Beach Fires Management

Pilot Program
CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION
APRIL 5, 2016

Pilot Program History

Conceptual Review
2011 to 2014 Several Meetings of the F&BC and PC
Jan. 2015 Planning Commission Conceptual Approval
Feb. 2015 City Council Concept Approval

Coastal Development Permit (CDP) Review by City

April 2015 PC Approval
May 2015 City Council Denies Appeal and Approves CDP

Pilot Program History Part 2

Air Quality Monitoring starts in late May 2015
Urgency Ordinance/Moratorium
Aug. 2015 Council adopts 45-day Urgency Ordinance
Ban on beach fires on weekends and holidays, increases setback from 25 ft to 100 ft
Sept. 2015 Council extends Urgency Ordinance for 1-year (total duration)

Nuisance Declaration and Direction to Revise Pilot Program

Nov. 2015 Council conducts first reading of Nuisance Declaration Ordinance
Nov. 2015 Council Direction on Revisions to Pilot Program (Propane only approach)

Coastal Commission Hearing

Dec. 2015 CCC Denies May 2015 Pilot Program, Directs staff to work with City on propane-only
approach

Pilot Program History Part 3

Dec. 2015 to Mar. 2016 City staff and CCC staff confer
Demonstrations of User-Supplied Propane Devices
3/1/16 Units displayed at City Hall
3/15/16 & 3/23/16 On-site demonstrations at Carmel Beach
3/18/16 Demonstration for CCC staff at Public Works

Major Motivations for Pilot Program

Concerns with Charcoal Discoloring Beach
Concerns Regarding Trash Left on Beach
Concerns with Public Health Impacts of Wood Smoke

Charcoal Concerns

Trash Concerns

Air Quality Monitoring

Beach Fire Data Collected by City

# Beach Fires since Emergency Ordinance
Aug. 1 2015
120

103

102

100

80

60

35

40

20

February

March

0
August

September

October

November

December

January

Fire Device Options

EXAMPLES OF AVAILABLE MODELS

Smaller Fire Bowls User-Supplied

Larger Fire Bowls City Supplied Concept?

Steel with iron oxide patina; 22 H

by 36 diameter; 100-150 pounds
Approx. $2,000 each

Objectives for this Meeting

Guidance on Additional Revisions to Pilot Program
Five Policy Questions
Input on Date for CDP Hearing
Other Input from City Council

Policy Questions
1.

Should the City increase the allowable areas for propane-fueled beach fire devices to areas north of 10th Avenue,
given the relative lack of smoke generated by these devices and the absence of charcoal generation?

2.

Should the City continue to include a component in the Pilot Program for City-supplied devices on the beach on a
seasonal basis, given the logistical and staffing challenges such a component would present?

3.

If the City continues with a City-supplied component, should the number of devices be increased or decreased,
should the type of device be altered, and should the proposed initial locations of these devices be revised?

4.

Should the City restrict the use of propane-fueled devices only to those that are Underwriters Laboratory (UL)-safety
rated, or alternatively, should the City simply recommend that devices be UL-rated?

5.

Are there additional outreach activities that should be conducted as part of the Pilot Program or in advance of the
hearing on the Pilot Programs CDP?

Next Steps
City Council Consideration of the CDP for the Revised Pilot Program
May 2016 Council meeting?

Possible Consideration by Coastal Commission