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bonfire pit <br />hutington beach <br />assembly bill 1102 <br />ab1102 (beach bonfire protection) <br /> <br />REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />MAY 20, 2013 <br />TITLE: <br />RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE <br />SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY <br />MANAGEMENT DISTRICT'S PROPOSED <br />AMENDED RULE 444 PROHIBITING OPEN <br />BURNING ON BEA S <br />CITY MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />? As Recommended <br />? As Amended <br />? Ordinance on 1St Reading <br />? Ordinance on 2nd Reading <br />? Implementing Resolution <br />? Set Public Hearing For_ <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Adopt a Resolution opposing the South Coast Air Quality Management District's proposed <br />amended Rule 444 prohibiting open burning on beaches. <br />DISCUSSION <br />On June 7, 2013, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will consider an <br />action to prohibit the public from utilizing beach fire rings for burning activities effective January 1, <br />2015. The purpose of this action is to mitigate the public exposure to potentially high <br />concentrations of wood smoke at Orange and Los Angeles county beaches. Under the proposed <br />change, a city or county could, through formal action, make the prohibition effective sooner than <br />January 1, 2015. <br />Millions of visitors come to Orange County beaches each year and many are drawn to the <br />beaches for the fire ring experience. There are over 700 fire rings located throughout Orange <br />County beaches. It is estimated that visitors to Orange County beaches generate millions of <br />dollars in annual revenue to beach cities through parking fees, sales tax from local shopping, and <br />transient occupancy tax which indirectly benefits all Orange County cities through a strengthened <br />regional economy. <br />Recognizing the important role our neighboring beach communities play in providing the <br />Southern California region with passive and affordable recreational opportunities, Mayor Pulido <br />and Councilmember Benavides asked staff to prepare a Resolution opposing the SCAQMD <br />proposed universal ban on beach fire rings in Orange County. The Resolution also includes <br />language that supports providing local jurisdictions with greater flexibility in solely determining <br />whether or not to retain or remove its fire rings based on local community interests. <br />FISCAL IMPACT <br />There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. <br />65B-1