Havasu City Council Changes Restrictions

[shueman]

Beefed-up law enforcement in place for Memorial weekend
By BRIAN DiTULLIO
Tuesday, May 24, 2005 11:19 PM MDT
As Memorial Day approaches, law enforcement officials are gearing up for a busy weekend.
According to officials from the Mohave County Sheriff's Department and the San Bernardino, Calif., Sheriff's Department, there will be a total of 28 patrol boats on the lake and the adjacent waterways for the three-day weekend starting Saturday.
MCSO Spokeswoman Trish Carter said her department is planning to dispatch 12 patrol boats, the full complement, and that they will be enforcing DUI laws, reckless operation, bow-riding and kids not wearing life jackets.
SBSD Sgt. Mike Fassari said his department is planning to put out 16 patrol boats; eight new personal watercraft vehicles purchased from Honda and another eight patrol boats.
Fassari said the Honda boats are being tested right now and should be ready by the holiday weekend.
Fassari said his department also would be looking to enforce DUI laws.
"We're going to try and make sure everyone stays safe and goes home happy," he said.
Fassari also dispelled recent statements that Copper Canyon is closed to moorings.
"It's open for people who want to moor there," said Fassari. "There will be an emergency lane kept clear, but the area is open with restricted access."
Carter said similar rules apply to the Sandbar area Memorial Day weekend as well,
"We restrict access to the Sandbar on Memorial Day, Labor Day and Independence Day when it falls on the weekend, but it does remain open."
Carter said there is no true capacity rules for the restricted areas as far as the number of boats allowed, but that if the area does become "overpopulated," the department would try and thin the crowd out.
"It's all about safety," said Carter. "They don't want it to be too congested. We have to be able to get emergency response personnel through."
Both departments said staffing levels on Lake Havasu vary depending on the weekend, ranging from two to four boats, but that all departments will be fully staffed for the first big holiday weekend of the year.

[Procraftkev]

Beefed-up law enforcement in place for Memorial weekend
By BRIAN DiTULLIO
Tuesday, May 24, 2005 11:19 PM MDT
As Memorial Day approaches, law enforcement officials are gearing up for a busy weekend.
According to officials from the Mohave County Sheriff's Department and the San Bernardino, Calif., Sheriff's Department, there will be a total of 28 patrol boats on the lake and the adjacent waterways for the three-day weekend starting Saturday.
MCSO Spokeswoman Trish Carter said her department is planning to dispatch 12 patrol boats, the full complement, and that they will be enforcing DUI laws, reckless operation, bow-riding and kids not wearing life jackets.
SBSD Sgt. Mike Fassari said his department is planning to put out 16 patrol boats; eight new personal watercraft vehicles purchased from Honda and another eight patrol boats.
Fassari said the Honda boats are being tested right now and should be ready by the holiday weekend.
Fassari said his department also would be looking to enforce DUI laws.
"We're going to try and make sure everyone stays safe and goes home happy," he said.
Fassari also dispelled recent statements that Copper Canyon is closed to moorings.
"It's open for people who want to moor there," said Fassari. "There will be an emergency lane kept clear, but the area is open with restricted access."
Carter said similar rules apply to the Sandbar area Memorial Day weekend as well,
"We restrict access to the Sandbar on Memorial Day, Labor Day and Independence Day when it falls on the weekend, but it does remain open."
Carter said there is no true capacity rules for the restricted areas as far as the number of boats allowed, but that if the area does become "overpopulated," the department would try and thin the crowd out.
"It's all about safety," said Carter. "They don't want it to be too congested. We have to be able to get emergency response personnel through."
Both departments said staffing levels on Lake Havasu vary depending on the weekend, ranging from two to four boats, but that all departments will be fully staffed for the first big holiday weekend of the year.
So the Sandbar will be open?

[BoatPI]

So why didn't someone ask the police department spokesman why the deparetmnt is short of officers, and how this could happen. LHPD needs more officers, and if they are short the reason needs to be addressed immediately. This IS part of the problem. Wake up!

[ClownRoyal]

Mooring restrictions lightened
By BRIAN DiTULLIO
Tuesday, May 24, 2005 11:15 PM MDT
Half of the moorings restricted last week will be open for boaters this holiday weekend.
In a sometimes-raucous debate that lasted well over two hours, Lake Havasu City Council responded to business owners along the Bridgewater Channel upset that 110 moorings were closed late last week.
City Council, per Councilman Don Clark's suggestion, decided unanimously to reopen a 232-foot section on the east bank near the English Village and 217-foot section on the west bank south of the London Bridge.
Council also requested the signs put up be changed to reflect the restrictions only would be in effect on Saturdays and Sundays.
According to the proposal from the Lake Havasu City Police Department, 27 percent of the available moorings, approximately 200 spots, in the channel were supposed to be closed last week per direction of City Council at their May 3 work session.
However, the department only ended up restricting 110 spots. The sign put up also say there is no mooring any time, which upset several of the business owners along the Channel. They claimed the restrictions would cripple their businesses and chase tourists away.
The moorings were restricted as part of a two-phase plan recommended by the police department to better control an increase in outrageous behavior that has caused a rise in arrests, noise and carbon monoxide in the manmade waterway.
Council chambers were filled Tuesday night for the discussion and 20 people signed up to speak. Most agreed the restrictions placed were too heavy and demanded the removal of the signs. Mayor Bob Whelan was forced to gavel down the crowd and call for order several times during the police department's presentation.
The most hotly debated area was the 232-foot section near the English Village. Police say that is where most of the problems occur as foot traffic mingles with the boaters.
"We didn't do this arbitrarily," said Capt. Randy McCaleb. "That area was chosen for law enforcement reasons. That's where we get most of our fights."
Clark suggested keeping that area open and leaving another area on the east bank closed, saying this would accommodate the boaters and move the pedestrians down the beach and "give them somewhere to go."
Clark felt his plan would give more access to the area for both the boaters and the pedestrians. Pointing to the closures last week, Clark said, "We took too much of the beach too fast."
The public then began giving their input on the matter with many suggesting one-way traffic through the Bridgewater Channel was the way to go to curb some of the crowd problems and limit "The Show," the term given to the increase in outrageous behavior along the manmade waterway.
Most of the speakers recommended increasing the police presence in the channel and cautioned City Council not to chase off the tourists.
"Closing the mooring in the channel only moves the problem, it doesn't eliminate it," said Trent Harris.
"We have eight boating companies in this town," said John Hughes. "We don't want to see business turned away."
"We can't do anything to endanger the summer visitors," said Marty Bene.
Ed Jacobs, President of the Lake Havasu City Realtors Association, also spoke. He said he spoke not in his official capacity, but as a concerned citizen.
"You're taking tax dollars for shoreline acquisition," said Jacobs. "What message are you going to give the public when you restrict access to the shore?"
Whelan stressed the actions were under evaluation and that "nothing is set in stone." Whelan indicated everything recommended by City Council would be up for review and would be tweaked as deemed necessary.
In a related issue, Sgt. Mike Fassari of the San Bernadino County Sheriff's Department also spoke. He said he wanted to correct a misconception about the mooring area known as Copper Canyon.
"Copper Canyon is open," said Fassari. "It's not closed. I just wanted to come here and clear that up."
Clark also suggested City Council revive the Shoreline Task Force to increase the public input into shoreline activities and law enforcement.
Mayor Bob Whelan directed staff to bring that back to City Council as an agenda item at the next meeting.
Whelan looks like a total F'N Idiot.

[what at pair]

Whelan looks like a total F'N Idiot.
DITTO!!

[Mtg Pro]

I like the fact that they specifically mentioned the 232 foot section closest to the English Village because of the merging of boaters and foot traffic. It appears that the area is a focal point of many fights. Gee, if the pedestrians are part of the problem I wonder if they removed a 200 foot strech of parking so to limit the number of pededstrians in that area of the channel that don't have boats ????? I bet not !!!

[waterwitch]

Good point on the parking, and taking
232 feet from this...
The bummer is, the area most families go
to in front of the state beach is still closed.
That was always my favorite spot.

[ClownRoyal]

Good point on the parking, and taking
232 feet from this...
The bummer is, the area most families go
to in front of the state beach is still closed.
That was always my favorite spot.
Hey Jeff,
Hopefully they will take those signs down too. This is Mike and Bune' with the purple Magic. Maybe see you Friday?

[franky]

Good point on the parking, and taking
232 feet from this...
The bummer is, the area most families go
to in front of the state beach is still closed.
That was always my favorite spot.
Hey Traci, nice to see you guys again. Jeff said you were a little fragile on Monday when he came by to pick up those flatty parts. Are you feeling better today? It was dang hot out there last weekend. Been out every afternoon till about 10:00 PM since then, the moon is incredible right now. It is like daylight.

[waterwitch]

Hey Jeff,
Hopefully they will take those signs down too. This is Mike and Bune' with the purple Magic. Maybe see you Friday?
Hi Guys!
There is NO way we would go out on the
water with all the idiots! That is the advatage
of living here ... remember. The launch ramp alone
would scare me. Although, it'd be fun to go down and
watch all the newbies and have a beer. Oh the good ole'
days when you were actually allowed to do this.
Maybe we'll see you guys next weekend.