Southern California Naturist Association Travel Corner

1. Allow the under-used north end of the beach for clothing-optional use

This section starts approximately 1000 yards north of the access ramp (where the concrete wall barrier begins) and extending for ¼-mile toward the north.

2. Update county’s ordinances better reflect public opinion and avoid user conflict

We are not asking that the Santa Barbara County anti-nudity law be overturned, just revised to permit otherwise legal recreational options to take place as public opinion currently suggests, and that such use may conform with how beaches elsewhere are being successfully managed to avoid user conflict.

Our attorneys believe the existing Santa Barbara county nudity ordinance is out of date. Passed in 1977 before several important court rulings supporting nude activity in appropriate settings (Prior v Municipal Court 1979, CA v. Bost 1988, etc.) we believe the law may not stand up to any court case we might wish to bring against it. After several years of meeting with local business and community leaders, law enforcement, and polticians, it seems clear to us that the easier path is simply to amend the Ordinance. We recommend the existing ordinance be amended as follows (new text is marked thusly):

It is the intent of the board of supervisors to prohibit nudity in public places, places open to the public, and places open to public view whether such places are publicly or privately owned, even when such nudity is not sexually motivated or otherwise lewd except at locations specifically set aside for this purpose. (Ord. No. 2507, § 1; Ord. No. 2564, § 1)

Sec. 24-15. Nudity --Offenses numerated; penalties.

a. It is hereby declared a public nuisance and unlawful for any person to appear on any beach, park, street or in any other public place or place open to the public or exposed to public view, including specifically a view from any private residence or any portion of the real property in the immediate vicinity of such private residence, whether such place is publicly or privately owned, unclothed or in such a state of undress as to expose, in the case of a female, any portion of her breasts below the areolas thereof or in the case of any male or female, any part of his or her pubic or anal region or genitalia.

b. The provisions of this section shall not apply to locations specifically set aside for this purpose, nor to any acts which take place wholly within a fully enclosed building or any portion thereof; and nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit any act or acts which are expressly authorized or prohibited by the Penal Code of the state.

c. The county sets aside for this purpose the northern end of North Rincon (Bates) County Beach, starting at GPS _______ and ending at GPS _______.

d. Further, that other locations or special events may be designated for clothing-optional use by majority vote of the County Parks Commission.

e. Violations of this section shall be an infraction punishable by a fine in the sum of fifty dollars for a first violation; a fine in the sum of one hundred dollars for a second violation of this section within one year after the first violation; and a fine in the sum of two hundred fifty dollars for each additional violation within one year after a second violation and within one year after any subsequent violation of this section thereafter. (Ord. No. 2507, § 1; Ord. No. 2564, § 1; Ord. No. 2931, § 1)

3. Establish Volunteer Beach Ambassadors

Nudists recognize that lewd behavior has no business on a beach nor in any public place. We strongly support the enforcement of anti-lewd behavior laws both on the beach, and anywhere else in public. Knowing that sometimes a nude beach may attract people so inclined, it is important that the nudist community organize to help law enforcement when such incidents occur. We can be of great assistance to the undercover officers who occasionally patrol the area.

At other successful nude beaches in the country, one key to success is the formation of a Beach Ambassador network, kind of a Neighborhood Watch system. At Black’s Beach in San Diego, Haulover Beach in Florida, San Onofre Beach to the south, and at others, nudists ambassadors wear special hats and make a point of welcoming all nude beach visitors, distributing Behavior Etiquette Guidelines, and watching for any inappropriate behavior. If someone is suspected of misbehaving, or even just staring too much, the Ambassadors make a point of talking to the violator at once. These people usually are ashamed of being discovered and leave the beach immediately. On those rare occasions when they refuse, the Ambassadors call the local sheriff. After awhile the word gets out this is not a safe beach for such activity.

At Haulover such activity is now practically non-existent despite the large influx of new tourists during the summer. We encourage you to read the collected Testimonials and References from local officials in Florida. We intend to initiate such a program at Bates Beach.

Ambassadors Help Reduce Crime

We have no objection to persons being ticketed or arrested for inappropriate sexual behavior, using drugs, or harassment of others on or near the beach. Our Ambassadors are trained to observe and report such occurrence should the person refuse to leave.

As has happened at both Black’s Beach and Haulover Beach, eventually the word spreads this is not a good place for such activity, and they go away. We have letters from both the Mayor and Chief of Police of Miami attesting to the efficacy of the beach volunteers in keeping their beach safe and clean.

Ambassadors Help Keep the Beach Clean

As can also be attested, nudists are great environmentalists, and have a reputation for keeping their beach clean, far cleaner than comparable clothed beaches.

For many years, members of SCNA and Friends of Bates Beach have been captains for the annual California Beach Cleanup Day, cleaning the entire beach from the concrete barrier to the Point. This will continue and probably occur more often should the nude section be restored as we will have more volunteers to help. (Yes they will be dressed while on the non-nudist section of the beach.)

We also plan to establish a formal relationship with the local Homeowner’s Association at the Point to handle any disagreements that may occur in the future.

Ambassadors Have Great Relationship With Law Enforcement

At both Black’s Beach and Haulover, law enforcement and the nudists work together to prevent beach crime and to solve any problems that might arise.

4. Allow Proper Signage

We understand that some people are offended by beach nudity. We also respect the rights of those who don’t want to find our beach accidentally. We propose proper signage at both ends to notify beachgoers of the area’s designation, so beach goers can decide for themselves.

At successful nude beaches around the country, there is proper signage (shown is the sign at Haulover Beach, Florida) at both ends to notify beachgoers of the area’s designation. There is also a sign on the reverse side reminding nudists the need to be dressed beyond that point. These signs help avoid user conflict on the beach.

Our organization is willing to help cover the cost of these signs. We can also provide removable orange cones to designate the boundaries on the sand so that the boundaries are even more obvious.

Proper signage on the walking path on the cliff above the beach is also essential to discourage voyeurs and to give law enforcement another tool to prevent any illegal activity going on there. Signs also will help reduce the chance of people falling off this unprotected and unstable cliff.

5. Charge for Beach Parking

While this may be the most controversial parts of our proposal, we want to go on record as not opposing the county if they want to charge for beach parking at Bates Beach. Most other beaches in the county require users pay a parking fee and it can help fund any additional revenue the sheriff’s department might think they require to respond if gawkers need to be tickets and/or removed.

This does not require a manned booth, but simply a coin or bill-receiving device on a mechanical gate arm that spits out a parking tag. This unmanned system works successfully at many beaches in Los Angeles County. We don’t mind having to pay for admittance, and it might actually reduce the number of gawkers and drug abusers attempting to use the cliffs for their illegal activities.

6. Create business partnerships

As members of the Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce, we will partner with merchants on special promotions. This is the key to profitability for the county. We will distribute promotional flyers about local businesses, restaurants, and hotels with our Beach Etiquette material to entice beachgoers to stop in town after they leave the beach.

7. Two Year Trial Period

Again, we are not asking that the law be changed, only that its enforcement be updated to comply with more recent state decisions and with what is practical to enforce given limited law enforcement resources.

We are asking for the supervisors to adopt our proposal for two years only and direct the sheriff department accordingly. After these two summer season we will regroup to assess where we are and if our relationship should be extended. All we ask is a fair chance to make it work!

8. Estimated First Year Revenue Generated by Bates Beach, Carpinteria, CA

So what kind of numbers can we expect locally?

Let's do the math:

At Bates Beach there are 156 marked parking spaces, plus about 30 parking spots for cars parking parallel against the curb on the other side of the lot. If the county charges a $5/car gate fee to enter the lot, 100 cars per day will yield $500/day (about $50,000/year). Note: If the lot is at capacity during the summer, the maximum revenue is about $93,000 per year, but we aren't using this number in our calculations.

If the nude beach attracts 500 people per weekend day (a low estimate during the summer), a 10% response at $10/meal translates to $400,000/year for local restaurants.

If 15 of the cars in the lot contain tourists who will stay overnight one night in Carpintera, and the average hotel/motel fee is $125/night per room (double occupancy), this generates $ 100,000 in gross income for the hotels from out of town tourists you would not otherwise get.

The bottom line:

Total (conservative) estimated local revenue generated by the nudists at Bates Beach = $550,000 during the first full year.

This more than covers the existing (2009) Carpinteria city budget deficit with no need to invest in any additional infrastructure expenditure! We can do this now!

One more idea: If the main bus line between Santa Barbara and Ventura stops at the beach, or if a shuttle bus service were to begin between local hotels and the Linden St restaurants to/from and Bates Beach, these revenue estimates should explode!

Are we exaggerating?

To the contrary, we think these numbers are very conservative.

Evidence from Haulover Beach and Black’s Beach show how large this revenue could become over time.

To Summarize: A Win-Win Proposal!

Bringing back the clothing-optional section of Bates Beach will:

• Reduce crime! This is the best use of diminishing public safety resources on and around the beach.
• Provide needed additional revenue to local merchants, cities and to the County without additional cost.
• Help the county avoid user conflict and better serve the diverse recreational interests of the public.
• With 80% of the county population supporting us, this is not a controversial political decision!