TITLE
Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Sections 16.08.471 and 16.08.650, relating to Marinas read and adopted as read. (District 3)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Municipal Code, Chapter 16.08, relates to the recreational marinas and waterfront areas operated by the City, including rules related to the use of Marine Stadium. Last summer, a number of issues arose, prompting questions about possible changes that can be made to the Municipal Code, which will enhance recreation at Marine Stadium.
The Municipal Code currently allows for motorized vessels to utilize Marine Stadium between 8:00 a.m. and dusk every day, unless Marine Stadium is being used for a permitted special event. During the winter months, particularly on weeknights, there is very little use of Marine Stadium for water skiing and wakeboarding. At the same time, the Long Beach Junior Crew, a private club open to the public, which is aligned with the Long Beach Unified School District to offer rowing for physical education credits, operates a very popular and successful junior rowing program. The young athletes participate in this program on weeknights, between 3:30 p.m. and dusk.
To better utilize Marine Stadium to meet the needs of the highest number of users, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) is recommending that motorized vessels be allowed to utilize Marine Stadium during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to dusk every day during the year, with the exception of Monday through Wednesday, from October 1 through March 31, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., excluding any school holidays observed during that period.
Secondly, PRM has received requests from water skiing and wakeboarding enthusiasts asking the City to increase the length of vessels allowed to use Marine Stadium for these sports. The companies that manufacture vessels for water skiing and wakeboarding purposes are building more maneuverable, albeit longer, vessels...
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