Maintain local control of County property at Oceano Dunes

By Jim Hill

A large block of County-owned land forms part of the State Vehicle Recreation Area. Maintaining local control of this property is essential for our future.

The ongoing impact to Oceano of the two million annual visitors to the SVRA remains to be addressed. Approximately a million visitors use Pier Avenue to access the SVRA each year. There is economic benefit to businesses in Oceano and neighbor Cities, however there is also increased traffic, litter and sand, and additional demand on our emergency services as a result.

Oceano representatives have long tried to persuade the State to turn over a small portion of the SVRA admission fees to Oceano to mitigate these effects, but the State adamantly refuses to share the revenue. Also, the State responsibility for maintenance ends at the State Park boundary and does not extend into Oceano.

I believe the County should maintain ownership and control of its land at the Dunes, and increase the lease rate to State Parks substantially. The money should go to the County agencies that can act to mitigate the impacts of the SVRA- most importantly County Public Works who can maintain and improve our streets including street sweeping to remove sand and litter, redesigning roadways to lessen traffic congestion, and make sidewalk and drainage improvements. This could also include the possibility for alternative access provisions. OCSD should receive a minor portion of funds collected, to share with our joint operating Fire Departments and Cal Fire who are our mutual aid partners, to cover costs of emergency response on the beach.

With continuing local control, we only need go as far as the Board of Supervisors who are very responsive to the needs of County communities. If control is transferred to the State, the interest of overwhelming numbers of outside visitors will take precedence over the small number of residents here. I will continue to advocate for local control to keep open possibilities for community improvement.