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Moonlight Beach facilities deteriorating
By: ADAM KAYE - Staff Writer
Some fixes done, the most expensive ones remain | ∞
A sea gull flies past the lifeguard station held together by paint and rust at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas.
JOHN KOSTER For The North County TImes
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ENCINITAS ---- At one of North County's busiest beaches, the lifeguard station is falling apart and the restrooms are grungy, officials say.
Moonlight Beach, at the foot of B and C streets, attracts thousands of visitors on an average summer weekend, attendance that exceeds that of all other Encinitas beaches combined.
In a report this month to the City Council, the city's Parks and Recreation Commission chairman highlighted the deteriorating condition of the beach structures, which are nearly 45 years old.
City officials say improvements are part of a long-term plan for the beach, but that there's no money in the budget to make the fixes now ---- even if they're badly needed.
"It's no surprise to any of you that the bathroom is really (nasty)," Deputy Mayor Maggie Houlihan said later. She said the stalls always seem to have water puddled on the floor. "You should never go barefoot in there."
The lifeguard station also needs attention, she said. "Deferred maintenance isn't working anymore, because it's just falling apart."
Chipping away at plan
In the early 1990s, the city created the Moonlight Beach Master Plan, which called for widespread improvements to the beach, blocks away from downtown Encinitas.
More than a decade later, two of the most expensive items in the plan ---- the lifeguard station and the restroom building ---- haven't been designed or budgeted, city officials said.
Other elements of the plan have already been completed, including:
More recently, workers also expanded a loading zone and removed ice plant to expand heavily used volleyball courts.
Under the master plan, restrooms and a concession stand ---- which are now separate structures ---- would be consolidated into a single building at the foot of an embankment, opening valuable sand space as well as a view corridor down B Street, said Parks and Recreation Department Director Chris Hazeltine.
Before new buildings can go in, however, crews must replace plumbing, phone and power lines that date to the 1920s, he said.
And city officials would need to decide how to pay for the work, which a 2006 study estimated to cost $4.2 million.
The city's capital improvement budget shows $700,000 set aside for the design and development of Moonlight Beach improvements, but officials say that won't go far.
"What we left in (the budget) was enough money to do actual planning and designing," said Mayor Jerome Stocks. "We have an approved drawing, but the details have never been fleshed out."
Harsh elements
Meanwhile, at Moonlight Beach, sea air is eating away at the lifeguard station that officials say is held together by rust and coats of paint.
An exterior lighting fixture dangles from wires and salt air has chewed holes in a knee-level railing of a steel stairway.
"It's really and truly falling apart," said lifeguard Capt. Larry Giles.
Despite the conditions, he said, lifeguards are making do, handling ever-increasing crowds and rescues.
Moonlight Beach receives more than 1.4 million visits annually, according to city estimates.
Records for the 3.5 miles of city-patrolled beaches show that in 2007, lifeguards performed 1,277 rescues and administered 4,762 minor medical aids. At least half of the rescues and medical responses happened at the two-block-long Moonlight Beach, Giles said, where lifeguards are headquartered in a block tower containing two 12-by-12-foot floors.
Inside the structure, an entanglement of conduit is anchored to the walls and lifesaving equipment occupies any available nook.
A steel shipping container and wooden sheds add to the storage space, but vehicles, boats and other equipment still must be stored at nearby fire stations and at City Hall, Giles said.
"It gets congested," Giles said, "but we make it work."
City improvements to a state-owned beach
The city controls the 12.7-acre Moonlight Beach under a 20-year-lease with the state. By contract, the city gets free rent in exchange for providing maintenance and lifeguard services. The city also must pay for any upgrades.
In talks last month, city and state officials negotiated the renewal of the lease agreement, which also applies to the state-owned shoreline between Swami's and South Carlsbad State Beach.
The lease extension represents nearly two years of negotiations and is scheduled for the City Council's consideration next month, Hazeltine said.
At Moonlight, the state property extends well beyond the beach itself and follows the Cottonwood Creek channel all the way to South Coast Highway 101.
The beach has ample parking and other features that are missing at other city beaches, such as a playground and turf area, concession stand, volleyball courts, picnic tables, fire rings and plenty of sand.
Moonlight is home to summer concerts, triathlons, surfing contests, surf camps and the junior lifeguard program.
Earlier this week, a playground at the edge of the sand provided excitement for Oliver Demian, 2, who climbed, swung and slid as his mother, Jessica, and baby brother, Ethan, looked on.
Jessica Demian said she is a lifelong Encinitas resident and that the playground and turf are great gathering places for families.
She said she would support more improvements for Moonlight Beach ---- especially the restrooms.
"My kids are in diapers now, so it's not really an issue," she said, "but I definitely won't be taking them in there with bare feet."
Contact staff writer Adam Kaye at (760) 901-4074 or akaye@nctimes.com.
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jose wrote on Jan 26, 2008 7:14 AM:How adding signs so that are written in Spanish as well as English. What about a playground. and a few hundred diaper changing tables ;so that the beach area could be enjoyed by all.
Ann wrote on Jan 26, 2008 7:25 AM:O.K. now let's get this straight. We have a dangerous lifeguard stand and restrooms that are a health hazard but no money to fix them. But this council just gave their employees 3.5% raises for the next 4 years in a deteriorating economy. Dalager pushed thru a fancy tot lot but ignored the life threatening hazards of the lifeguard stand & the restrooms. Shame on you.
Encinitas Resident wrote on Jan 26, 2008 8:36 AM:OK, so if I had a light dangling from the front of my house, I'd replace it. It's called maintenance. Obvously, lack of maintenace is an issue here. So, where DID the maintenance money go for these facilities? To the 3.5% pay increase for city employees?
It's America wrote on Jan 26, 2008 8:56 AM:To Jose - this is America and it gets really old that you want our country to accomodate you. Learn english!
Jennifer in Encinitas wrote on Jan 26, 2008 9:01 AM:They'll find the money somewhere - Moonlight is the best beach in the area! The kids love it and it is a place for our community to meet. It is a safe place unlike other beaches for the kids and families to be. It doesn't attract the rifraf- which is nice
Ha! wrote on Jan 26, 2008 9:08 AM:The council is spending $15 million on rebuilding 3 fire stations. The council gave employees 3.5% salary increases for the next four years. The council has borrowed money in part to paid for the library and help pay off the city's unfunded pension liabilities leaving a debt to the taxpayers. The council can't afford to replace a metal ladder without assessing more fees and taxes. Get rid of the spendthrifts on the council.
Local wrote on Jan 26, 2008 9:10 AM:Who goes barefoot in a public restroom? Even if it's the beach, some common sense should prevail, especially with small kids.
The beach environment is brutal, so deterioration over the years isn't a surprise. Maybe the big non-public events (triathalons, surf competitions, private surf schools) should pay a usage fee, if they aren't already. If they are paying fees, perhaps they should be re-evaluated annually(I confess to ignorance). There's always the (unpopular) option of paid parking; if we had it on both the beach and downtown, we could probably solve several problems (too many cars downtown, not enough funds for Moonlight, overnighters on downtown streets).
Diane wrote on Jan 26, 2008 10:48 AM:No money to fix the restrooms and lifeguard station -- why not sell some of the contaminated Hall property to fund improvements. With 1.4 million visitors a year, I think the beach needs the money more.
American Mike wrote on Jan 26, 2008 12:04 PM:Before being able to drive, we’d bike from Escondido to Moonlight. Believe it or not, that was possible back in 1971. I’ve entertained everyone from Miss San Marcos (Hi Marcy) to the ever loving La Jolla babes on that spot of sand. It’s been a couple of months since my last visit (with my Dutch girlie), but the current state didn’t have any negative impact on what the beach really means. Laugh, but it’s tribal.
Things wear out, just like people do. This tiny little spot in the world isn’t any worse off than the million of other places just like it. People now expect every modern convenience and workers expect facilities to be first rate. Such are the spoils of a good economy and lucky livelihood. For me, I didn’t expect to see new towers, and the showers still stand. More importantly, the upper and lower parking lot is still there, no condos, no taco shops, the same place to park your ride (with the exception of the ticket booth) that’s been there in my 40 years of frequenting the place. It will get better, just don’t entertain the idea of corporate involvement, or the experience will be gone forever. Quit your bitchen and enjoy the place. Old enough to know, young enough to care.
Janet wrote on Jan 26, 2008 2:32 PM:Council and City Manager are a joke. If they didn't spend 95% of the City revenue on Staff salaries and benefits, $15,000,00 on firestation facelifts and $60,000,000 for a regional sports complex, we might be able to afford some improvements to our streets and beaches. Man are they off base.
Karl wrote on Jan 26, 2008 3:16 PM:Wow. We now need public funds to enjoy the beach. I'm with American Mike. It's a shame that our kids cannot enjoy the beaches the way that we did as uninhibited teenage out of control kids. Ouch. Mike "Quit your bitchen and enjoy the place. Old enough to know, young enough to care." Right on dude. We are the very fortunate to live here and our kids should enjoy the surf as we did.
Charge the out of towners wrote on Jan 26, 2008 9:03 PM:Not just for Moonlight, but for the use of ALL the parks in Encinitas. On any given weekend, the vast majority of people using the sports parks throughout Encinitas are not Encinitas residents. Ditto for those using Moonlight. A few parking meters, some realistic permit charges for the organized sports leagues that monopolize most of the parks, and you'd find plenty of $$ to maintain the facilities.
Captain Obvious wrote on Jan 26, 2008 10:15 PM:"It's no surprise to any of you that the bathroom is really (nasty)," Deputy Mayor Maggie Houlihan said later. She said the stalls always seem to have water puddled on the floor. "You should never go barefoot in there."
No kidding? Who in their right mind goes barefoot into ANY public restroom??? Thank you captain obvious!
Major Observation wrote on Jan 27, 2008 9:59 AM:Most people at the beach walk around barefoot. Lots of people go in the stalls barefoot. Not everyone has a clue.
Rolla wrote on Jan 27, 2008 11:55 AM:San Diego is our family vacation spot, and Moonlight Beach is our favorite North County Beach. We show everyone all the nice photos and pretty setting. As an outsider, I would be opposed to paying a small facilities usage fee for maintainance. Also, can't businesses sponsor repair and new construction? I'd think that the local Home Depot would provide lumber and hardware of the local men's club would provide manpower to build or repair facilities. Looking forward to our summer trip-always nice visit for the kids!
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