Surfer Localism

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Not in Our City – Zero Tolerance of Surfing Territorialism and Localism in Palos Verdes Estates, and Zero Tolerance of Illegal Encroachments on City-Owned Coastal Zone Property

The City takes the California Coastal Act seriously. In our City, as well as the rest of California, there are no private or quasi-private beach areas. Under the California Coastal Act, all must have equal access to the coast and the ocean. With this in mind, and as the City’s leaders and elected officials, we are committed to ensuring all have a welcoming experience on the City’s beaches and in pursuing its recreational opportunities. We further commit to efforts to ensure there are no illegal encroachments on City-parklands within the coastal zone, including the Palos Verdes Estates Shoreline Preserve.

The bluffs, shoreline, beaches, public areas and recreational opportunities are open to all without regard to protected categories, a person’s income, or where someone lives and grew up. The City has zero tolerance for bullying, localism, territorialism, elitism, bigotry, or other types of harassment. We will enforce all coastal access laws, whether through code enforcement, public nuisance abatement powers, criminal statutes, municipal ordinances, the California Coastal Act, and by all available other means, to ensure unimpeded equal access and enjoyment of the City’s coastal parklands by all.

Our commitment requires public participation. So we can do our job, all are encouraged to contact the City Manager, (310-750-9801) Chief of Police, (310-378-4211) Mayor and Council members – as well as California Coastal Commission enforcement staff -- if you learn that the right to equal access City-owned beaches, the ocean, or parklands within the coastal zone have been impeded.

City Comments on Surfer Issues:

Protecting all

The City and its Police Department are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all. We are happy to report that a recent rash of burglaries have declined, and we believe this is due to the hard work of our police department and increased awareness among homeowners to ensure their residences are properly secured. Several arrests were made. Our police department continues to monitor the situation and will take the necessary steps should we experience a return of this activity.

In recent weeks, there has been renewed attention regarding the safety of our beaches, notably complaints that a few surfers are allegedly demonstrating intimidation tactics to “protect” the waters for local surfers. As with any complaint or concern about public safety, our Police Department investigates and evaluates the situation, and will take appropriate action. As with any public facility, we want to ensure our residents and the public can enjoy areas, such as Lunada Bay, in peace. As such, police patrols of our beach areas may increase from time to time. There also have been news media reports focusing attention on an unpermitted outdoor structure at Lunada Bay and whether this structure is a contributing factor to the complaints we have received. No decisions have been made about the structure, but the City and the Police Department are evaluating various options. Again, our goal is to ensure the safety of all.

We welcome your input and encourage an exchange of factual information. One of the ways that the City and Police Department communicate to residents on safety matters such as this is through the Neighborhood Watch program. Residents are encouraged to attend upcoming community outreach programs hosted by the Neighborhood Watch, that when scheduled are posted on www.pvenw.org. Questions about Neighborhood Watch, burglaries in the community or public safety along the coastline can be directed to Chief Luke Hellinga in the Police Department at 310.378.4211 (non-emergency business line).