Clean sweep for beach restrooms

County crews are on summer clean-up patrol at Will Rogers State Beach and 16 others.

After last year’s riptide of bad publicity over cuts in the beach bathroom cleaning schedule, summer 2012 brings with it a full-on freshening up campaign for those oceanfront facilities.

Saying it is “ready to meet the demands of the busy summer season,” the county Department of Beaches & Harbors announced it would be reverting to its 2010 staffing model—and restoring those all-important 5 a.m. cleanings, seven days a week, that had been downsized because of personnel cuts last year.

Mid-day crews will be cleaning the restrooms every 60 to 90 minutes at the most heavily-used beaches on the busiest days of the week: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. And night crews will be coming onboard at 2 p.m. every day. In all, the county is responsible for 52 bathrooms at 17 beaches along the Los Angeles coastline.

Last year, the Board of Supervisors stepped in with $372,000 to bring on temporary workers to help keep the beach bathrooms clean. This year, temporary workers have again been hired under as part of a welfare-to-work program managed by the county’s Department of Public Social Services.

Posted 5/31/12