SAN DIEGO -- A City Council committee Wednesday deadlocked on all proposals for the management of the Children's Pool in La Jolla, where a colony of harbor seals has taken up residence, further prolonging a long debate in San Diego over the balance between public access to the beach and protecting the marine mammals.

After a more than two hour public hearing, the Natural Resources and Culture Committee fell into a 2-2 standoff with council members Donna Frye and Marti Emerald on one side and council members Sherri Lightner and Carl DeMaio on the other.

Frye and Lighter wanted to forward to the full City Council a plan that would make it illegal to access the Children's Pool during pupping season, which roughly runs from December to May.

A rope barrier is already in place during that period to separate people from the seals.

Lightner, who represents La Jolla, and DeMaio sought an analysis of all options for protecting the seals during pupping season, including those that would preserve some public access. They also called for the formation of a task force to look at the broad establishment of a management plan for the beach.

DeMaio said he wouldn't support moving ahead without an analysis by staff.

"There is no way I am going to vote without a staff report or a city attorney report," DeMaio said. "That's how we do things."

His comments elicited an impassioned interruption from Emerald.

"We are the legislature for the city of San Diego," she shouted. "We do not have to wait for a city staffer to come to us with a recommendation, Mr. DeMaio."

Following two deadlocked votes, Frye apologized to the members of the public who turned out at today's hearing to speak on the future of the seals at Children's Pool, calling the inaction "most unfortunate."

"We are no further along then when you entered the room today," Frye said.

The issue of the Children's Pool fell back into the hands of the City Council last year when the state Legislature voted to approve a bill that gives San Diego more authority over the fate of the harbor seals that inhabit the beach.

Authored by Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, the legislation amended a 1931 trust that designated the beach as a bathing area for children to also allow for a marine mammal habitat.

The measure ended one step in a long legal tug-of-war over the beach.

A Superior Court judged ordered San Diego in 2005 to restore the Children's Pool to its original condition by dredging the beach, thereby dispersing the seals. In November, citing the new legislation, another judge ruled that the colony of harbor seals would be allowed to stay unless the city decides otherwise.

Before the committee were proposals that would make it unlawful to access the Children's Pool during pupping season, keep the rope barrier up all year, declare the beach a marine mammal park and develop a management plan for the area.

Dozens on both sides of the issue testified during the hearing.

Bryan Pease, an attorney for the Animal Protection and Rescue League, called for the closure of the beach during pupping season and keeping the rope barrier up all year.

"It's not compatible to have humans and seals interacting in that small area," Pease told the committee.

Pease presented a petition, he said was signed by tens of thousands, as proof the public wanted the seals protected.

Melinda Merriweather said the La Jolla community values its beach access.

"I think that it (beach access) is the most important thing that we have to look at here," she told the committee. "If we take it away we basically take it away forever."

Others were concerned about the crowds of tourists a marine mammal sanctuary would create.

"We'll have this huge traffic jam because it sounds like a free SeaWorld," Debbie Beacham said.

It's wasn't clear how the City Council will now proceed. It would take the formal endorsement of four council members to bring the issue before the full City Council.

Likewise, Council President Ben Hueso could bypass any further committee hearings and docket the issue before the full City Council.