Keep Homer's beaches open to motorized vehicles

Homer is not Homer without picking coal and family outings on the beach. And these activities are not feasible without motorized beach access from Fox River to Anchor Point. The ocean naturally does far more damage to the tidal ecosystem than motorized ever will. Please use wisdom and prudence in keeping access OPEN on our beaches. Don't give in to confused special interests.

I find it truly sad that there are people determined to destroy the rights of others by persecuting not one but all for the imagined and over exaggerated slights of a few. We are a community and there is little recreational activities because of all the ordinances and we may have drug abusers and dog walkers but where they do it is not limited to the beach alone and to take away beach access will not solve that. Dog owners are aware of their pets demeanor and pet waste - why not use community service as a tool to help misuse of the beach? Use constructive problem solving and I'm sure we can all find a compromise that is suitable to everyone's needs. We already can't have a fred Meyer or Safeway open 24 hours - the point being is why take even more away?

I understand that certain parts of the beach or people's private property, and the other parts to the beach are definitely a bird estuary but there is a certain part of the beach that is basically public and is the city wants people to pay the taxes for the upkeep of Sewalls and anything else like that then they need to allow citizens the right to go down and access the beach. I use the beach to get cool for my family for the winter time to heat our home it's very important I do not violate anyone's private property I do not let my dogs right now and I do not go down and abuse drugs and alcohol .

I have lived in homer all my life and use the beach almost daily. It is ridiculous that just because a small number of people misuse the beach they want to shut it down for everyone else. Also the whole dog thing is bull too. There are no fenced in dog parks to let them run and have a good time and most trails around here have too much wildlife. This isn't California. If you want a beach your not allowed to drive or have pets at, move to California. I'm sure most everyone trying to vote this stuff in aren't long time homer/Alaska residents anyways.

Keep it open

My family homesteaded in Homer and still live there. I worked for many years on the Spit, and we use to drive the beaches searching for coal. Like someone else said, this is Alaska, not New York, leave our beaches alone. They have not been destroyed and people are considerate and clean them up. Whoever came up with this law must not be a life long resident. BTW, I still live in Alaska and still visit Homer.

We have driven on the beach many years. We have picked coal and still do so as well. Everyone should be courteous and respectful, keep it clean!

Come on people, we live in Alaska, not New York City! What's wirh all the petty laws restricting us everywhere we turn?

Ordinance 15-29, An Ordinance of the City Council of Homer, Alaska, Amending Homer City Code 1.16.040, Disposition of Scheduled Offenses—Fine Schedule, Enacting Homer City Code Chapter 7.16, Vehicles in Beach Areas, and Repealing Homer City Code Chapter 19.16, Vehicles on Homer Spit Beach, to Restrict the Operation, Stopping and Parking of Motor Vehicles in Beach Areas. Lewis/Reynolds. Introduction August 10, 2015, Public Hearing and Second Reading August 24, 2015.

Keep our beaches open. We do not need ANOTHER restriction.

What Rnd Alaska said is right on!!! I've been using the beach and driving there from time to time for the past 38 years .. Do not close the vehicle access to the beach and take our freedom away .. The beach belongs to all of us ..

Please leave the beach open to vehicles.

I've been driving on the beach for many years, mostly to collect coal. I can't believe anyone could think that a truck can "damage" or cause more effect to the beach than the surf does

keep the beaches open

Keep the beaches OPEN!

Historically, coal is the reason that Homer came to be. The response to inappropriate and unlawful behavior of a few should not be the reason to shut down access to ALL inhabitants of the city and surrounding areas to the very basis for this town's existence. Coal. If drugs are a problem, closing the beaches to vehicular traffic will only move the problem to another location. May I suggest that the problem be addressed at the source instead of putting a bandaid on it, and preventing law-abiding citizens from another resource? If there really is a problem with drug sales/use in the area, shouldn't the police patrol it more closely? Is the problem occurring during the daytime hours? What about having the beach accessible during the day, but then closing it after 10 pm? I believe there are other solutions. The government always goes immediately to more regulatory action, even when there are better solutions out there. A citizen coalition watchdog group could be utilized. I've done that in crime-ridden neighborhoods in the past. It works. It's free. What about using video surveillance? Or signs that say something to the effect that you report (and photograph) any inappropriate and illegal activities and a number to call to submit the report? As soon as criminals have a little 'heat' on them, they tend to move elsewhere. Please do NOT close the beach to responsible users.

lets not let a few inconsiderate drivers ruin something great for the people of Homer.

I would like to keep beaches open to motorized vehicles.

Let responsible recreation groups continue to use the land. Let's keep Alaska open.

We don't need motorized restrictions. We need people to clean up there trash! This won't solve the real problems