Though Manhattan Beach's popular Sand Dune park remains closed for maintenance that was badly needed after a recent surge in use, residents nearby are already worried about its looming, yet so-far unscheduled, reopening.
And they are apparently making their worries known to city officials.
To that end, City Manager Geoff Dolan has written a letter to residents that outlines the steps leaders are taking to address the problems that lead to the popular dune's closure:
And they are apparently making their worries known to city officials.
To that end, City Manager Geoff Dolan has written a letter to residents that outlines the steps leaders are taking to address the problems that lead to the popular dune's closure:
Dear Sand Dune Neighbors,
I want to thank everyone for the many emails that have been sent to City Council and City staff regarding Sand Dune Park. In addition I would like to try and address many of the points that have been raised by residents. Please take note that City Council has the final say on any and all decisions related to the Park.
First I want to acknowledge the substantial increase of the Dune's use and the impact this increased attendance has had on the adjacent residential neighborhood. Everyone at the City recognizes the problem and the challenge is now to resolve the issues. In the past we have focused on things such as parking, staffing and traffic. While these actions may have provided some relief, problems remain that are still unacceptable.
It appears the only way to reduce the impact to the neighboring residential area is to reduce the use of the Dune. Certainly closing the Dune would do that, or charging a fee or perhaps requiring a reservation to control the number of folks using it at one time. All of these actions were considered in the past and rejected for a variety of reasons, which is not to say they cannot be implemented in the future. On the other hand, the Council has asked our Parking and Public Improvements Commission (PPIC) to consider an alternative method of modifying demand through the use of permit parking and meters. Below are examples of some of the creative possibilities to be considered. Certainly the commission, staff and most importantly the residents will have many other ideas and questions to contribute.
But first, here is an update on the current situation:
1. The Dune was closed administratively on August 7th in order to address a number of maintenance needs which also serves to break some of the patterns of use.
2. There is no set date to reopen the dune but the maintenance work will probably be completed in the next few weeks, meaning the Dune will have been closed approximately seven weeks.
3. When the Dune is reopened we will increase the park staffing from 1 to 2 attendants.
4. The Park Ranger and a CSO (Community Services Officer) will be on site during the busiest hours of operation.
5. When the dune reopens the Police department will increase traffic enforcement and patrols in the area.
The PPIC will be meeting September 24, 2009 and the entire meeting will be devoted to the issues at Sand Dune Park. They have been asked by Council to review all the issues related to the installation of a permit parking system, parking meters and any other traffic or traffic engineering (signage) issues that come up. They will report their findings and recommendations to Council.
Following are a few thoughts to consider. These items are meant to be illustrative only, nothing has been determined.
1. It is relatively inexpensive to try a permit/meter option. Permit processing is done in-house and we already have systems in place in two other areas of the City.
2. It will not be necessary to purchase a lot of parking meters. New technology also allows us to number spaces and have a central payment location.
3. New technology also allows time of day or day of week pricing to influence demand. For instance if Saturday and Sunday mornings are the busiest we could charge $5 an hour with a 1 hour maximum.
4. Neighborhood permits would significantly free up parking in front of homes and multiple permits could be provided since it is unlikely the neighborhood would give them to Dune users.
5. Commercial vehicles can be exempt.
6. Permits could only be required during the hours the Park is open.
7. A permit system can be implemented fairly rapidly.
8. Permit boundaries can be flexible such that when a block feels impacted they can "opt" in.
9. The neighborhood may want to request Council consider the use of speed bumps which are now only allowed adjacent to schools.
10. There may be improvements recommended to traffic and directional signage in the area.
11. Operational issues such as Park hours or the use of whistles and bullhorns are not under the purview of the PPIC. If City Council decides to address operational issues they may refer these items to the Parks and Recreation Commission or deal with them themselves.
These are just a few of the possibilities to discuss, recognizing that if this approach fails to reduce demand, other options are always available.
Two final points I would like to make are:
1. The area was never used as a dump, this may have been confused with Live Oak Park which was at one time
2. It is not possible to plant half the Dune horizontally. There would be no way to replenish the Dune and the area above would collapse as the lower portion was utilized.
If you would like to discuss any of this with me please feel free to call (310) 802-5053 or email Geoff Dolan.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I encourage you to attend the PPIC Meeting on Thursday, September 24th, 6:30 PM. If you are unable to attend please email your comments to Esteben Danna and he will provide them to the Commission.
Sincerely,
Geoff Dolan
But first, here is an update on the current situation:
1. The Dune was closed administratively on August 7th in order to address a number of maintenance needs which also serves to break some of the patterns of use.
2. There is no set date to reopen the dune but the maintenance work will probably be completed in the next few weeks, meaning the Dune will have been closed approximately seven weeks.
3. When the Dune is reopened we will increase the park staffing from 1 to 2 attendants.
4. The Park Ranger and a CSO (Community Services Officer) will be on site during the busiest hours of operation.
5. When the dune reopens the Police department will increase traffic enforcement and patrols in the area.
The PPIC will be meeting September 24, 2009 and the entire meeting will be devoted to the issues at Sand Dune Park. They have been asked by Council to review all the issues related to the installation of a permit parking system, parking meters and any other traffic or traffic engineering (signage) issues that come up. They will report their findings and recommendations to Council.
Following are a few thoughts to consider. These items are meant to be illustrative only, nothing has been determined.
1. It is relatively inexpensive to try a permit/meter option. Permit processing is done in-house and we already have systems in place in two other areas of the City.
2. It will not be necessary to purchase a lot of parking meters. New technology also allows us to number spaces and have a central payment location.
3. New technology also allows time of day or day of week pricing to influence demand. For instance if Saturday and Sunday mornings are the busiest we could charge $5 an hour with a 1 hour maximum.
4. Neighborhood permits would significantly free up parking in front of homes and multiple permits could be provided since it is unlikely the neighborhood would give them to Dune users.
5. Commercial vehicles can be exempt.
6. Permits could only be required during the hours the Park is open.
7. A permit system can be implemented fairly rapidly.
8. Permit boundaries can be flexible such that when a block feels impacted they can "opt" in.
9. The neighborhood may want to request Council consider the use of speed bumps which are now only allowed adjacent to schools.
10. There may be improvements recommended to traffic and directional signage in the area.
11. Operational issues such as Park hours or the use of whistles and bullhorns are not under the purview of the PPIC. If City Council decides to address operational issues they may refer these items to the Parks and Recreation Commission or deal with them themselves.
These are just a few of the possibilities to discuss, recognizing that if this approach fails to reduce demand, other options are always available.
Two final points I would like to make are:
1. The area was never used as a dump, this may have been confused with Live Oak Park which was at one time
2. It is not possible to plant half the Dune horizontally. There would be no way to replenish the Dune and the area above would collapse as the lower portion was utilized.
If you would like to discuss any of this with me please feel free to call (310) 802-5053 or email Geoff Dolan.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I encourage you to attend the PPIC Meeting on Thursday, September 24th, 6:30 PM. If you are unable to attend please email your comments to Esteben Danna and he will provide them to the Commission.
Sincerely,
Geoff Dolan
THE PEOPLE IN THOSE NEIBORHOODS NEED TO BUILD A BRIDGE AND GET OVER IT. THE SAND DUNE ARE NOT THAT BAD, AND ITS NOT THAT NOISY
I guess some developer could always buy the land and put up some sort of high rise. Let's see how much they like that. Certainly most of the current residents bought after the dune was established. They have no leg to stand on when it comes to complaining. That's like buying a place near an airport and then complaining about all the planes flying overhead.
I'm willing to bet that if this was happening in some part of town where a lot of hoidy toidy people didn't live, no one would even care.
As far as I'm concerned it's a landmark. closing it would be like taking down the Hollywood sign or bulldozing the Tar Pits.
If fees were not outrageous I could deal with that. But $5/hour?!? Someone needs to stay off the pipe.
If a parking permit plan is implemented, the residents should have to buy permits in order to show they are residents of the area and the fee should be so painfully high that they have to reconsider the price they are willing to pay for their exclusivity and snobbery.
I guess some developer could always buy the land and put up some sort of high rise. Let's see how much they like that. Certainly most of the current residents bought after the dune was established. They have no leg to stand on when it comes to complaining. That's like buying a place near an airport and then complaining about all the planes flying overhead.
I'm willing to bet that if this was happening in some part of town where a lot of hoidy toidy people didn't live, no one would even care.
As far as I'm concerned it's a landmark. closing it would be like taking down the Hollywood sign or bulldozing the Tar Pits.
If fees were not outrageous I could deal with that. But $5/hour?!? Someone needs to stay off the pipe.
If a parking permit plan is implemented, the residents should have to buy permits in order to show they are residents of the area and the fee should be so painfully high that they have to reconsider the price they are willing to pay for their exclusivity and snobbery.
Just open the dang dunes already!!
I believe the only reason the Sand Dune Park is being closed is so that the city can stack up on parking fees and parking ticket revenue. I once got a ticket there for backing into the parking space. What was I gonna do, unload a cooler and all my picnic supplies in the street? The traffic at the dunes isn't an issue to the city, and re-opening the park with controlled access won't decrease the traffic. The city sees this as an opportunity to make money. Two park rangers? That's funny. I can picture people getting bused in if the parking gets too "controlled". The neighbors bought a house next to a park. They knew what came with it. They knew what a free local resource it was, and they should'nt complain about it. When it does open back up, I'll make sure to tell all the local soccer teams throughout south central about the place. I love border dogs, tamales, and unstamped cigarettes.
If you buy a place near a golf course there will be golfers and gold balls, worshipers near a church, students near a school, people near a beach, and visitors near a park. I can go on.
If the residents want more parking, then they should build bigger driveways. I have no right to park on the street where I live, so why should these other people have special rights.
The people at the dune are never noisy, and definitely much less so than at a soccer or softball field. Most people are there 45-90 minutes and the leave to go the beach, shop, or eat.
The $5 an hour thing is ridiculous, and it fails to see that when we head there to the dunes we end up grabbing something to eat and sometimes spending the morning or day in the area which boost the local economy. Maybe, the snobs that live here do not work at the establishments, but some might own them and all benefit from the tax and revenue boost that bringing people there has.
We should consider a mass organized protest by loading a busload of people down there a few days a month if they do not open the dune or they start these crazy fees. That way the selfish residents will be far worse off than it if it is open. Additionally, we should avoid supporting the businesses in that town.
Everytime I went there I never saw anything bad happening into which the residents are describing. It's kind of funny how they have a sign posted about how this park is thanks to the residents and now they are just complaining and having it shut down because people are enjoying it? I just don't get it. I can understand that 9pm is a little too late, but to shut it down completely for this long is just sad.