Council bans alcohol at Kate Sessions Park An emergency measure immediately banning the drinking of alcohol at Kate Sessions Memorial Park was passed Tuesday in a 8-0 vote by the San Diego City Council. The emergency aspect of the measure ensured the ban went into effect this week. District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer also made the motion that a second ban would go into effect in January as a precaution in case a possible lawsuit would rescind the emergency alcohol ban. The council was told that after alcohol was banned at city beaches, some groups then moved their parties to the Pacific Beach park and continued with binge drinking. A police officer told the council that neighbors of the park complained about public urination and noise late at night. District 6 Councilwoman Lorie Zapf said she knew of families who had ceased going to the park because of the drinking. “It’s really a shame that inconsiderate, narcissistic people flock then to the closest park near the beach to get fall-down drunk and destroy the quality of life in a neighborhood,” said District 7 Councilwoman Marti Emerald. Giant Dipper and park rides remain open Despite the Wave House Belmont Park LLC filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy, the San Diego Coaster Company — operators of the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and other Belmont Park rides — remains open and unaffected by the financial action. “We want everyone to know that the Coaster Company, Historical Giant Dipper, as well as all the other rides we operate, are not involved in the current situation and that we are financially solvent,” said Wendy Crain, general manager of the San Diego Coaster Company, in a statement last week. The Coaster Company has a separate land lease with the city of San Diego. Belmont Park is a seven-acre beach amusement park located at the corner of Mission Boulevard and West Mission Bay Drive in Mission Beach, adjacent to the Wave House. For more information visit www.bel-montpark.com. City holds public hearing on beach stairways The city of San Diego’s Development Services Department hearing officer will hold a public hearing Dec. 15 at 8:30 a.m. regarding the repair and maintenance of several beach access stairways and sidewalks throughout Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach, according to a statement released by the department. The department will decide whether to approve, conditionally approve or deny an application for a coastal development permit and site development permit for environmentally sensitive lands. “The coastal environment is very corrosive to all materials and the work to be done is essentially much-needed maintenance for the existing facilities,” said Helene Deisher, development project manager. “The upside to all the projects is that the stairs and sidewalks will receive much-needed maintenance and the work will also improve their current appearance,” Deisher said. The decision of the hearing officer is final unless appealed to the Planning Commission. If a citizen would like to appeal the decision, he or she needs to file a speaker slip at the hearing or provide written interest to the hearing officer before the close of the hearing. The meeting will be held at the Council Chambers, 12th Floor, City Administration Building, 202 C. St. For more information on the appeal process, visit www.sandiego.gov/development-services.