SAN CLEMENTE : City Reduces Rent for Beach Concessionaire

City officials have voted to bail out a struggling food concessionaire at Calafia Beach by reducing his rent.

In a 3-2 vote, the council approved a recommendation by marine safety officials to waive the $10,000 rent due this year by concessionaire Moe Modiry, in return for 12% of the stand’s profits.

The bailout will cost the city about $6,500.

Council members Thomas Lorch and Candace Haggard opposed the change, contending that a new competitive bidding process would be better.

But other council members warned that such a move could leave the stand without an operator for the busy summer season.

The council majority also asked for another review of the contract once the summer season ends.

Since Modiry was granted a long-term contract to run the stand in 1989, business has remained slow, with gross sales of $28,890 this year, according to a report by Marine Safety Capt. Lynn Hughes.

Hughes said Modiry blames his low sales on the difficult access to the beach over ragged rocks that line nearby railroad tracks.

County crews are in the process of building an access path over the rocks, a project that should be finished by the summer season.

Despite pleas of help in the past, the council has held Modiry to the terms of his contract, which calls for minimum rent of $10,000 per year, or 10% of the gross income, whichever is higher.

In other council action last week, despite the uncertain future of the San Clemente Police Department, the City Council approved the purchase of two new patrol cars for $33,600.

The new 1993 Chevrolet Caprice Classics will replace two aging units, one that was damaged in a fire and the other that has been driven more than 70,000 miles, officials said.

In the event city leaders hire the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to patrol the streets--a cost-cutting proposal now under study--the new cars would be given to the county in exchange for a cut in contract price, according to City Manager Michael W. Parness.

“There’s no question they need to be replaced,” he told the council.