Oceanside Residents Discuss Waterfront

By David Sterrett, North County Times, Escondido, Calif.

Feb. 27–OCEANSIDE — At a meeting Monday night to discuss Oceanside’s waterfront, residents said the city needs to expand and improve beach restrooms, make the area more pedestrian-friendly, and better utilize the amphitheatre and community center.

About 85 residents participated in the meeting designed to give city consultants an idea of what residents want to preserve or improve in the beach area from Breakwater Way to Wisconsin Street that includes the pier, community center and amphitheatre.

"I’m pleased to see such a fabulous turnout, and that says you love your waterfront," consultant Kathleen Garcia said during the meeting at the community center under the pier.

In the fall the city hired Garcia’s San Diego-based firm, Wallace Roberts & Todd Inc., to analyze the city’s amenities and facilities around the beach, which attracts about 4 million visitors a year according to city officials.

She said consultants will incorporate the residents’ comments Monday into an improvement plan for the 17-block stretch. The consultants will present ideas to the residents at an April 30 meeting and will make recommendations to the City Council in the summer, Garcia said.

Many city staffers, City Council members and developers with downtown projects attended the Monday meeting, along with community activists and residents who live near the beach.

"We want to protect the public investments Oceanside put on the waterfront," Garcia told the crowd. "We know we have to address the restrooms. That is going to be a big question and we want to hear your suggestions."

Residents described the restrooms in the beach area as ugly and unsanitary.

Nine-year-old Teva Needleman, who attended the meeting with her parents, said she wouldn’t go to the restrooms near the beach.

"I don’t want to use the bathrooms because the floor is wet," Teva said. "It’s also really smelly in there."

A couple of people said the city should look at the beach restrooms in Solana Beach as examples. The idea of having residents pay to use restrooms received a mix response, as some said it would keep the facilities cleaner while others said no one should pay for public restrooms.

Tom Bayer, owner of a coffee shop near the waterfront, said many beach-goers pack into his business to use the bathroom because they don’t want to use the ones at the beach.

"The city should be embarrassed by the restrooms," said Bayer, who was one of the many residents that said the city badly needs more restrooms.

The city has six restrooms with a total of 11 stalls for men and 16 stalls for women along the entire waterfront area, according to consultants.

An analysis of the area showed the city had 16 benches, 30 barbecue grills, 55 picnic tables, five drinking fountains, 63 trash cans, 13 recycle cans and eight fire pits along the coastal area.

Garcia said the studies show that there are adequate water and sewer facilities along the coast. The consultants took a careful look at both the wooden and concrete part of the city’s historic pier.

She said the concrete portion of the pier running from the street to the beach was in good shape for being 80 years old, and the timber structures holding the pier above the water "were in excellent condition."

Residents said the city needs to maintain the pier.

"It’s the longest pier in southern California," said longtime resident John Daley, who said it was built in 1927. "It’s an icon for us."

Residents also identified the amphitheater that was built in the 1930s and rebuilt in the 1950s as an important historic facility. Some residents expressed the need to upgrade the amphitheatre while others proposed preserving its traditional feel.

The crowd was divided about having more business in the beach area around the pier.

But almost everyone said they want to see more performances or events at the amphitheatre with the beautiful ocean backdrop.

"The amphitheatre is a real treasure and resource," said Jeremy Cohen, the developer of a proposed 336-room resort across from the pier. "There is a great opportunity for the amphitheatre to be a cultural magnet."

Cohen said the city could considering doing more with the community center that is primarily now used for youth basketball. Several residents said the city should explore more broad uses of the center to take advantage of its prime location under the pier.

Councilwoman Esther Sanchez said several schools and basketball leagues use the gym and it already provides many benefits for the community. She said one of her goals was to make the area along the beach easier to use for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Several residents said they’d like to prohibit cars on the Strand running along the beach, but city officials said that was unlikely. Instead, the consultants and city officials said they would look at ways to separate the walkers and bicyclists from the cars.

Resident Pamela Myers said many residents walk dogs along the beach, and she proposed the city consider allowing dogs on a certain section of beach.

To pay for the improvements to the area, former Councilwoman Shari Mackin suggested the city create a $1-a-night tax on hotel rooms as Carlsbad does.

City officials and the consultants didn’t discuss financing for the improvements at the meeting.

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Copyright (c) 2007, North County Times, Escondido, Calif.

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