Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Beach Operations Lifeguards topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lifeguards report busy holiday weekend, OCTA work wraps area 1–2; tower replacements planned
Summary
Lifeguards reported 86,000 visitors since last meeting, 106 swimmer rescues and ongoing work by OCTA placing riprap and preparing sand replenishment. The department plans new lifeguard towers and junior lifeguard program start dates were announced.
Chief Bullock (lifeguard operations) told the committee that since the last meeting lifeguards logged about 86,000 beach visitors and responded to 6,135 incidents. The department reported 106 swimmer rescues, 1 ALS medical call with OCFA response, 1,561 preventative actions, 3,442 public-education contacts and 952 law-enforcement contacts.
"Since our last meeting we've had 6,135 incidents. Lifeguards rescued a hundred and 6 swimmers in distress," Chief Bullock said, adding that 59 rescues occurred over the holiday weekend.
Chief Bullock said staffing is at about 10 lifeguards on weekdays and 22 on weekends. The junior lifeguard program starts on June 16 and several special events and commercial film permits were managed by lifeguard staff.
Public works and lifeguard staff also updated the committee on the OCTA beach project. Officials placed 5,500 tons of riprap in areas 1 and 2 and plan to remove the laydown area at the North Beach parking lot; staff projected the lot would reopen by early next week. OCTA is seeking a sand source to place about 240,000 cubic yards of sand in a later phase.
Separately, beach lifeguard management discussed replacement towers. The city has budgeted and scheduled timber towers in coming fiscal years and noted fiberglass towers historically cost more (the speaker cited an example cost of $57,000 for a larger fiberglass tower versus about $46,000 for a wood tower).
Ending: Committee members acknowledged the seasonal ramp-up; staff said OCTA work would continue into Area 3 and the city would monitor staffing and equipment needs through the summer.
