Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Beach Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts beach-patrol appointments; committees preview leash and swimmer-only proposals
Summary
Council approved resolutions commissioning beach-patrol staff as code-enforcement officers by voice vote and committees previewed proposed beach-rule changes: moving a stretch near Boardwalk 9 to on-leash during off-leash hours and designating high-congregation areas as swimmer-only zones; the town awarded the beach-patrol contract to Barrier Island Ocean Rescue.
At the March 24 meeting the council adopted a package of resolutions commissioning beach-patrol personnel as code-enforcement officers for the contracted beach-patrol service by voice vote.
Town Clerk called for the motion to adopt the resolutions, a councilmember moved and Andrew Smith seconded; the mayor recorded a voice vote and said, "All adopted." A council clarification noted that, under the revised language in this year's resolutions, the appointments will remain in effect so long as the individual remains employed by the contracted beach-patrol company and the town continues the contract; previously those appointments expired after one year.
Separately, the Environment & Wildlife Committee and the Public Safety Committee previewed proposed changes to the town’s beach rules that would take effect with the town’s April 1 peak-season schedule. Daryl, reporting for Public Safety, said committees preliminarily agreed to a request to change the area north of Boardwalk 9 from the current off-leash rule to on-leash during the hours and days when dogs are otherwise allowed off-leash, providing a quieter option for owners whose dogs are not social. He also said committees discussed designating high-congregation parts of the shore (boardwalks 1 and 2, the beach club/St. Christopher area, and Boardwalk 9) as swimmer-only zones where fishing or surfing would be prohibited.
Town Administrator Joe reported the town awarded the beach-patrol contract to Barrier Island Ocean Rescue and described the season staffing plan: starting April 1 the off-peak period will have two lifeguards and two vehicles, and peak season will have overlapping shifts providing four guards and two vehicles to patrol the Atlantic and Edisto sides.
The council’s voice-vote adoption of the beach-patrol commissions and the committees’ proposed rule changes set the items for further public input; committees plan a joint forum to solicit resident comment before any formal ordinance changes are finalized.
Next steps: joint committee forum to solicit public input on proposed beach-rule changes; council/staff to process any ordinance language necessary to implement changes and to publish details of the beach-patrol appointments and contract.
