Beach policy outlines unveiled - al.com

Beach policy outlines unveiled - al.com: "GULF SHORES — City officials have, at least for now, backed off a plan to ban personal watercraft rentals at the beach, but expect to move ahead with plans to add lifeguards and widen the area along the coast that they patrol.

In a news release issued Thursday by City Hall, Mayor Robert Craft said he would not ask the City Council at Monday's meeting to ban personal watercraft rental. Craft also said that business licenses for companies that lease them now would be extended through January while new rules regarding rentals and safety procedures are debated.

'I wanted beach vendors to focus on what I consider to be a serious problem,' the mayor said in the release. 'We are studying everything about our beach operations to improve safety and cleanli ness for the 2010 season, and we need to tighten our enforcement and possibly regulations for Jet Ski operators, and look at issues for parasail operations as well.'"