Higgs Beach, one of the biggest headaches for Key West and Monroe County, is getting more than increased police patrols to improve the destination.</p><p>Dent Pierce, director of public works for the county, which owns the beach, said Thursday that his staff will install windows in the bathrooms, paint the pavilions and start a recycling program at the beach.</p><p>"We're going to try to get that going as soon as possible," Pierce said.</p><p>Higgs Beach, within city limits, is among the most problematic recreational areas due to the number -- and often aggressive behavior -- of the homeless that hang out there.</p><p>"The problem is people who live here feel they can't use the beach," County Commissioner Heather Carruthers said.</p><p>On Feb. 18, the County Commission voted to spend $40,000 to increase Sheriff's Office deputy patrols there.</p><p>Thursday, at a Higgs Beach "working group" meeting led by City Commissioner Teri Johnston and Carruthers, participants suggested the Sheriff's Office use the money to pay deputies overtime to patrol the beach in two, four-hour shifts that would be staggered so would-be offenders can't rely on a pattern.</p><p>Sloan Bashinsky, who says he spent a lot of time at Higgs Beach when he was homeless, pitched the concept of a rotating shift.</p><p>"It will be like a repellent," he said. "Quite a few homeless people have records and they don't want to be around police."</p><p>A report from the Key West Police Department shows that in 2008, city cops responded to 1,501 calls for service at Higgs Beach, equating to nearly 500 personnel hours. So far this year, there have been 225 calls equaling 104 staff hours.</p><p>Work has also begun on a Web site, <a href=”http://”target=” www.friendsofhiggsbeach.com”> www.friendsofhiggsbeach.com </a>, where interested parties can discuss topics related to the beach. Hank Dean, who represents the interests of athletics for the working group, is overseeing the site development.</p><p>Preliminary discussion also began about a grand reopening of sorts for the beach, which may include a summer concert series.</p><p>Carruthers said that in the coming weeks, the county will advertise a Higgs Beach workshop where the public can air its concerns.