Redondo Agrees to Share Cost of Beach Upkeep

Pressured by Los Angeles County officials, the Redondo Beach City Council has agreed to guarantee that it will shoulder a $140,000-per-year share of local beach cleaning and lifeguard costs.

But council members also backed away this week from a proposal to boost shoreline parking rates to 75 cents from 50 cents an hour, leaving the question of where they will get the money.

The council voted to ensure payment of $140,000 a year after receiving an ultimatum from the county, which spends more than $1 million annually for beach maintenance and supervision at Redondo Beach.

The county Department of Beaches and Harbors had said that if the city failed to guarantee the payments, it could be left with the full cost of ensuring clean sand and safe swimming.