Santa Cruz Lifeguards Could Patrol Capitola Beach through 2015

What started as an experiment last year appears to be on its way to a longterm agreement between the City of Capitola and the Santa Cruz Fire Department.

In 2012, Capitola agreed to cut its own lifeguard services and instead use Santa Cruz life guards as a cost saving measure. 

Lifeguards patrol Capitola Beach from May through September as well as surrounding weekends. Last year's trial run went so well that the Capitola City Council is set to approve a new three-year contract with the City of Santa Cruz to keep the neighboring lifeguards on Capitola Beach through September 2015.

City documents show that Capitola spent $78,500 in Fiscal Year 2011/2012 to fund its lifeguard program. The proposed three-year contract with Santa Cruz would cost Capitola just $68,500, potentially saving nearly $200,000. 

If approved at Thursday's council meeting, Santa Cruz lifeguards will assume all responsibilities on Capitola Beach with the exception of Capitola Junior Guards, which will still be operated locally. Santa Cruz will recruit, hire, train, etc.

The agreement would have Santa Cruz staffing Capitola's two lifeguard stations as well as placing a roving lifeguard on the beach to patrol on summer days. 

Is it worth the savings to bring in lifeguards from out of town? Should Capitola create summer employment for local lifeguards? Tell us in the comments!