For Immediate Release	Contact:	Michael Simonsen
February 16, 2002		619-236-6616 619-884-7335 Cell

Frye And Cox Clean Up Fiesta Island

Elected officials and community members show their support for a clean Mission Bay Park

San Diego, California - Councilmember Donna Frye and Supervisor Greg Cox hosted a beach cleanup on Fiesta Island in Mission Bay Park today. Partnering with San Diego BayKeeper, San Diego Landfill Systems and community leaders, Frye and Cox demonstrated to illegal dumpers that City Attorney Gwinn was right when he said "The party is over on Fiesta Island."

"This cleanup is one element of the City?s new attitude toward our recreational resources on Fiesta Island. Some days Fiesta Island looks more like a dumping ground than a playground," Frye stated. "We need to show the people who have been dumping here that we have taken ownership of the Island and we intend to keep it clean."

"The City of San Diego and Councilmember Donna Frye have taken great steps to clean up Fiesta Island for everyone to enjoy," said Supervisor Greg Cox. "I am proud to help out in any way that I can to make sure that our beaches and bays are clean."

Other efforts to keep Fiesta Island clean include highly visible Park Rangers and Environmental Services Department employees informing visitors of the Island that only clean wood can be burned in the fire rings. Park Rangers are stopping all vehicles to hand out materials letting visitors know that illegal dumping on Fiesta Island is a violation of the Municipal Code, and can result in fines up to $1,500 for a first offense. Any persons intending to illegally dump on the Island are given a second flyer with directions to the Miramar Landfill and asked to leave. The Police Department has also increased patrols of the Island for illegal dumping.

Councilmember Frye is also working with the City Attorney to add stronger language to the Municipal Code regulating illegal dumping. "Illegal dumping not only costs the taxpayers about $40,000 a year for the removal of debris, but it also has serious consequences to human health and the environment," Frye said. "When construction debris, such as painted, stained, or treated wood is burned it deposits toxic ash on our shoreline. We need to tighten up the ordinance so that it is absolutely clear what can and cannot be burned."

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