A Dry Ventura Pier? : City to Consider Prohibiting Alcohol on the Renovated Structure

About a week after the Ventura Pier was reopened to the public, the City CouncilMonday will consider banning alcohol on the pier.

If approved, the ban would extend to nearby Promenade Park and the beach area--but not to a proposed pier restaurant still in planning stages. City officials say they want to deter an “undesirable element” from coming to the historic landmark, which is being marketed as one of Ventura’s main tourist attractions.

“We do have a fair amount of drunks out there,” said Greg Gilmer, a city parks administrator. “We knew it was a problem but we were reluctant to do anything until we actually took over the pier.”

In return for taking over maintenance of the 121-year-old pier, the city assumed ownership of the jetty from the state earlier this year.

The Ventura Pier is the longest wooden pier in the state, and recently underwent a complete renovation.

Gilmer said city officials and police received numerous complaints on alcohol-related problems at the pier before it was closed for its $3.5-million renovation.

City Atty. Peter D. Bulens said drinking is allowed in city parks unless specifically prohibited by the City Council. Any violations of the proposed ordinance would be considered an infraction. The fine for the first offense is $100, the second $200 and the third $500.

If a person is caught drinking on the pier more than three times in a year, it would be considered a misdemeanor, which carries a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail, Bulens said. If adopted by the council Monday night, the law would take effect immediately, and city parks officials said they hope to put up warning signs by the end of next week.

But city officials said they will allow alcohol to be served at a proposed 5,000-square foot restaurant at the base of the pier. City officials last week solicited bids for the restaurant, and expect it to be built and ready as soon as 18 months from now.

“We will allow it in the restaurant and on the pier for special events like the California Beach Party,” said Bill Byerts, city parks manager.

Under state ownership, drinking was permitted on the pier, said Wes Chapin, a spokesman for the state’s Parks and Recreation Department.

On Friday, fishermen on the pier were upset to hear about the proposed ban.

“You can’t fish without a beer,” said Michael Dominguez, who was drinking from a can of beer and casting his line.

His friend, Eric Gatien, agreed.

“It might be the only thing you catch--a buzz,” said Gatien, who was also sipping from a beer can and putting bait on his line.

Andy Aguilar, who has been fishing at the pier for more than 30 years, said he does not think alcohol has been a problem at the pier.

“Nobody’s ever bothered anybody,” said Aguilar, who was also drinking a beer. “The sun gets hot out here, and a nice, cold beer is perfect. Everybody’s going to bring their beer anyway--they’ll just hide it.”

A few hundred feet away, Robert Cameron was listening to his Walkman and drinking a beer. He wasn’t fishing that day, but he said he often comes to the pier with his poles and bait.

“Drinking beer is part of fishing,” Cameron said. “How can they police it? I’ll sneak it when it comes time.”

Ventura Police Sgt. Roger Nustad acknowledged that the proposed ban might be hard to enforce.

“We would do it,” Nustad said. “It would be difficult. As you’re walking on the pier, they could see you coming a long way off.”

Nustad said police officers would not be allowed to ask people to open their coolers unless they saw a violation.

City officials said they are also drafting a proposed ordinance to regulate other activities on the pier.

According to Gilmer, the proposed ordinance may prohibit bikes, skateboards and roller-blades on the pier. Pets may also be banned and city officials are considering closing off the pier between midnight and dawn. That ordinance is scheduled to be considered by the council later this month, Gilmer said.