Politics & Government

L.A. City Council Unanimously Approves Motion to Improve Venice Boardwalk Safety

CD 11 Councilmember Mike Bonin's motion approves the "immediate" installation of temporary barriers on the boardwalk and calls for a study to upgrade safety in the area.

By Kelly Hartog and John Schreiber

“Thank you to my colleagues, who just unanimously approved my motion to improve safety at Venice Beach.”

Mike Bonin, councilman for the 11th District tweeted the above comment Tuesday morning following an L.A. City Council meeting, where all 14 members agreed to Bonin’s emergency motion.

That motion (see attached PDF), calls for a study that will upgrade public safety along the boardwalk and directs staff to “immediately” install temporary barriers at “hazardous intersections” along Ocean Front Walk.

It also calls on police, fire, the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Bureau of Street Services, the Department of Transportation and other city officials to report back in two weeks on “public safety needs” at the boardwalk.

Find out what's happening in Venice-Mar Vistawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I don't want something sitting on a shelf or being studied forever,” Bonin said before the vote. “These are common sense things.”

He added, "Hindsight is always 20/20, but this tragedy also affords us a rare opportunity to allow foresight to come into focus. This horrible incident showed vulnerabilities at the boardwalk and we have an obligation to do everything in our power to ensure this sort of tragedy cannot happen again.”

Find out what's happening in Venice-Mar Vistawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 Bonin spoke with Patch Monday night ahead of this morning's vote and said the two week turnaround time for the study wasas crucial because, “About 15 or 20 times per day, someone drives down the streets onto the boardwalk and jeopardizes life and safety. That is what we want to prevent here."

Bonin's motion also asked for a study into expanding or improving lighting, the surveillance camera system and the emergency public address system at the boardwalk.

Bonin told Patch these things were necessary because, “If there is an incident there is no clear, coherent or organized way to instruct people how to proceed."

Regarding the cost of these upgrades, Bonin told Patch, “That will be part of the needs assessment. Some of the stuff is not prohibitively expensive.” He added that he had undertaken a quick Internet search and found concrete bollards at a cost of $50-$100 each and more advanced retracting bollards at a cost of around $800-$1,000 apiece.

"I am really intent on making sure this does not look like Fortress Venice,” Bonin also told Patch. “There are things you can do with other structures that offer a physical impediment but look nice," he added, suggesting solutions such as large potted plants with flowers.

Bonin also said three intersections with the boardwalk will present a particular challenge including Rose Avenue, Venice and Washington boulevards. Each of those streets crosses the Venice Boardwalk and allows visitors access to beach parking lots.

Bonin noted at Tuesday's meeting that as recently as three weeks before Saturday's rampage, a car was driven onto the boardwalk near Muscle Beach and crashed into a stand.

- City News Service contributed to this report. 



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