The "association" can speak as a solid voice when dealing with matters like the movement of the flag into the surf zone. (What happened to the petition?) I'm sure if we check bartletts drawers we might find it!

Here's Pete's presentation as translated from Rusty's original letter to the council.

The Issue:

The city has a policy of expanding the swim/surf zone at La Jolla Shores between 11am. and 6pm. on a daily basis. This is now being done regardless of ocean conditions, weather, or crowd usage. The lifeguards on location have had any discretionary options removed by the Chief of Lifeguard services, Chris Brewster, who insists that city code be strictly enforced to, what we feel is, the detriment of public safety. San Diego Municipal Code 63.20.2 states that the "lifeguards may, due to weather, crowd conditions, special events, or other factors, alter the boundaries on any given day."

Background:

Until recent years the beach at La Jolla Shores was managed by the lifeguards on location, based on conditions as they changed hourly and daily. The swim/surf zone flags were moved to accomodate the two main types of users while never compromising the lifeguards main responsibility: Proactive Safety.

History:

The south end of the beach is sheltered with minimal risk to the inexperienced ocean swimmer and conditions are ideal for the guests of the hotels located at the southern end of the beach. Exposure to larger surf and dangerous rip currents increase as you proceed north towards the parking lot. This is due to a finger of the submarine canyon which serves to funnel the swell into the beach. The northern end of the beach is more suitable for surfing due to ocean conditions. Originally, the main lifeguard tower was located in the middle of the current parking lot at the northern end of the beach. But, this placed it in the middle of a regularly occurring rip current. A clear danger to any swimmers using the waters directly in front of the main tower. In 1983 a newer, larger tower was built at the southern end of the parking lot. This gave lifeguards better visibility of the main swim crowd. The northern edge of the swim zone was thereby established just south of the regularly occurring rip current. This has traditionally been marked by the placement of a checkered flag and a temporary lifeguard tower #32. In 1985, a newly appointed lifeguard sergeant, Chris Brewster, spearheaded a movement to push the crowds north of temporary tower #32 to a point at the northern edge of the parking lot marked by temporary tower #33. There was no logic for this and those who used this expanded area were placed at risk. Subsequently, meetings were held between beachgoers, lifeguards, La Jolla Town Council and representatives from the two hotels. A compromise was reached establishing a discretionary zone between temp. tower #32 & #33 to be managed by the lifeguards on location according to conditions. In the winter of 1995/96, without public notice, things changed. Once sergeant now Captain, Chris Brewster pushed again and the discretionary zone was changed to a control zone. At 11am. daily, irregardless of ocean conditions, the flag is moved north placing swimmers & surfers in potentially life threatening situations. One due to adverse ocean conditions and the other due to overcrowding caused by explosive growth of the sport of surfing. Additionally, this places the main body of swimmers 50-75 yards further from the main lifeguard tower and compresses the surf zone putting both groups at risk. Some of the more senior guards working at La Jolla Shores continued to manage the beach in a logical proactive manner. They were severely reprimanded and their dissent was considered insubordination. The lifeguards are now forced into a reactive mode. Rescues and injuries increase during this time period.

Solution:

All of this adds up to a complete disregard for the safety of those using the waters off La Jolla Shores. As concerned citizens, we appeal to you to direct the Chief of the Lifeguard service, Chris Brewster, to reinstate the discretionary swim/surf zone and to place the decision to move the flag back into the hands of the lifeguards on location. In so doing, the decision would be based on existing conditions and not directed by someone not present and unaware of those conditions, thereby, increasing public safety at La Jolla Shores.