Consideration of a Coastal Development Permit (CDP 18-231) application to review and extend the Beach Fire Management Pilot Program.

Approve Coastal Development Permit application (CDP 18-231) to extend the Beach Fire Management Pilot Program through November 30, 2020, to allow two additional beach fire seasons.

The City Council adopted the Beach Fire Management Pilot Program on June 30, 2016. The three-year program is intended to restrict the number of wood fires on the beach and not allow any fires directly on the sand. The City Council received a Pilot Program update on August 8, 2017 and February 6, 2018.  At the February meeting the Council took the following actions:

1. Shifted boundary of the program area from Eighth back to Tenth Avenue. The City’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) allows beach fires between Tenth Avenue and Martin Way, and this action taken by the Council is consistent with the LCP.

2. Directed staff to only use 19” diameter “smokeless” devices with a maximum of nine (9) on the beach for the 2018 beach fire season.  The smokeless devices are installed on top of 3’ x 3’ concrete pads along the beach.  The Pilot Program still allows a maximum of twelve (12) total devices.

3. Reviewed and commented on new beach fire rule signage, which has since been installed at the beach entrances.

4. Reviewed and commented on minor amendments (mostly clerical) to the Pilot Program document. Staff has since further refined the document and incorporated recommendations made by the Council.  The document has also been revised to reflect that the beach fire zone was shifted from 8^th to 10^th Avenue.  A red-line version of the Pilot Program is included as Attachment 5.

5. Directed staff to work with the Monterey Bay Air Resources District on installing air monitors down by the beach.  Three (3) air monitors were installed in May 2018. 

6. Directed staff to return in July 2018 to extend the Pilot Program.

Following the February 2018 meeting, staff submitted a Final Local Action Notice (Attachment 3) to the California Coastal Commission, notifying them of the modifications to the Pilot Program.

STAFF ANALYSIS:

The purpose of this meeting is for the City Council to consider extending the Pilot Program through the issuance of a new Coastal Development Permit (CDP 18-231), and make modifications if necessary.

Air Quality Data:  In May 2018, the Monterey Bay Air Resources District installed three (3) air monitors by Carmel beach.  The air monitors are located at the Scenic/Santa Lucia restroom, near 9^th Avenue and near 11^th avenue. Air quality data has been provided by the Air District for the monitors at the restroom and 9^th Avenue (Attachment 4).  Measurements were taken from the restroom air monitor from May 12^th - June 4^th; and from the 9^th Avenue monitor from May 31^st - June 18^th.  There is no data yet for the air monitor located near 11^th Avenue, as this device was only recently activated.

National and state ambient air quality standard for PM2.5 is 35µg/m3, averaged over 24 hours, midnight to midnight each day. The 24 hour averages taken from the air monitors at the restroom and near 9^th Avenue are well below this standard. The Air District has not yet graphed out the data for the 11^th Avenue monitor, but preliminary results are consistent with the other two monitors, in that PM2.5 levels do not exceed health standards. Of important note is that the air monitor at the restroom malfunctioned, but will be replaced in the coming weeks. Staff intends to provide the City Council with regular air quality updates throughout the 2018 beach fire season.

Time Extension:  The Beach Fire Management Pilot Program was approved for three years and expires on June 30, 2019.  Of important note is that the Pilot Program was not fully implemented in the first year due to burning restrictions imposed as a result of the Soberanes Fire. Staff recommends that the City Council approve CDP 18-231, extending the Pilot Program to November 30, 2020.  The proposed extension will cover two additional beach fire seasons and will give the City the opportunity to continue evaluating the Pilot Program with the intent of making permanent LCP amendments.  In addition to extending the Pilot Program, the City Council may also make additional modifications at this meeting, as deemed necessary.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:  The Pilot Program is categorically exempt from CEQA requirements, pursuant to Section 15311 (Class 11) of the State CEQA Guidelines.  Class 11 exemptions include the construction or placement of minor structures that are seasonal or temporary on publicly owned parks or at facilities designed for public use. The Pilot Program limits the number of wood-fueled fires to no more than 12, which substantially reduces air quality impacts from fine particulate matter and other pollutants in wood smoke as well as decreases aesthetic impacts from charcoal and ash left on the sand.

For the purposes of calculating expenses, the project season is defined as the period of August through July.  The second year of the project is partially underway.  Staff will report back to the City Council in August to determine if actual expenses match projections.

On June 30, 2016, the City Council adopted the Beach Fire Management Pilot Program.

On August 8, 2017, the City Council received an annual update on the Pilot Program.

On February 6, 2018, the City Council directed that certain changes be made to the Pilot Program and that staff return in July 2018 with an extension.