The initial proposal  was accepted by the SB County Parks Commission on August 26, 2007 and forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for funding approval which was received September 25, 2007.  The anticipated date for opening the Center is September 2008.

 
TO:   Board of Supervisors

FROM:   Daniel C. Hernandez,  Department Director (568-2461)
Contact Info:  Erik Axelson, Deputy Parks Director (681-5651)

SUBJECT:  Allocation of $8,000 from the South Coast West Quimby Fee Agency Fund for
Conversion of the Existing Restroom Facility on the Goleta Beach Pier to a Community Multi-
Purpose Marine Center; Second Supervisorial District
 
Recommended Actions:  That the Board of Supervisors approve a budget revision to appropriate $8,000 from the South Coast West Quimby Fee Agency Fund (#1400) for renovations to the existing substandard restroom facility on the Goleta Beach Pier to convert it into a community multi-purpose marine center.

Summary Text:   The Parks Department has been approached by the United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC) with a proposal to convert and reuse the antiquated, substandard restroom on the Goleta Beach Pier as a multi-purpose marine center that will provide multiple benefits to the community. UPSAC is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing angler education and community outreach. The proposed community center would be used by UPSAC for teaching fishing skills and appreciation, mitigating angler environmental impacts, community outreach, and to enhance pier security and maintenance.

The total cost of the renovations to convert this restroom facility to the community center is estimated at $8,000. It is recommended that $8,000 be allocated from the South Coast West Quimby Fee Agency Fund for this project. The Park Commission approved this funding request at its July 26, 2007 meeting.

Background:   Goleta Beach Pier is a 1,500-foot-long recreational pier that is the centerpiece of the County’s most heavily used beach park, Goleta Beach. The pier provides areas for fishing as well as a hoist used to launch fishing boats and other watercraft.

The restroom located on the pier is an antiquated structure of substandard condition, which has been an eyesore for many years. In fact, this facility is the last non-plumbed, chemical holding tank restroom on the entire California coast. Modern restroom facilities at the base of the pier and at other locations in the park obviate the need for this deteriorating facility.
 
Parks staff has been approached by the United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC) with a proposal to convert and reuse the pier restroom structure as a community multi-purpose marine center.  UPSAC is a private, nonprofit organization which provides educational programs for anglers and community outreach activities. The proposed community center would be staffed by UPSAC and utilized for teaching fishing skills and appreciation, mitigating angler environmental impacts (e.g., use 
of environmentally-friendly tackle, non-lead sinkers, etc.), community outreach, and to enhance pier security and maintenance.

Goleta Beach Park is notable for attracting a significant percentage (up to 35%, according to recent surveys) of low income, Hispanic families with at-risk youth, and also for being a common destination for developmentally-disabled children and adults. Both of these demographic groups would benefit from UPSAC’s proposed community and marine center. School groups would also be invited to participate in the programs offered at the marine center. In addition, the center will also help serve a significant number of existing anglers at the park who already fish from the pier.

The total cost of the renovations necessary to convert this dilapidated restroom facility to the community marine center is estimated at $8,000. It is recommended that $8,000 be allocated from the South Coast West Quimby Fee Agency Fund to complete this project. The recommended funding will support the renovation of the restroom structure into a center that will be a showpiece for the County Parks system. The Park Commission approved this funding request at its July 26, 2007 meeting.
 
In addition to funding the restroom conversion, the Park Commission also recommended that a portable toilet be located at the end of the pier to serve pier users and anglers. The Commission felt that some provision should be made to replace the existing restroom facility as a matter of convenience for the public who no longer will have access to restroom facilities on the pier. The portable toilet can be provided on a contracted basis at a relatively minor cost (approximately $1,400 per year in FY 2007-08 and $1,800 per year on an annualized basis), which includes maintenance and disposal services. The portable toilet will be funded out of the Parks Department’s current operating budget.

Narrative: The requested funding ($8,000) is available in the South Coast West Quimby Fee Agency Fund (#1400). Use of South Coast West Quimby fee funds is restricted to park or recreational facilities within the South Coast West Quimby and Development Fee Demand Area. The current combined balance in the South Coast West Quimby and Development Fee Agency Funds is $446,976. Approval of this request will reduce the balance in these two Funds to $438,976.

A portable toilet to replace the converted pier restroom can be provided on a contract basis at a cost of $1,400 per year in FY 2007-08 and $1,800 per year on an annualized basis. This can be funded from the existing Parks Department operating budget.

Authored by:

Erik Axelson, Deputy Parks Director (681-5651)


Note:  The idea to decommission the former restrooms and convert them to a community mult-purpose room was originally suggested by Larry Austin, Head Ranger, Goleta Beach County Park  and his assistant, Ranger Paul Voyen.  I remain indebted to them for their foresight.