From: Ethan Blum
To: City Council
Subject: Support for Lifeguard Headquarters discussion Date: Wednesday,January 1,2025 4:13:17 PM
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Dear Mayor Ed Waage,
I am writing to follow up on the discussion at your December 17th regular meeting regarding the Addie St restrooms and the proposal to include a "Lifeguard Headquarters." I would like to share my thoughts on this matter.
To introduce myself, I was born and raised in the Grover Beach/Pismo Beach area.
As a member of this community, I believe the issue of our lifeguards lacking a proper headquarters deserves more attention than it has received. For the fiscal years 2024 and 2025, public safety has been a major focus, and I believe lifeguards play a critical role in that. They are our first line of defense for anyone coming to the city to enjoy what we are best known for —our beach. For many visitors to Pismo Beach, the first city representative they encounter is often one of our dedicated lifeguards.
Across the country,popular coastal towns like ours that attract large numbers of visitors share a common goal: they want their lifeguards to be visible and well-represented. Lifeguard headquarters are typically located in high-traffic beach areas, making lifeguards easily identifiable and accessible to the public. Many examples of this can be found along the California coast(e.g., LA County, Santa Cruz,Newport Beach, Del Mar, San Diego, and Coronado). I've attached some photos for reference.
The goal here isn't to directly compare with these locations, but to advocate for a facility large enough to accommodate essential services such as restrooms, rescue watercraft,patrol vehicles, and offices. An observation room with a clear view of the entire beach would also be crucial, as it would allow lifeguards to monitor the water throughout the day, ensuring safety for everyone.
Building a Lifeguard Headquarters near the Pier would be a valuable addition to the city's commitment to public safety. It would reduce response times by placing lifeguards closer to the action, rather than having them respond from the safety center. It would also provide a secure, functional space for the lifeguards and a safe storage solution for their specialized equipment.
In my opinion, and in the opinion of many local residents, our lifeguards have long been deserving of a dedicated headquarters. Historically, lifeguards had a headquarters on the pier from the 1950s to the 1970s, although we only have old photographs to document it.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ethan Blum
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