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HomeMy WebLinkAbout17 - Harbor Commission 2022 ObjectivesQ �EwPpRT CITY OF O � iz NEWPORT BEACH <,FORN'P City Council Staff Report January 11, 2022 Agenda Item No. 17 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Grace K. Leung, City Manager - 949-644-3001, gleung@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Paul Blank, City Harbormaster, hblank@newportbeachca.gov PHONE: 949-270-8159 TITLE: Harbor Commission 2022 Objectives ABSTRACT: The Harbor Commission (Commission) periodically conducts a review and updates its objectives. An ad hoc committee was appointed to review the Commission's 2021 objectives and recommend modifications for 2022. At its December 8 meeting, the Harbor Commission discussed the proposed modifications and approved a final version of its 2022 objectives. Additionally, the Commission requested that the approved objectives be forwarded to the City Council for review. RECOMMENDATION: a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and b) Receive and file the Harbor Commission's 2022 objectives. DISCUSSION: The Harbor Commission periodically prepares objectives and devises workplans to accomplish those objectives. The cycle for objective setting is roughly once each calendar year. An ad hoc committee, led by Commissioner Scully, reviewed the 2021 objectives and determined whether or not each objective should be modified, enhanced or deleted. Through Harbor Department staff, Commissioner Scully also solicited suggestions for new objectives from the Commissioners and other harbor stakeholders. Additionally, the preamble and introduction to the objectives were revised to reflect the Commission's status, now reflected in the City Charter. The proposed 2022 Harbor Commission objectives are found in Attachment A. The Harbor Commission requested its 2022 objectives be presented to the City Council for review. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact related to this item. 17-1 Harbor Commission 2022 Objectives January 11, 2022 Page 2 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. NOTICING: The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item). ATTACHMENT: Attachment A — Harbor Commission 2022 Objectives 17-2 ATTACHMENT A City of Newport Beach Harbor Commission Purpose & Charter Newport Harbor supports numerous recreational and commercial activities, waterfront residential communities and scenic and biological resources. The Harbor Commission's charge under Section 713 of the Newport Beach City Charter is to advise the City Council on the diverse uses of Newport Harbor and its waterfront. The Charter specifies: There shall be a City Harbor Commission of seven members which shall have the power and duty to: • (a) Advise the City Council on all matters relating to proposed harbor improvements and the use of Newport Harbor. • (b) Advise the City Council on all matters pertaining to the use, control, operation, promotion, and regulation of all vessels within Newport Harbor. • (c) Approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove applications on all permits where the City of Newport Beach Municipal Code assigns the authority for the decision to the Harbor Commission. (d) Make recommendations to the City Council for the adoption of regulations and programs necessary for the ongoing implementation of the goals, objectives, and policies of the Harbor and Bay Element of the General Plan. (e) Advise the City Council, Planning Commission and City Manager on land use and property development applications referred to the Harbor Commission by the City Council, Planning Commission, or the City Manager. (f) Serve as an appellate and reviewing body for decisions on permits and other harbor -related administrative matters where the City of Newport Beach Municipal Code assigns such authority to the Harbor Commission. • (g) Perform such other duties relating to Newport Harbor as the City Council may require. (As amended effective December 14, 2020) Harbor Commission - Objectives The following objectives are intended to support the mission of the Harbor Area Management Plan and the two most essential responsibilities of the Harbor Commission: (1) Ensuring the long- term welfare of Newport Harbor for all residential, recreational, and commercial users; (2) Promoting Newport Harbor as a preferred and welcoming destination for visitors and residents alike. These updated objectives are subject to the review and approval of the Commission, and final approval by the Newport Beach City Council. Harbor Commission ad hoc committees, as established by the Commission, bear principal responsibility for coordinating the Commission's efforts, along with staff support, in achieving these Objectives. 17-3 City of Newport Beach - Harbor Commission Objectives 2022 2022 Objectives Functional Area 1. Conduct an annual review of Title 17 and recommend 1. Harbor Operations updates to the City Council where necessary. (Mahn) (Yahn) 2. Conduct an annual review of the Marine Activities Permits and recommend updates thereto as necessary. Matters pertaining to the Management,Policies, Codes, Regulations, and 3. Work with City Staff to bring all onshore and offshore Enforcement. Mooring Permittees permit forms current and properly on file. (Beer, Cunningham) 4. Evaluate current Harbor Department Operations to determine if the department is structured properly to meet all responsibilities of the Harbor on a daily basis. 1. Study and provide recommendations to the transfer permit 2. Harbor Viability policy for onshore and offshore moorings. (Beer, Cunningham) (Beer) 2. Work with City Staff on an update of the market rent to Matters pertaining to Assets, Amenities, be charged for onshore and offshore moorings. (Beer, and Access. Cunningham) 3. Evaluate the current mooring fields and provide a recommendation for new guidelines that better define rows and fairways to improve navigation, safety, and optimization of space within the mooring fields. (Beer) 4. Review the On -shore mooring vessel specifications providing a long-term plan with the goal of insuring adequate spacing between moorings, residential docks, and street ends. (Cunningham, Scully) 5. Evaluate options for additional City Moorings and/or Multi Vessel Mooring Systems (MVMS) for temporary use by visiting mariners or long-term mooring permittees. (Williams) 6. Complete evaluation for establishing day moorings off Big Corona beach and harbor moorings. (Williams) 17-4 2022 Objectives Functional Area 3. Harbor Infrastructure 1. Support staff on the rehabilitation of the current public (Cunningham) floats and gangways including areas of the harbor that could Matters pertaining to Sea walls, Sea benefit with additional public access. Level Rise, Dredging, Docks, and Beaches. 2. Evaluate and identify the responsibilities and obligations of the city for additional safety vessels/equipment that may be added to the Harbor in the future. 1. Evaluate enhancements and/or services to City amenities which will improve the operation and enjoyment of the Harbor. 4. Harbor Stakeholders Additionally, identify new revenue generating offerings that (Scully) would be administered through the Harbor Department. (Scully) Matters pertaining to Residential, Recreational, and Commercial Users. 2. Evaluate and make recommendations for Lower Castaways. (Marston) 3. Continue the dialogue with representatives of the Harbor Charter Fleet industry, commercial vessel operators and rental concessionaires to: (1) promote best practices for all charter and commercial boat operations in Newport Harbor with particular attention to safety, operational support, speed, noise and pollution control/compliance and (2) evaluate (a) total number of vessels for hire on the harbor, (b) maximum passenger capacity for each vessel and in total, and (c) overall height of the superstructure of vessels for charter within the Harbor. (Williams) 17-5