Food trucks, bollards, dogs on beach, ice rink, Segways, 42.15, beach restrooms, snapshots, light posts, and impact study were some of the things discussed at the Ocean Front Walk Task Force meet.

The task force consists of restaurant and hotel owners, vendors, heads of Beaches and Harbors, heads of Recreations and Parks, representative from Venice Neighborhood Council, Norman Kulla, senior counsel for councilman, and is conducted by Cecilia Castillo, council office field deputy.

Normally, people are there to report progress with projects, problems etc. It is a fast-track meet in that departments report, questions are asked, and owners can make suggestions, present complaints. Cecilia takes notes and in many cases will say “we’ll check into that and get back to you.” Progress the City has made is also reported.

Last meet the proposed ice rink for the Windward park area was reported as not having gone thru the Coastal Commission yet. The ice rink will be 50 x 100 feet and be open from 25 November to 19 January. It was stated that costs for Pershing Square’s ice rink were $8 per hour with $2 skate rentals. Castillo did not know whether prices would be the same or not. The following are some of the other things discussed.

All forms of Segways will be prohibited from the Ocean Front Walk Boardwalk. It was asked if skateboards could be prohibited too.

Plastic bollards were replaced recently with cautionary yellow ones. Other forms of bollards and street closures are still under consideration.

The Los Angeles Municipal Code 42.15 dealing with OFW vendors is going to be tweaked to include “display” of prohibited items.  Many times, Kula explained, a vendor will display something that is not legal for boardwalk sales but will claim it is only on display.

It was reported that Public Works has been sweeping the bike path three times a week.  Beach restrooms have had most of the amenities replaced that were broken and have been painted inside and out.  It was reported that several of the water fountains are fixed several times a day.

It was reported that food trucks, which restaurant owners felt were unfair at the beach because they were competing with the boardwalk restaurants and food vendors, have been reduced to appearing with an event.  If there is a large event, a food truck will be allowed.  No more food trucks circling the Windward park area.

The snapshots, bird deterrents, dogs on beach are all separate stories.

One hotel owner discussed having the City authorize an impact study for the beach area.  He felt that the area would generate more income for the City if there was better quality at the beach. He mentioned other impact studies showing such.