Posted on 04/23/2013 9:20:47 AM PDT by BenLurkin
SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — Working out in large groups along Southland beaches could soon become a thing of the past if the Santa Monica City Council has its way.
KNX 1070′s Jon Baird reports Council members were scheduled Tuesday to consider proposed regulations that would regulate outdoor fitness classes in city parks and at the beach.
Among the proposals: a $100 permit fee and a 15 percent revenue charge for using Palisades Park and other sites for fitness instruction, classes or boot camps that have become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional gym memberships.
The ordinance – which was first introduced last April – would also limit private classes to two participants and groups to 150 people or less, with bigger groups required to obtain an event permit.
Some local trainers are worried that the tighter regulations would adversely affect their income and possibly force them to move their classes to another city.
Classes would be prohibited at Joslyn Park, Muscle Beach Park, Park Drive Park, Euclid Park, Ozone Park, Schader Park, and Pacific Street Park.
Council members also want to prohibit any exercise equipment weighing 25 pounds or more from being used in public areas.
Santa Monica Mayor Pam O’Connor told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO residents should think of the proposal as a “user fee” rather than a way to drum up cash for the city.
“It would help to pay the cost of the impact,” O’Connor said. “The commercial entities that are using the parks are impacting the parks, they’re impacting the turf, and the maintenance that we need to do with the city so we can keep those parks well maintained so these groups can continue to use them.”
One resident said there should be no reason for the city to interfere with the local craze.
“I would think that the people who would say it’s outta control are longtime Santa Monica residents who like the way it was, real quiet, all that,” he said. “I think for your average, relatively young person who doesn’t own a hotel, I think it’s probably okay.”
The meeting is set for tonight at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall on Main Street
They’re gonna need that physical fitness when the big one hits and the entire California coastal shelf slides on off to meet those seals and dolphins it has protected so vehemently.
A couple hundred people jumping up and down and heavy workout equip probably makes quite an impact on the grounds. I they are commercial endeavors, they should have to pay for the space they generate their revenue from.
The end of the original location for “muscle beaches” of the late 1940’s and early 50’s
correction — began in 1930’s
Dems are worried about Guam tipping over and CA ,too.
That’s moronic. If individuals can go there to work out, how can they say that people can’t agree in advance to go there at some time and all do what they’re individually allowed to do anyway? How is a class of 30 people working out different from 30 people who happen to show up at the same time and work out?
Oh...okay then. Ben Mauk says no....I feel so so much better now...ha! makes me feel so much better. Wonder what he said about the Loma Prieta quake I experienced in Palo Alto in 1989?
You can tax the instructor.
Prohibit stinky bums wandering around (and occasionally stabbing or assaulting people) and I might enter the People’s Republic once in a while. And maybe be a little nicer re parking.
The city that brought rent control is now going to bring them sweat control.
The constitutional right to assemble peaceably. Naturally these guys don’t believe in the constitution.
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