Politics & Government

OC Mayors to Discuss Ban on Beach Fire Pits

Several Orange County mayors will gather Wednesday to discuss the issue of fire pits on Orange County beaches. 

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, who also serves on the South Coast Air Quality Management District board, which is considering a ban on the fire rings, organized the meeting at Santa Ana City Hall to seek input from Orange County leaders on the issue. 

Newport Beach officials want to ban fire pits because they say they pose a health risk and many beachfront residents have complained of the smoke. Leaders in Huntington Beach and San Clemente, however, have taken a stand against any ban. 

Orange County supervisors passed a resolution last month opposing a ban on open fires at beaches and asking the AQMD to leave the issue up to municipal governments. 

"We're all impacted, but we certainly have the genesis of the issue here in Orange County," Pulido said. 

If the ban is approved, it would affect beaches throughout Orange County and most coastal areas in Los Angeles County. 

Newport Beach leaders raised the issue when they asked the Coastal Commission to ban the fire pits, but the commissioners decided to ask the AQMD for its take. The AQMD is slated to vote on the proposal at a June 7 meeting, but that may be postponed, Pulido said. 

The Coastal Commission has a meeting scheduled in July in Ventura when commissioners may discuss the issue, Pulido said. 

The AQMD will also hold a meeting seeking public input on fire rings at 5 p.m. Friday at Huntington Beach City Hall, Pulido said. 

"I am hopeful we can exchange information and let's see what people are thinking," Pulido said of the meetings. "Hopefully we're able to find a good resolution here. I would like to save as many fire pits as possible." 

- City News Service


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