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Santa Monica Daily Press THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015
Council passes new rules for bike/car-share programs BY MATTHEW HALL Daily Press Editor
Volume 14 Issue 223
TRAIN ARRIVES DOWNTOWN SEE PAGE 8
Ocean rescues swell amid strong rip currents Weather conditions lead to busy week for lifeguards
CITY HALL City council adopted new transportation rules at their July 28 meeting that cover upcoming bike and car sharing systems. Francie Stefan, manager of Strategic & Transportation Planning for the City of Santa Monica said the three proposed changes were needed to support ongoing methods of transportation and expand transportation choice within the city. At the meeting, she said the proposals would aid parking in the city and aid in reducing green house gas emissions. Council officially adopted an entirely new section of city code that defines the bike share system, regulates use and allows for penalties if necessary. SEE COUNCIL PAGE 9
‘Strong at the end’ Final rounds help Santa Monica resident extend stay on ‘Jeopardy’ Editor’s note: This is the final installment of a series about a Santa Monica man’s experience on the game show ‘Jeopardy.’
BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN Daily Press Staff Writer
CITYWIDE Alex Trebek seemed genuinely impressed by Scott Richard Lord’s success when he introduces the Santa Monica man on last
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
BREAK THE GRIP OF THE RIP: To escape from a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you are free and then head towards land.
BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN Daily Press Staff Writer
THE BEACH Area lifeguards are closely monitoring local waters and urging beachgoers to take safety precautions after strong rip currents led to a dramatic surge in ocean rescues this week. Lifeguards reported making 408 rescues on Los Angeles County beaches Tuesday, including 103 in the section from Venice to Will Rogers. The spike in activity was due to a combination of a strong southwest swell and a wave of warm weather that has led thousands of people to seek relief on the coast, county ocean lifeguard specialist A.J. Lester said.
“It’s pounding our coastline and churning the water up and creating rip currents,” he said. “Know there could be some rogue waves.” Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing away from shore and are common on many beaches. With changing speeds and patterns, they can be difficult to navigate even for strong swimmers and surfers. The recent swell, which featured a strong lateral current, is expected to subside by Thursday, but could still impact local waters the rest of the week. Rip currents will not lead officials to close local beaches, City of Santa Monica beach administrator Judith Meister said. “But there’s been a lot of unusual activ-
ity and unusual weather,” she said. “People need to be advised.” Tuesday’s conditions were particularly demanding on local lifeguards. There were 34 ocean rescues on Santa Monica beaches, which county lifeguard spokesman Kenichi Haskett said is more than double the number of rescues on a typical summer day. He added that warm water temperatures have encouraged more people to enter the ocean. There were 41 ocean rescues in Venice, including 18 in a single incident south of the pier that required two lifeguard boats to bring swimmers to calmer waters. Several other people in the water escaped SEE CURRENT PAGE 10
SEE SHOW PAGE 10
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