San Clemente BPR Commission adopts work-plan priorities, backs long-term sand policy and North Beach subcommittee

The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission in San Clemente voted Wednesday to transmit a consolidated work plan to City Council that prioritizes a clear, long-term beach sand policy and establishes subcommittees to carry out items in the plan.

Commissioners voted to forward staff-proposed, already-funded projects for the 2025–26 work plan and to ask City Council to authorize creation of subcommittees — including a subcommittee to partner with the North Beach Community Association to develop and execute a North Beach enhancement work plan. The motion to adopt the staff-funded items and the motion to forward the broader work plan were approved by voice votes during the meeting.

The action follows a lengthy public comment period in which residents and community groups urged the commission to prioritize sand replenishment, clearer monitoring of sand volumes and movement, and stronger ties with neighborhood organizations. Christopher Butler, identified as president of the North Beach Community Association, urged the commission to “place more sand on our beaches, at least 50,000 cubic yards annually at North Beach, supported by a sustainable nourishment plan and funding strategy.” Several other speakers, including longtime residents and coastal advisors, pressed for improved data collection and a “sand budget” that measures volume rather than only beach width.

Commissioners and staff described the adopted approach as intentionally narrow and achievable: the commission will work with city staff and the city’s coastal consultant to develop a long-term beach sand policy based on historical beach conditions and measurable replenishment goals. Commissioner Ben Van North moved the work-plan item to “work with city staff to establish a clear long-term beach sand policy and aligning replenishing goals,” saying the policy should be feasible to complete in a short time frame and should guide future budgeting and permitting decisions.

Staff also briefed the commission on existing monitoring and replenishment work. Director Lesley Wylie (city staff) and several public speakers noted the city’s shoreline-monitoring program, ongoing feasibility work on nature-based sand retention structures, and the state Coastal Commission grant that funds some of the studies. Resident speakers pointed to specific technical and planning gaps in the draft feasibility study for nature-based structures, including access limits at the State Beach and near Wheeler Reef that they said the study undercounted.

Beyond sand policy, the commission adopted several additional work-plan items or directions including: strengthening partnerships with community organizations (with a North Beach pilot subcommittee to create and execute a North Beach work plan), advancing a more comprehensive beach monitoring program, continuing funded capital projects already on the staff list for 2025–26, and a targeted parking/signage follow-up (to improve numbering and payment clarity at certain beach lots).

Chair Thor Johnson and commission members emphasized that subcommittees cannot be formally convened until City Council approves the work plan; commissioners asked staff to include language in the submission to Council describing the desired subcommittees and the rationale for each.

Mike Webb, the city’s Beaches, Parks and Recreation director, also provided a separate recreation-programs update to the commission, reporting robust turnout for summer concerts and community events and listing fall programming dates and partners. Webb underscored that many of the events are ongoing and that staff will continue to coordinate with community groups and volunteers.

The commission said it intends to track progress by asking subcommittees to report back at future meetings and to refine the work plan with Council approval. No new funding was authorized at the meeting — commissioners asked staff to identify budgets and to include items in the city budget process where appropriate.