By Jessie Faulkner
Eureka Times Standard (California)
Copyright 2006 Times - Standard
All Rights Reserved
TRINIDAD, Calif. — A Pacific Street resident living above Trinidad beach allegedly became upset about a beach bonfire on Independence Day, reported the matter and members of the volunteer fire department asked those responsible to extinguish the blaze. Which they did.
The problem, according to Police Chief Ken Thrailkill, is that there is no city ordinance banning beach fires. Other sources note that the fire in question was not a threat to the west-facing homes sitting above the beach.
Mayor Dean Heyenga is proposing that the council discuss whether bonfires should be allowed on beaches governed by the city of Trinidad — Old Home Beach and Trinidad Beach (north of Trinidad Head). At the same time, Heyenga is suggesting that a policy be created governing the use of fireworks.
Several options are offered for the council’s discussion:
Fires: none allowed on Trinidad Beach, none allowed on Old Home Beach but allowed on Trinidad Beach, allowed on both beaches; or allowed fires must be within cement fire rings.
“Whether or not fires are allowed at either of our beaches,” Heyenga wrote in his report to the council, “we need A. ordinances about beach fires and fireworks codifying regulations and fines for violating those regulations (and) B. signs informing visitors of fire and fireworks regulations and citing municipal code.”
As to fireworks, the mayor offered three options for the council’s consideration: no fireworks on any beach, allow fireworks on one or more beaches, but only on July 4 and “allowed at any beach (anywhere in the city?) at any time.”
Heyenga also included background information noting that beach fires are allowed at Luffenholtz, Clam Beach and Big Lagoon, but not at Moonstone Beach. As to fireworks, none are allowed on beaches under the county’s jurisdiction.
In other business, the council will consider possible changes to its water billing procedures and water rate increases.
Councilman Jim Cuthbertson has posed three questions: “Should water rate increases be determined by U.S. Department of Labor ... on a yearly average? Should water meter readings be changed from every month to every other month or quarterly? (and) Should citizens be able to pay their water bills annually or semi-annually?”
The proposed action is “choosing and authorizing changes in our meter reading and water billing procedures,” per Cuthbertson’s report to the council.
Earlier this summer, Councilman Terry Marlow — who is the city’s streets commissioner — converted the northernmost parking spot at the city’s tennis courts to a handicapped-accessible parking spot. The change was made without consulting with the balance of the City Council.
Heyenga has proposed a city policy that any changes in parking facilities must be brought to the planning commission or City Council for approval.
“Public discussion and formal action keeps everyone informed of changes to the city,” Heyenga wrote.
Marlow said a resident has inquired about the possibility of another handicapped parking spot several months ago. After at least two conversations with the police chief and consultation with the ADA expert at Winzler and Kelly, the city’s contracted engineering firm, Marlow said he decided to proceed with the project.
“This issue is especially interesting because Dean has not presented it as an objection to the handicapped space, he’s presented it as an issue what council members can do without going to council or the planning commission.”
As a result, Marlow said he’s preparing a list of projects that all the council members have undertaken without first consulting with the council or the planning commission.
“Our discussion on this will be very interesting,” he said. “We do a lot of things without going to the council.”