VENTURA : Council OKs $43,000 for Lifeguard Service

Endorsing the goals of the city’s tourism and special events committee, the Ventura City Council has agreed to fund lifeguard service for the beach north of the pier for the 12 weeks of summer.

The city will spend about $43,000 to pay for the lifeguard service near Surfer’s Point, the popular beach by the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

In voting to approve the recommendation, council members noted that there has not been a lifeguard stationed at that location for more than a year.

The tourism committee made a number of other recommendations aimed at cleaning up the beaches and attracting tourists and special events to the city.

On top of that list is continuing to fund beach maintenance throughout the city, and expanding a beach cleanup in the area south of San Buenaventura State Beach.

Committee members also recommend that the city help create brochures detailing the sights and exhibits available to visitors; develop better signs to alert pedestrians to services; continue bike patrols by police officers at the pier and beach locations; and work harder to attract more special events and weekend promotions to the city.

Council members said they would consider the other recommendations, but that they could only afford to implement the lifeguard service at this time, in part due to a $1.2-million budget shortfall projected for the upcoming fiscal year.