CC - 2013-28 - Opposing the South Coast Air Quality Management District's (SCAQMD) Proposed Amended Rule 4444 Prohibiting Open Burning on BeachesRESOLUTION NO. 2013 -28
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD OPPOSING
THE SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT'S (SCAQMD)
PROPOSED AMENDED RULE 444 PROHIBITING OPEN BURNING ON BEACHES
WHEREAS, the SCAQMD has proposed an amendment to Rule 444 which, if
approved, will add beaches to the list of prohibited areas for open fire burning; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendment to Rule 444 prohibiting open fire burning
on beaches will eliminate an important passive and affordable recreational opportunity
afforded to millions of residents and visitors which will greatly impact residents'
enjoyment of the beach; and
WHEREAS, beach communities within the jurisdiction of the SCAQMD have
different local interests that should be considered prior to a complete regional ban on
open burning in fire rings; and
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Rosemead, does hereby
resolve as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council opposes the SCAQMD proposed Amended Rule
444 prohibiting open burning on beaches; and
SECTION 2. That the City of Rosemead supports further efforts to find local
solutions rather than a complete regional ban on beach burning, which is an affordable
recreational opportunity enjoyed by residents of Southern California.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Rosemead at a
regular meeting thereof held on the 28 day of May, 2013.
ATTEST:
k0w, �1 _ d •; 1
loria -
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
f
[R achel Richman
City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS.
CITY OF ROSEMEAD )
I, Gloria Molleda, City Clerk of the City of Rosemead, do hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution No. 2013 -28 being:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD OPPOSING THE
SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT
DISTRICT'S (SCAQMD) PROPOSED
AMENDED Rule 444 PROHIBITING OPEN
BURNING ON BEACHES
was duly and regularly approved and adopted by the Rosemead City Council on the 28th of May,
2013, by the following vote to wit:
Yes: Alarcon, Armenta, Low, Ly
No: None
Abstain: None
Absent: Clark
�� e �,
Gloria Molleda
City Clerk
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
*,* STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JEFF ALLRED
DATE: MAY 28, 2013
EM11 1/251
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO THE SCAQMD PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING BURNING
IN FIRE RINGS ON BEACHES
SUMMARY
Council Member Ly has requested that the City Council consider taking a position in
opposition to the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Proposed Amended
Rule 444 (Open Burning Prohibited on Beaches), and authorize the Mayor to send a
letter to SCAQMD on this topic.
Recommendation:
City Council direction is requested.
BACKGROUND
The proposed rule amendment is intended to implement 2012 Air Quality Management
Plan control measure BCM -02 [Further Reductions from Open Burning] by extending
the prohibitions to beach fire pits. Within Los Angeles County, there are a total of 99
beach fire pits -90 at Dockweiler State Beach, 6 at Cabrillo Beach, and 3 at Pt. Fermin
Park. In addition, there are 741 beach fire pits at various beaches in Orange County
including 465 at Huntington Beach, 173 at San Clemente, and 60 at Newport Beach.
The attached Resolution opposes the proposed ban as the prohibition of open burning
on beaches would eliminate an important passive and affordable recreational
opportunity afforded to millions of residents and visitors which will greatly impact
residents' enjoyment of the beach. Furthermore, the Resolution states that beach
communities within the jurisdiction of SCAQMD have different local interests that should
be considered prior to a complete regional ban on open burning in fire rings.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process.
Prepared by:
Attachments
ITEM NUMBER: -5N
Wood fire pits could pose health problems for beach residents, AQ... http:// www. sgvtribune.com/news /ci_23274978 /wood -fire -pits- could...
Preliminary pollutant measurements in the AQMD study show wood smoke at Corona del Mar in
Newport Beach is almost double the pollution at Huntington Beach. This discrepancy is one of the
reasons Boardman wants more data.
"There's no compelling information to restrict fire rings," she said before a rally Friday on the
beach.
Cities at least will have more time to weigh in. The AQMD had scheduled a vote on the issue for
June 7 but pushed that back possibly a month or so because of scheduling problems for several of
the board members, Atwood said.
According to this week's study, wood smoke contains toxic, cancer - causing chemicals as well as
common combustion pollutants such as nitrogen oxides. Numerous health studies during wildfires
show that wood smoke causes respiratory irritation and an increase in hospital admissions for
respiratory problems.
Measured levels of particulates varied widely depending on weather conditions, the level of beach
fire activity and location, the study showed. In parking lots near beach fire pits, the study reported
fine particulate pollution concentrations were up to 10 times higher than typical background levels.
In nearby residential areas, particulate concentrations were up to three times higher.
The study also found wood smoke is the source of carcinogenic toxic pollutants, including benzene,
formaldehyde, and poly - aromatic hydrocarbons.
Meanwhile, AQMD board member Miguel Pulido, the mayor of Santa Ana, has been collecting
public input this week, including a Friday night hearing at the Huntington Beach City Hall.
Huntington Beach has the bulk of the fire pits and has been mounting political �pRosi$on to a
regional ban.
Assemblyman Travis Allen, R- Huntington Beach, an avid opponent of a ban, contends the bonfire
pits are important to the Surf City economy, providing critically needed revenue - more than $1
million annually - for the state and coastal cities. He added that the loss of the fire pits would result
in "devastating revenue losses" for the state parks, which stand to lose 50 percent of the RV
camping revenue.
On Thursday, several Orange County mayors met privately in Santa Ana to review the newly
released data from the AQMD study.
Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry and Boardman, although on opposite sides of the move to ban
fire pits, agree that the cities should be allowed to decide the issue for themselves and the AQMD
should not implement a regional ban.
Newport Beach wants to ban the fire pits because residents along the beachfront have complained
about the health hazards.
Boardman focused on AQMD data indicating that the city is below the level that is considered
unhealthy for those who are vulnerable to smoke. She wants different solutions, if it is demonstrated
the fire pits present a health hazard.
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