Bill to Create Coast Museum Clears Hurdle in Assembly

A bill that would establish a coastal museum and marine observatory near the Venice Pier to educate the public about the state’s shoreline has cleared its first hurdle in the Assembly.

The Assembly Natural Resources Committee recently approved the proposal by Assemblywoman Gwen Moore (D-Los Angeles) on an 11-1 vote and sent it to the Ways and Means Committee, which has until June to consider it.

“It’s important for us to acknowledge the coastal resource,” said Moore’s aide, Bob Jacobson, who grew up in Playa del Rey. “No other state has a coast like this,” with its diverse geography and population.

Under the bill, the museum would be operated by the Coastal Commission and the state Department of Education to give people “an appreciation of their unique coastal environment, its economic and cultural contributions to life in California and methods for the preservation and enhancement of this heritage.”

No Similar Museum

Moore, who said there is no similar public museum in the country, acknowledged that a variety of obstacles exists.

First, she has yet to figure out the cost of the museum and the source of funds. Jacobson said he hopes the museum can raise much of the money from private sources.

Bill Allayaurd, legislative coordinator for the Coastal Commission, said last week that commissioners view Moore’s proposal as vague but worthwhile.

Susan Lange, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said she is unaware of the bill and that the department has taken no position on it.

A problem for construction at Venice could be heavy surf, which periodically floods the pier area.

Larry Charness, planning chief for the county Department of Beaches and Harbors, which oversees Venice Pier, said, “Anything constructed near the pier would have to be built on pilings and take into account the storm water.”

Duplication of Services

Assemblyman Don Rogers (R-Bakersfield), who voted against the measure, said the museum could duplicate services already provided at private amusement parks, such as Marineland on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

During the committee hearing, Rogers also voiced reservations that attendance at the museum would not warrant its construction.

Moore responded that she does not envision the museum competing with Marineland for tourist dollars. She foresees an educational institution that, among other goals, could give urban youngsters a chance to study displays about coastal life.

In the past year, the Legislature has helped finance several museums--the Hollywood Entertainment Museum, the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance in West Los Angeles and the Japanese-American Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

Because of the growth of state museums, Assemblyman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) has proposed a bill to establish a division of museums within the state Department of Parks and Recreation.