San Clemente joins South County Beach Coalition to coordinate sand and resiliency efforts
Summary
After debate about membership and representation, the council voted unanimously to join a new South County Beach Coalition led by the county; the motion asks staff to encourage legislators and partner agencies to participate and to consider San Clemente leadership on the body.
The San Clemente City Council voted unanimously Oct. 7 to join a newly formed South County Beach Coalition intended to coordinate sand‑nourishment, coastal‑resilience planning and grant efforts across southern Orange County. Supervisor Katrina Foley and others described the coalition as a memorandum‑of‑understanding‑style collaboration (not a new taxing authority) to streamline regional applications for competitive state and federal funding, including components of Proposition 4.
City Manager Andy Hall said he attended the coalition’s initial meeting; Supervisors’ office staff and OC Parks, the flood control district and Capistrano Bay Community Services District are among the entities listed as voting members in the draft bylaws. The council discussed concerns that state legislative offices and some northern coastal jurisdictions were not included as voting members; Supervisor Foley said legislator offices and federal representatives participated through staff and could be invited to future meetings.
Councilmember Zhen Wu, who placed the reconsideration on the agenda, said San Clemente should use the coalition to leverage outside funding rather than rely on local taxpayers. After discussion about membership, representation and leadership, the council approved a motion to join and directed staff to pursue invitations for key state and federal legislative offices and to explore a leadership role for San Clemente on the coalition. The vote was unanimous.
