Earlier today the Costal Commission Commissioners postponed the vote to keep the fire pits as recommended by Commissions own report. The delay is to allow the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to consider the issue before a final vote can be made.
The OCRegister.com has a full review of today’s decision: http://www.ocregister.com/news/fire-498489-rings-city.html
David Ruiz, the founding organizer for the Change.org Petition, has sent us an update. We’ve included it unedited below:
Hello:
I wanted to update you on the status of our mission to KEEP the fire pits in Newport Beach. The city of Newport Beach has sent their permit request to the California Coastal Commission and there will be a meeting taking place to give a FINAL verdict on the matter on March 6th, 2013. I urge you, if at all possible, to be present at this meeting and let your voice be heard.
I have already been notified that NUMEROUS individuals from the opposition will be there to speak and the more time they get to plead there case the less of chance we will have to prevail.
If you can make it, or know of anyone that can be in attendance please show up. The meeting will take place:
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013 at 8:30 AM PST
THE BAHIA RESORT HOTEL
998 WEST MISSION BAY DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CA 92109 (415) 407-3211
*Phone number will only be in service when the meeting is in session*Directions:
From Orange County Take the I-5 S
Take exit 21 to merge onto Sea World Dr/Tecolote Rd
Continue to follow Sea World Dr
Merge onto W Mission Bay Dr via the ramp to Ingraham St/Mission Beach
Take the ramp onto W Mission Bay Dr
Destination will be on the rightThis will be your LAST CHANCE to be heard and to save the fire pits from permanent removal.
The Coastal Commissions’ staff have put together the preliminary findings and their recommendation to the Commission is that the permit be DENIED to The City Of Newport Beach which is GREAT NEWS you can read the full report, which includes your signature here :
http://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2013/3/W18b-3-2013.pdf
This however does not mean we have won yet!
Feel free to write further support in the form of letters and relevant stories to savethefirepits@gmail.comthey will all be forwarded directly to the Coastal Commission
Thank you for all of your support,
This message is from David Ruiz who started the petition “California Coastal Commission/Newport Beach City Council Members: Stop the removal of 60 fire rings at Big Corona State Beach and Balboa.,” which you signed on Change.org.
The City of Newport Beach has responded to California Coastal Commission request after the commission requested additional information before a vote hearing.
From Nisha Gutierrez-Jaime at Patch.com:
“Inquiries by the commission included finding out if an air quality study to support removal of the fire rings was conducted, requesting clarification regarding which alternatives to the fire ring removal have been explored and to determine what type of authority the city has to remove the fire rings.”
You can read the entire article here: http://newportbeach.patch.com/articles/newport-beach-responds-to-coastal-commission-request-for-detailed-fire-ring-information
You can help and here is how:
The next vote to save the fire pits on our beaches comes before the California Coastal Commission in the next few months. At present, the vote is not mentioned on next month’s draft schedule. Join all those who want to Save The Pits at the next meeting (details to come), and tell the California Coastal Commission now!
California Coastal Commission
Fernie Sy
200 Oceangate, 10th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802-4416
(562) 590-5071
For our inaugural post, we’d like to quote the blog that started our site, BlueKennel.com. In the post, the author asks that readers sign the online petition.
“The latest local government outrage is the attempt of the Newport Beach City Council to tear out the fire rings at Big Corona and other places.
Fortunately, they have to seek the approval of the Coastal Commission to do this. There is a petition online here directed to both the city council and the Coastal Commission.”
You may read the rest of the article at BlueKennel.com.