Accord to Save Features of Mission Beach Plunge

A fountain pedestal and the deep-end staircase at the historic Mission Beach Plunge have been rescued from demolition in a three-way deal among two government agencies and a developer who is building a shopping center in Belmont Park, the San Diego city manager’s office announced Thursday.

The county Department of Health Services had been trying to force the developer, Belmont Park Associates, to remove the steps and pedestal from the 63-year-old pool on the grounds that both are safety hazards.

But, with city officials acting as negotiators, the county, the developer and the state Department of Health Services Wednesday signed an agreement allowing the pedestal and steps to remain if the developer meets four conditions.

Steve Davis, general partner of Belmont Park Associates, said he and the pool operator have agreed to install tiles of contrasting color on the submerged part of the pedestal; to have lifeguards enforce a “no horseplay” rule on the pedestal; to install handrails on each set of steps; and to have adequate lifeguard coverage to watch the steps and pedestal at all times.

The Plunge, once the site of Hollywood extravaganzas, will be operated as a pool and fitness center that is part of an $18-million development of shops and restaurants scheduled to open in late June.

The San Diego City Council agreed to attempt to save the steps and pedestal after a Feb. 29 meeting during which Mayor Maureen O’Connor angrily accused a county bureaucrat of concealing the fact that county health codes required removal of both fixtures.

“We’re very happy that the state, county and city were able to come together and preserve this important part of the Plunge,” said Paul Downey, O’Connor’s spokesman.

The council is scheduled to determine at a hearing Monday whether Belmont Park Associates has a “vested right” to build the shopping center and is exempt from the provisions of Proposition G, the ballot measure approved in November that limits development at Belmont Park.