Beach fees to increase?

A day at the beach may cost more this season, as beach pass rates could increase for both Long Beach residents and non-residents alike.

Pending a public hearing scheduled for May 1, city officials proposed amending the city’s code of ordinances for seasonal beach admission charges for families, as well as the cost of an economy beach pass, that had been increased last season but was never codified.

At the April 17 City Council meeting, city officials said that the price of a beach park seasonal pass this year would cost $60 for resident families, $120 for non-resident families, $80 for non-resident individuals and $80 for an economy daily beach pass, good for 10 admissions throughout the season.

City officials did not discuss raising daily beach passes, which currently cost $12 per person.

City officials say that some of the seasonal rates were actually increased last year. “Some of the [increased] beach pass fees were charged last year without being officially codified,” said City Manager Jack Schnirman.

In an effort to clarify the fees that beach visitors paid last season, the city’s department of parks and recreation said in an email: “Non-residents were charged $80 but code said $70. Residents were charged $30 but code said $40 and 10 packs were $80 but the code said $60. We are going to fix the code so we have correct charges and also raise resident family from $50 to $60 and non-resident family for $100 to $120.”

City spokesman Gordon Tepper noted that the city is looking to amend the code to ensure that the charges are uniform for all beach-goers. The last time the fees were amended was in 2007.

Schnirman declined to comment on why some rates were going up, saying that he would prefer to wait for the May 1 public hearing when people will be able to weigh-in on the proposed increases.

Any increases, however, would require a resolution, to be approved by the council.