|
SANTA CRUZ — Spotting a kook in the ocean is going to be a lot easier now that the city has a new law requiring surf school students and their instructors to wear colored vests when taking lessons at Cowell Beach.
By Shanna McCord Sentinel staff writer SANTA CRUZ — Spotting a kook in the ocean is going to be a lot easier now that the city has a new law requiring surf school students and their instructors to wear colored vests when taking lessons at Cowell Beach.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to tighten regulations on commercial activities in public parks and beaches, specifically requiring special permits to teach private surf lessons at Cowell Beach — a city-owned property famous for a long, slow wave ideal for beginners.
The new requirements to get a permit to teach surf lessons include:
- Paying a $500 fee.
- Having a $1 million city liability insurance policy.
- Providing evidence of workers' compensation insurance for employees.
- Having a city business license.
- All instructors must be CPR and first aid certified.
- No more than a 4-to-1 student-teacher ratio.
- No more than a total of 36 students in the surf zone at one time.
- Using foam boards only.
"This is about making sure people are safe when learning to surf and the city receiving some kind of compensation," Parks and Recreation Director Dannettee Shoemaker said. "We feel this is a work in progress"
The few critics at the meeting called the permit requirements "vague," "overbroad" and "an additional bureaucracy the city can ill-afford"
"The ocean and the waves don't belong to the city," said attorney David Meyberg, representing Santa Cruz Surf School. "In essence, surf schools are paying for something they already have the right to use"
Parks and Recreation officials met with six local surfers and instructors for three hours Monday night to gather input on the new policy.
While city officials say the permit requirements were developed through consensus, some instructors predict the new rules will be difficult to follow.
Well-known surfer Richard Schmidt, who has been teaching surfing in Santa Cruz for 28 years, said he and other instructors will have to come up with "some creative management" to make sure no more than 36 students are in the water at one time.
"Obviously, it doesn't feel good to be regulated," Schmidt said. "It will affect our businesses. It's like saying [Mayor] Emily Reilly can only make so many muffins this week"
The mayor owns a bakery on Mission Street.
Parks officials don't have specific plans on how the requirements will be enforced. Instead, they want surf schools to police themselves.
Excluded from the new surf school rules is Club Ed, which has a separate contract with the Parks and Recreation Department to set up its school on Cowell Beach. Club Ed pays the city $20,000 each year for the exclusive rights to conduct business on the sand.
Councilman Mike Rotkin shot down accusations that the city is trying to regulate the ocean. Rather, it's a cry for more revenue, he said.
"The reality is we have a difficult time with new tax revenue," Rotkin said. "What we're doing here is certainly not unreasonable"
City leaders hope the new policy cuts down on the number of surf students congregating on the sidewalk on West Cliff Drive, which is something nearby neighbors often complain about.
The new policy also pertains to private tennis lessons on city courts and tai chi classes taught in public parks.
Meyberg called on the council to abandon the policy. He is considering challenging the new permit requirement in court.
Shoemaker said she spoke with officials in other cities in an attempt to find a similar policy, but found none.
"Everybody says [surf schools] are a problem, but they don't know how to regulate it," she said. "The other cities are going to be watching us"
The new law takes effect May 10. The Parks and Recreation Department is expected to present the City Council with a report of how it is working out by the end of summer.
Contact Shanna McCord at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
|
