Dune to Reopen Under Tight Restrictions

Neither side came away happy from Tuesday's special City Council meeting on whether and how to reopen the dune in Sand Dune Park. And that is perhaps the best indication that a much-touted "middle ground" compromise was reached.

The biggest winners were kids age 12 and under, as their access to the dune will be unrestricted and cost-free under new rules. The exception will be on Sunday, when the area will be closed to everyone.

About 200 people—the majority of whom were Manhattan Beach residents—filled the Joslyn Community Center on Tuesday night and weighed in on nearly every aspect of the debate, from questions of environmental impact to charges of elitism.

City staff provided the council with seven options, only four of which were seriously considered. Ultimately, councilmembers settled on option "number five," which came recommended by staff.

Under this plan, the city will restore the dune's shape and reopen it with limited use under a reservation system. A maximum of 20 adults will be allowed on the dune in hour-long increments with half-hour intervals designed to free up parking spaces between reservations. Site visitation is expected to drop by 70 percent under the new plan.

Though some residents spoke out in favor of a less restrictive annual permit system, Richard Gill, director of Parks and Recreation, said such a system would not reduce the number of visitors as dramatically.

Instead, the dune will remain fenced off and visitors will be required to use a registration system that issues a pass similar to an airline boarding ticket. To register, visitors will need to submit personal information for use in an emergency, but also as a way of safeguarding against misbehavior.

The current operating cost of managing the dune is about $125,000, Gill said. Under the new plan, such annual costs would be about $113,000, on top of an upfront earthwork and fencing cost of $136,000. The new reservation system, however, would bring in an estimated $43,000 in revenue. Final visitors' fees are still being worked out by city staff.

The dune will be accessible to adults from 8-11 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, with Saturday hours from 7:30-11 a.m. The changes are scheduled to take effect in June or July, said interim City Manager Richard Thompson.

Councilmembers described the new rules as a pilot program, agreeing they would reconvene with city staff toward the end of the year and reassess what effect the changes have had on the dune and the surrounding neighborhood.

"The idea is to get through the summer," Thompson said.

In response to residents' complaints (see videos) that the city seemed to be straying from what was discussed at a January council meeting on the dune's status, Councilwoman Portia Cohen said no conclusions or votes were made at that meeting.

"Some folks have said, 'Nothing has changed since then,' as if this is a mathematical formula..." Cohen said. "This isn't math; this is public policy."

"Since then, the greater community—due to the Internet, due to democracy—has awakened to the threat of what we now understand is a cherished place," she added. "It would be irresponsible of us not to put our finger on that pulse."

Editor's note: Check back for an update to this story, including more reactions from residents.