Coast District Director, California Coastal Commission, to Mayor and Council Members

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Carmel Beach Fire Management Pilot Program: Correspondence from Dan Carl, Central Coast District Director, California Coastal Commission, to Mayor and Council Members

ABSTRACT: RE: Carmel Beach Fire Management Pilot Program Correspondence from Dan Carl, Central Coast District Director, California Coastal Commission, to Mayor and Council Members, dated December 30, 2015, May 9, 2016, and June 6, 2016 and June 29, 2016 document copies are embedded. Importantly, “As you know, on December 11, 2015, the Coastal Commission denied, on a 4-5 vote, the City's proposed propane-only beach fire management program. In so doing, the Commission also did not approve the staff recommended wood-fueled beach fire management program (essentially the City's prior proposal from last spring/summer that was originally appealed to the Commission). As a consequence, there is currently no beach fire management program in the City of Carmel with valid approvals under the Coastal Act or the LCP. In particular, the City's current weekend and holiday beach fire moratorium remains unpermitted.” (December 30, 2015 Letter) And “We strongly recommend that the Program be modified as recommended in this letter. If it is, we believe that it can be found LCP and Coastal Act consistent and that, barring unforeseen changes or additional information/understanding, we would recommend that the Coastal Commission not take jurisdiction over such a Program should the City's approval be appealed to the Coastal Commission.” (June 29, 2016 letter) At the June 30, 2016 Special City Council meeting, Council Members Hardy, Reimers, Richards, Theis, and Mayor Dallas conducted a Public Hearing, Item 7: Beach Fires Revised Pilot Program Coastal Development Permit Approval. According to DRAFT City Council Meeting Minutes June 30, 2016, Action: Upon a motion made by Council Member Richards, seconded by Mayor Dallas, the City Council of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea moved to adopt the findings and conditions of approval for a Coastal Development Permit for the Beach Fires Pilot Program with revisions to the program as follows:

The staff will return to Council with an update in 120 days.
City supplied wood fueled devices and user supplied propane devices will be allowed South of 8th Avenue.
City supplied wood-fueled devices must be a minimum of 75 feet from the beach bluff.
User supplied Propane devices must be a minimum of 25 feet from the beach bluff.
Up to 12 City supplied wood-fueled devices will be provided evenly spaced 200 feet apart between 8th Avenue and Martin Way.
Fifty percent of the City supplied wood-fueled devices available for public use at any time will be for communal use.
Implement an educational outreach program to inform the public about proper use of propane devices.