The San Clemente City Council unanimously voted at its Tuesday, June 4 meeting to authorize immediate actions to bring approximately 30,000 cubic yards of sand to North Beach. The decision involved suspending the city’s Sand Compatibility and Opportunistic Use Program (SCOUP) for an estimated two years to fund the emergency transport.
To cover the $1.38 million transportation cost, estimated at $42 per cubic yard, the council allocated over $800,000 from the city’s remaining sand account and over $500,000 previously designated for SCOUP. These reallocations provide enough funding for the sand delivery but put the SCOUP initiative on hold.
City Manager Andy Hall informed the council that this opportunity arose the previous night, requiring swift action. Hall emphasized the urgency, stating, “We needed to have a decision for tonight so that we can pull the trigger, literally tomorrow, on an RFP.” Orange County Parks had recently identified free sand available to San Clemente, making the project possible. Placement of the sand could begin as early as late June and is expected to last around 70 days. Construction activities are planned for Mondays through Thursdays, involving 40 trucks daily. Hall noted that the California Coastal Commission (CCC) would not permit weekend work.
All of the incoming sand will be placed above the mean high tide line. Hall explained this approach is due to a waiver, as there was insufficient time to secure a permit from the California State Lands Commission for placement below the mean high tide line. City officials had surveyed North Beach and determined it was large enough to accommodate the sand. Hall noted that the CCC recognizes the pressing need for sand on San Clemente’s beaches quickly, partly due to ongoing projects by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the city. The CCC’s recognition has led them to consider waivers and allow the city to bypass some bureaucratic environmental processes for timely sand placement.
While San Clemente is currently responsible for the $1.38 million cost, city officials are actively seeking financial assistance. Hall mentioned the city is asking the CCC to help pay for the sand as mitigation for OCTA’s project at Cyprus Shores, acknowledging the CCC recognizes the city’s tight budget. Hall expressed hope for this outcome, stating, “We’re hopeful that that will work out.”
Beyond this immediate project, Hall also discussed the potential for an additional 40,000 to 45,000 cubic yards of sand from Huntington State Beach to be placed at Calafia Beach. City officials are hopeful that OCTA would cover this project under its mitigation obligations. If not, the city plans to continue exploring other funding options.
Council members, despite voting unanimously, expressed individual concerns about the project’s impact. Mayor Victor Cabral supported using the funds immediately, viewing it as a better option than continuing with SCOUP without the actual sand. He also suggested SCOUP might not be delayed the full two years. Councilmember Steve Knoblock voiced concerns about halting SCOUP and inquired if the city could use rollover funding or unassigned fund balances instead. Hall reassured Knoblock that the city would seek to re-engage SCOUP by shifting available funds in the future, while also acknowledging the current funding method for sand acquisition is unsustainable.
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Enmeier praised Hall’s efforts but underscored the unsustainability of the city’s current approach to sand acquisition. Enmeier stressed the need for additional funding sources, cautioning the community that unless it takes action to find long-term solutions, the city will eventually face limits on such emergency funding opportunities.
