Redondo Beach's Seaside Lagoon will operate for the first time this winter with a temporary ice-skating rink set up on the sand.

The City Council early Wednesday gave business partners Tom Kearney and Scott Williams the green light to open the rink late next month. Kearney first brought the idea to the city last year, but he held off when too many details needed to be worked out before the holiday season. Under the five-year deal, Seaside Ice will rent the lagoon for free this winter, but will pay a $4,000 usage fee the following year. The rate will increase each winter by $4,000.

The lagoon is normally closed in the winter off-season.

Redondo Beach is also chipping in to upgrade the lagoon's electrical system, which will be used to keep the ice cool for the 55 days the rink is in operation.

Kearney had talked about solar panels or drawing on a power source from a nearby restaurant, but those ideas didn't work out. Another option was using diesel generators, but Kearney said he was reluctant to do that because of increased emissions and cost. The deal passed 4-1, with Councilman Pat Aust voting no.

Aust argued the usage fees are too low and questioned why the city should contribute an estimated $50,000 for electrical upgrades at the lagoon. (The total bill will likely approach $100,000, and Seaside Ice will pay up to $50,000 of that cost and also pay for the electricity, city officials said.)

Aust also was skeptical that the rink will stay frozen.

"Making ice in 90-degree weather is not a keen idea," the councilman said.

The ice rink at 200 Portofino Way is expected to be open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends Nov. 18 through Jan. 11.

kristin.agostoni@dailybreeze.com On the Web

More details are available on the Seaside Ice Web site.

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