HomeMy WebLinkAbout21 - Amending Muni Code for Encroaching PiersAgenda Item No. 21
September 10, 2013
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
David A. Webb, Public Works Director
949 - 644 -3311, dawebb @newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Chris Miller, Harbor Resources Manager
949 - 644- 3043—�Tniller@ n ewportbeachca.gov
APPROVED:
TITLE: Considbfation of Ordinance Amending Newport Beach Municipal
Code Sections 17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060 Relating to Piers that
Encroach in Front of Adjacent Properties and Commercial
Indemnity, Respectively
ABSTRACT:
The City of Newport Beach ( "City') manages public tidelands on behalf of the State of
California. Through this management, the City allows private individuals to construct
and maintain piers. A small number of piers located upon the tidelands encroach in
front of adjacent upland properties. When these encroaching piers are transferred, a
new permit is required to be processed by the Harbor Commission rather than by staff
through an administrative process. At the August 13, 2013 City Council meeting, the
City Council directed staff to return with an Ordinance with clarifying language that
allows staff to administratively process some transfers. Additionally, the tidelands
permits and leases recently adopted by the City Council require commercial tidelands
users to indemnify the City. For ease of use, it is proposed this indemnity obligation be
placed within the Newport Beach Municipal Code ( "NBMC).
RECOMMENDATION: (Select only one)
1) Conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 2013- 15 amending NBMC Sections
17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060 to allow certain administrative transfers of
encroaching tidelands permits and to require commercial tidelands users to
defend and indemnify the City, and pass to a second reading on September 24;
or
2) Do not amend the NBMC and maintain the current process.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There are no funding requirements associated with either recommendation.
1 of 26
Consideration of Ordinance Amending Newport Beach Municipal Code Sections
17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060 Relating to Piers that Encroach in Front of Adjacent
Properties and Commercial Indemnity, Respectively
September 10, 2013
Page 2
DISCUSSION:
As discussed at the August 13, 2013 Council meeting, there are a small number of piers
which encroach in front of adjacent abutting upland properties (i.e., piers /floats
encroach over the extension of their property lines into water area in front of a
neighbor). These piers have existed for some time, and were allowed to encroach for
various reasons at the time they were built decades ago. NBMC Section 17.35.020(F)
currently requires that a new permit be approved by the Harbor Commission for these
encroaching piers.
The attached proposed Ordinance would allow staff to administratively process some
transfers. Specifically, the City would have this authority when there is a change in
ownership of the abutting upland property owner (i.e. immediate family members), a
change in ownership of any entity that owns the upland property (i.e. between entities
owned /controlled by the same person), or upon death of the permittee.
Also included in this proposed Ordinance is clarifying language for an appeal, as well as
codifying the indemnity obligations previously approved by the City Council for
commercial tidelands permits and leases (see Exhibit B).
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:
This agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers this item).
Public Works Director
Exhibits: A. Ordinance No. 2013- 15 Amending Sections 17.35.020(F) and
17.60.060
B. Redline Version of Amended NBMC Section
C. Previous staff report from August 13, 2013
2 o 26
Exhibit A
ORDINANCE NO. 2013 - 15
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH,
CALIFORNIA AMENDING SECTIONS
17.35.020(F) AND 17.60.060 OF THE
NEWPORT BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE TO
ALLOW CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE
TRANSFERS OF TIDELANDS PERMITS AND
TO REQUIRE COMMERCIAL TIDELANDS
USERS TO DEFEND AND INDEMNIFY THE
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
WHEREAS, pursuant to the 1978 Beacon Bay Bill, as amended, ('Beacon Bay
Bill ") the City of Newport Beach ( "City') acts on behalf of the State of California as the
trustee of tidelands located within the City's limits, including Newport Harbor;
WHEREAS, Section 1(b) of the Beacon Bay Bill and Title 17 of the Newport
Beach Municipal Code (" NBMC) allow the City to authorize third parties to use
tidelands for commercial and noncommercial purposes for a term not to exceed fifty (50)
years;
WHEREAS, the City allows persons to operate and maintain commercial and
noncommercial piers upon the tidelands under an annually issued permit or lease;
WHEREAS, a small number of piers encroach in front of adjacent abutting
upland property not controlled /owned by the permittee;
WHEREAS, currently when a permit associated with a pier that encroaches in
front of adjacent abutting uplands property is transferred the new permittee is required
to seek a new permit from the Harbor Commission;
WHEREAS, the City desires to amend the NBMC to allow these types of permits
to be transferred administratively, when the transfer is between family members or
entities controlled /owned by the same person; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to codify the indemnity obligation previously
approved by the City Council for commercial tidelands permits and leases.
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach ordains as
follows:
KMIK -1
Section 1: Subsection 17.35.020(F) of the Newport Beach Municipal Code is
hereby revised in its entirety to read as follows:
F. Encroaching Piers and Floats.
1. In areas where existing piers and floats encroach in front of
abutting upland property owned by others, a new permit approved
by the Harbor Commission shall be required upon:
a. Any change in type of existing use of the piers and floats;
b. Any change in type of existing use of the abutting upland
property owned by the permittee; and /or
c. Any destruction of the pier and float in which over sixty (60)
percent of the replacement value of the pier and float has been
destroyed.
2. In areas where existing piers and floats encroach in front of
abutting upland property owned by others, a permit shall be
transferred, to the extent permitted by this Subsection, or a new
permit obtained upon:
a. Any change of the existing ownership of the abutting upland
property owned by the permittee;
b. Any change of the existing ownership of any entity that owns
the abutting upland property; or
C. The death of the permittee.
In accordance with Subsection 17.60.030(0)(4), the City Manager
or Harbor Resources Manager shall have authority to process an
administrative transfer of a permit pursuant to Subsections 2(a),(b)
and (c) between Immediate Family Members or between entities
wholly owned /controlled by the same person. For purposes of this
Subsection, "Immediate Family Members" shall mean the
permittee's grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, brother,
sister, wife, husband, or child. The Harbor Commission shall
process all other permits required by this Subsection.
3. At least ten (10) calendar days before the Harbor
Commission, City Manager or Harbor Resources Manager acts on
4
4 of 26
a permit under this Subsection, the owner of the abutting upland
property, in front of which the harbor facility encroaches, shall be
notified in writing of the time and place at which the permit will be
considered.
4. Appeals arising under this Subsection related to permits or
leases shall be processed under Section 17.60.080, or any
successor section.
Section 2: Subsection 17.60.060(E) of the Newport Beach Municipal Code is
hereby revised in its entirety to read as follows:
E. Commercial uses provided under this Title 17 are exempt from
any provision requiring involvement of the owner or long -term
lessee of an abutting upland property. This Subsection's sole
purpose is to allow a person to apply for a commercial pier
permit/lease in front of abutting upland property not owned or
leased by the person applying for the permit.
Section 3: Subsection "F" is added to Section 17.60.060 of the Newport Beach
Municipal Code to read as follows:
F. All persons that receive a commercial permit /lease, whether it is
a new permit /lease or a transferred permit /lease, from the City to
use public trust lands shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
indemnify, hold harmless and defend (with counsel approved by the
City, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) the City,
its elected officials, officers, employees, agents, attorneys,
volunteers and representatives from and against any and all claims,
demands, obligations, damages, actions, causes of action, suits,
losses, judgments, fines, penalties, liabilities, costs and expenses
of every kind and nature whatsoever (individually, a "Claim" or
collectively, "Claims "), which may arise from or in any manner
relate (directly or indirectly) to the permit/lease including, but not
limited to, the issuance of any permit /lease, the transfer of any
permit/lease, the entry into any permit/lease, permittee's /lessee's
occupancy or use, or permittee's /lessee's guests, invitees,
3
sublessees, or licensees occupancy or use, of the public trust
lands, or improvements including, but not limited to, any use
involving petroleum based products, hazardous materials,
hazardous waste and /or other hazardous substances as defined
by City, County, State or Federal laws and regulations. The
permittee's /lessee's obligations in this indemnity shall not extend to
the degree any Claim is proximately caused by the sole negligence
or willful misconduct of the City, subject to any immunities which
may apply to the City with respect to such Claims. This
indemnification provision and any other indemnification provided
elsewhere in an individual permit /lease shall survive the termination
of said permit/lease and shall survive for the entire time that any
third party can make a Claim.
This indemnity obligation shall apply independent of whether it is
explicitly placed within a particular commercial permit/lease
Section 4: The recitals provided in this ordinance are true and correct and are
incorporated into the substantive portion of this ordinance.
Section 5: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall
not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The
City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance, and each
section, subsection, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or
more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses and phrases be declared
unconstitutional.
Section 6: The City Council finds the approval of this ordinance 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. Alternatively, the City Council finds the approval of this ordinance is not a
project under CEQA Regulation Section 15061(b)(3) because it has no potential for
causing a significant effect on the environment.
m
6 of 26
Section 7: The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of
this ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause this ordinance, or a summary thereof, to be
published pursuant to Charter Section 414.
This ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City
of Newport Beach, held on the day of 2013, and adopted on the
day of 2013, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES. COUNCILMEMBERS
NOES, COUNCILMEMBERS
ABSENT COUNCILMEMBERS
KEITH CURRY, MAYOR
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
THE CIT (JEY'S OFFICE
AARON C. HARP. CITY ATTORNEY
ATTEST:
LEILANI I. BROWN, CITY CLERK
5
7 of 26
Exhibit B
Redline Versions of Amended NBMC Section 17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060
Amendment of NBMC Section 17.35.020(F) Allowing Intra- Family & Related
Business Transfers
F. Encroaching Piers and Floats.
1. In areas where existing piers and floats encroach in front of abutting
upland property owned by others, a new permit approved by the Harbor Commission
shall be required upon:
Ta. Any change in type of existing use of the piers and floats;
2b. Any change in type of existing use of the abutting upland property owned by
the permittee; and /or
4c. Any destruction of the pier and float in which over sixty (60) percent of the
replacement value of the pier and float has been destroyed.
52. -In areas where existing piers and floats encroach in front of abutting upland
property owned by others, a permit shall be transferred, to the extent permitted by
this Subsection, or a new permit obtained upon:
a. Any change of the existing ownership of the abutting upland propert v
owned by the permittee;
b. Any change of the existing ownership of any entity that owns the abutting
upland property; or
C. The death of the permittee.
In accordance with Subsection 17.60.030(C)(4) the City Manager or Harbor Resources
Manager shall have authority to process an administrative transfer of a permit pursuant
to Subsections 2(a),(b) and (c) between Immediate Family Members or between entities
wholly owned /controlled by the same person. For purposes of this Subsection
8 of 26
"Immediate Family Members" shall mean the permittee's grandfather, grandmother,
father, mother, brother, sister, wife, husband, or child. The Harbor Commission shall
process all other permits required by this Subsection.
3. At least ten (10) calendar days Bbefore the Harbor Commission City Manager or
Harbor Resources Manager acts on ath8 aew permit under this Subsection, the owner
of the abutting upland property, in front of which the harbor facility encroaches, shall be
notified in writing of the time and place fftee —:aat which the Raw permit will be
considered.
4. Appeals arising under this Subsection related to permits or leases shall be
processed under Section 17.60.080, or any successor section.
Amendment of NBMC Section 17.60.060 to Clarify Indemnity Obligations
17.60.060 Public Trust Lands.
The following restrictions shall apply to public trust lands under either a permit or a
lease:
A. Leases /Permits. In the event public trust lands are used by an entity other than the
City, then that entity shall enter into a lease or permit with the City. Such leases shall
provide lessees with a leasehold interest in the property for a period of at least five
years, not to exceed a period of time as limited by the City Charter or applicable State
law. Such permits shall provide permittees with an interest in the property for a period of
twelve (12) months or less.
B. Land Use. Leases and permits shall be for uses consistent with the public trust and
Section 17.05.080. Preference shall be given to coastal- dependent uses.
C. Public Access. Public access shall be provided in a manner consistent with
applicable law.
D. Revenue. Rent under this section shall be based upon fair market value, as
determined by the City Council. Such determination shall be based, in part, upon the
findings of a City - selected appraiser.
9 of 26
E. Commercial uses provided under this Title 17 are exempt from any provision
requiring involvement of the owner or long -term lessee of an abutting upland property.
This Subsection's sole purpose is to allow a person to apply for a commercial pier
permit/lease in front of abutting upland property not owned or leased by the person
applying for the permit.
F. All persons that receive a commercial permit/lease, whether it is a new permit/lease
or a transferred permit/lease, from the City to use public trust lands shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, indemnify, hold harmless and defend (with counsel approved
by the City, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) the City, its elected
officials, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, volunteers and representatives from
and against any and all claims, demands, obligations, damages, actions, causes of
action, suits, losses, judgments, fines, penalties, liabilities, costs and expenses of every
kind and nature whatsoever (individually, a "Claim" or collectively, "Claims "), which may
arise from or in any manner relate (directly or indirectly) to the permit/lease including
but not limited to, the issuance of any permit/lease, the transfer of any permit/lease, the
entry into any permit/lease, oermittee's /lessee's occupancy or use, or
permittee's /lessee's quests, invitees, sublessees, or licensees occupancy or use, of the
public trust lands, or improvements including, but not limited to, any use involving
petroleum based products, hazardous materials, hazardous waste and /or other
hazardous substances as defined by City, County, State or Federal laws and
regulations. The permittee's /lessee's obligations in this indemnity shall not extend to
the degree any Claim is proximately caused by the sole negligence or willful misconduct
of the City, subject to any immunities which may apply to the City with respect to such
Claims. This indemnification provision and any other indemnification provided
elsewhere in an individual permit/lease shall survive the termination of said permit/lease
and shall survive for the entire time that any third party can make a Claim.
This indemnity obligation shall apply independent of whether it is explicitly placed within
a particular commercial permit/lease.
10 of 26
�EWPOR� = CITY OF
u S
NEWPORT BEACH
City Council Staff Report
Exhibit C
Agenda Item No. 20
August 13, 2013
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
David A. Webb, Public Works Director
949 - 644 -3311, dawebb @newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Chris Miller, Harbor Resources Manager
APPROVED: 4,-S—�L A
TITLE: Consideration of Ordi \)nces Amending Newport Beach Municipal
Code Sections 17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060 Relating to Piers that
Encroach in Front of Adjacent Properties and Commercial
Indemnity, Respectively
ABSTRACT:
The City of Newport Beach ( "City ") manages public tidelands on behalf of the State of
California. Through this management, the City allows private individuals to construct
and maintain piers. A small number of piers located upon the tidelands encroach in
front of adjacent upland properties. When these encroaching piers are transferred, a
new permit is required to be processed by the Harbor Commission, rather than by staff
through an administrative process. The City Council may consider amending these
transfer provisions to allow for administrative processing. Additionally, the tidelands
permits and leases recently adopted by the City Council require commercial tidelands
users to indemnify the City. For ease of use, it is proposed this indemnity obligation be
placed within the Newport Beach Municipal Code ( "NBMC ").
RECOMMENDATION: (Select only one)
1) Conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 2013 -15 amending NBMC Sections
17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060 to allow certain administrative transfers of
encroaching tidelands permits and to require commercial tidelands users to
defend and indemnify the City, and pass to a second reading on September 10,
2013; or
2) Conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 2013 -15 repealing NBMC Section
17.35.020(F) to allow the administrative transfer of all encroaching tidelands
permits and amending NBMC Section 17.60.060 to require commercial tidelands
users to defend and indemnify the City, and pass to a second reading on
September 10, 2013; or
11 of 26
Consideration of Ordinances Amending Newport Beach Municipal Code Sections
17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060 Relating to Piers that Encroach in Front of Adjacent
Properties and Commercial Indemnity, Respectively
August 13, 2013
Page 2
3) Select neither option 1 or 2 and maintain the current process.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There are no funding requirements associated with either recommendation
DISCUSSION:
Within Newport Harbor, there are a small number of piers which encroach in front of
adjacent abutting upland properties (i.e., piers /floats encroach over the extension of
their property lines into water area in front of a neighbor). These piers have existed for
some time, and were allowed to encroach for various reasons at the time they were
built. See examples in Exhibit A.
NBMC Section 17.35.020(F) currently requires that a new permit be approved by the
Harbor Commission for piers that encroach in front of adjacent upland property owned
by others upon any of the following conditions:
1. Any change in type of existing use of the piers and floats;
2. Any change in type of existing use of the abutting upland property owned by the
permittee;
3. Any change of existing ownership of the abutting upland property owned by the
permittee or upon the death of the permittee;
4. Any destruction of the pier and float in which over sixty (60) percent of the
replacement value of the pier and float has been destroyed.
In an effort to improve the pier permit transfer process staff has prepared two alternative
ordinances for the City Council's consideration designed to address piers that encroach
in front of adjacent abutting upland properties. The first ordinance, attached as Exhibit
B, amends NBMC Section 17.35.020(F) to allow certain transfers between family
members or between related entities to be processed administratively, without the need
for Harbor Commission review. This ordinance also amends NBMC Section 17.60.060
to codify the indemnity obligations previously approved by the City Council for
commercial tidelands permits and leases.
The second ordinance, attached as Exhibit C, repeals NBMC Section 17.35.020(F) in its
entirety and allows for the administrative transfer of all pier permits. This ordinance also
amends NBMC Section 17.60.060 to codify the indemnity obligations previously
approved by the City Council for commercial tidelands permits and leases. There are
no proposed indemnity obligations for non - commercial (e.g., residential) tidelands users
under either ordinance. The redline amendments to the NBMC are shown in Exhibit D.
12 of 26
Consideration of Ordinances Amending Newport Beach Municipal Code Sections
17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060 Relating to Piers that Encroach in Front of Adjacent
Properties and Commercial Indemnity, Respectively
August 13, 2013
Page 3
These proposals originated through the City Council and were not taken to the Harbor
Commission for consideration.
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:
This agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers this item).
Submitted by:
AWA.�
D vid A. e b
Public Works Director
Exhibits: A. Examples of Encroaching Commercial Piers
B. Ordinance No. 2013 - _15 Amending Sections 17.35.020(F) and
17.60.060
C. Ordinance No. 2013 -15 Repealing Section 17.35.020(F) and
Amending Section 17.60.060
D. Redline Version of Amended and Repealed NBMC Sections
13 of 26
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Exhibit A
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Newport
Beach accuracy Every reasonable effort has been made to assure the
accuracy of the data provided. however, The City of
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disclaim any and all responsibility from or relating to
rea' , any results obtained in its use.
0 40 80
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14 of 26
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Newport
Beach Disclaimer: Every reasonable effort has been made to assure the
accuracy of the data provided, however, The City of
G IS Newport Beach and its employees and agents
disclaim any and all responsibility from or relating to
pE`+•'oq� any results obtained in its use
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Imagery: 2009-2011 photos provided by Eagle
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15 of 26
ism m:3
ORDINANCE NO. 2013 -
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH,
CALIFORNIA AMENDING SECTIONS
17.35.020(F) AND 17.60.060 OF THE
NEWPORT BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE TO
ALLOW CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE
TRANSFERS OF TIDELANDS PERMITS AND
TO REQUIRE COMMERCIAL TIDELANDS
USERS TO DEFEND AND INDEMNIFY THE
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
WHEREAS, pursuant to the 1978 Beacon Bay Bill, as amended, ( "Beacon Bay
Bill ") the City of Newport Beach ( "City ") acts on behalf of the State of California as the
trustee of tidelands located within the City's limits, including Newport Harbor;
WHEREAS, Section 1(b) of the Beacon Bay Bill and Title 17 of the Newport
Beach Municipal Code ( "NBMC ") allow the City to authorize third parties to use
tidelands for commercial and noncommercial purposes for a term not to exceed fifty (50)
years;
WHEREAS, the City allows persons to operate and maintain commercial and
noncommercial piers upon the tidelands under an annually issued permit or lease;
WHEREAS, a small number of piers encroach in front of adjacent abutting
upland property not controlled /owned by the permittee;
WHEREAS, currently when a permit associated with a pier that encroaches in
front of adjacent abutting uplands property is transferred the new permittee is required
to seek a new permit from the Harbor Commission;
WHEREAS, the City desires to amend the NBMC to allow these types of permits
to be transferred administratively, when the transfer is between family members or
entities controlled /owned by the same person; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to codify the indemnity obligation previously
approved by the City Council for commercial tidelands permits and leases.
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach ordains as
follows:
16 of 26
Section 1: Subsection F(5) is added to Subsection 17.35.020(F) of the Newport
Beach Municipal Code to read as follows:
5. This subsection shall not apply to the transfer of a permit
between family members or between entities
owned /controlled by the same person. Permits falling under
this exception may be transferred administratively subject to
approval by the City Manager or Harbor Resources Manager
in accordance with Section 17.60.030(C)(4).
Section 2: Subsection "F" is added to Section 17.60.060 of the Newport Beach
Municipal Code to read as follows:
F. All persons that receive a commercial permit or lease
from the City to use public trust lands shall as a condition of
receiving the commercial permit or lease defend and
indemnify the City. Unless different language is provided
within a specific commercial permit or lease, the following
indemnity language shall be included, in substantially the
same form, within every commercial. permit and lease:
To the fullest extent permitted by law, permittee /lessee shall
indemnify, defend (with counsel approved by the City, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and hold
harmless the City, its elected officials, officers, employees,
agents, attorneys, volunteers and representatives from and
against any and all claims, demands, obligations, damages,
actions, causes of action, suits, losses, judgments, fines,
penalties, liabilities, costs and expenses of every kind and
nature whatsoever (individually, a "Claim" or collectively,
"Claims "), which may arise from or in any manner relate
(directly or indirectly) to this permit /lease including, but not
limited to, permittee's /lessee's occupancy and use, or
permittee's /lessee's guests, invitees, sublessees, or
licensees occupancy and use, of the public trust lands, or
improvements including, but not limited to, any use involving
petroleum based products, hazardous materials, hazardous
waste and /or other hazardous substances as defined by
City, County, State or Federal laws and regulations. The
permittee's /lessee's obligations in this indemnity shall not
extend to the degree any Claim is proximately caused by the
E
17 of 26
sole negligence or willful misconduct of the City, subject to
any immunities which may apply to the City with respect to
such Claims. This indemnification provision and any other
indemnification provided elsewhere in this permit/lease shall
survive the termination of this permit /lease and shall survive
for the entire time that any third party can make a Claim.
Section 3: The recitals provided in this ordinance are true and correct and are
incorporated into the substantive portion of this ordinance.
Section 4: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall
not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The
City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance, and each
section, subsection, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or
more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses and phrases be declared
unconstitutional.
Section 5: The City Council finds the approval of this ordinance 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 15050(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. Alternatively, the City Council finds the approval of this ordinance is not a
project under CEQA Regulation Section 15061(b)(3) because it has no potential for
causing a significant effect on the environment.
Section 6: The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of
this ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause this ordinance, or a summary thereof, to be
published pursuant to Charter Section 414.
3
18 of 26
This ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City
of Newport Beach, held on the _ day of , 2013, and adopted on the
day of 2013, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES, COUNCILMEMBERS
NOES, COUNCILMEMBERS
ABSENT COUNCILMEMBERS
KEITH CURRY, MAYOR
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
THE CITY A ORNEY'S OFFICE
AARON C. HARP, CITY ATTORNEY
ATTEST:
LEILANI I. BROWN, CITY CLERK
17
19 of 26
Exhibit C
ORDINANCE NO. 2013 -
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH,
CALIFORNIA REPEALING SUBSECTION
17.35.020(F) AND AMENDING SECTION
17.60.060 OF THE NEWPORT BEACH
MUNICIPAL CODE TO REQUIRE
COMMERCIAL TIDELANDS USERS TO
DEFEND AND INDEMNIFY THE CITY OF
NEWPORT BEACH
WHEREAS, pursuant to the 1978 Beacon Bay Bill, as amended, ('Beacon Bay
Bill ") the City of Newport Beach ( "City ") acts on behalf of the State of California as the
trustee of tidelands located within the City's limits, including Newport Harbor;
WHEREAS, Section 1(b) of the Beacon Bay Bill and Title 17 of the Newport
Beach Municipal Code ( "NBMC") allow the City to authorize third parties to use
tidelands for commercial and noncommercial purposes for a term not to exceed fifty (50)
years;
WHEREAS, the City allows persons to operate and maintain commercial and
noncommercial piers upon the tidelands under an annually issued permit or lease;
WHEREAS, a small number of piers encroach in front of adjacent abutting
upland property not controlled /owned by the permittee;
WHEREAS, currently when a permit associated with a pier that encroaches in
front of adjacent abutting uplands property is transferred the new permittee is required
to seek a new permit from the Harbor Commission;
WHEREAS, the City desires to repeal NBMC Subsection 17.35.020(F) to allow
these types of permits to be transferred administratively, similar to the transfer of other
tidelands permits; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to codify the indemnity obligation previously
approved by the City Council for commercial tidelands permits and leases.
NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach ordains as
follows:
Section 1: Subsection 17.35.020(F) of the Newport Beach Municipal Code is
hereby repealed in its entirety.
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Section 2: Subsection "F" is added to Section 17.60.060 of the Newport Beach
Municipal Code to read as follows:
F. All persons that receive a commercial permit or lease
from the City to use public trust lands shall as a condition of
receiving the commercial permit or lease defend and
indemnify the City. Unless different language is provided
within a specific commercial permit or lease, the following
indemnity language shall be included, in substantially the
same form, within every commercial permit and lease:
To the fullest extent permitted by law, permittee /lessee shall
indemnify, defend (with counsel approved by the City, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and hold
harmless the City, its elected officials, officers, employees,
agents, attorneys, volunteers and representatives from and
against any and all claims, demands, obligations, damages,
actions, causes of action, suits, losses, judgments, fines,
penalties, liabilities, costs and expenses of every kind and
nature whatsoever (individually, a "Claim" or collectively,
"Claims "), which may arise from or in any manner relate
(directly or indirectly) to this permit/lease including, but not
limited to, permittee's /lessee's occupancy and use, or
permittee's /lessee's guests, invitees, sublessees, or
licensees occupancy and use, of the public trust lands, or
improvements including, but not limited to, any use involving
petroleum based products, hazardous materials, hazardous
waste and /or other hazardous substances as defined by
City, County, State or Federal laws and regulations. The
permittee's /lessee's obligations in this indemnity shall not
extend to the degree any Claim is proximately caused by the
sole negligence or willful misconduct of the City, subject to
any immunities which may apply to the City with respect to
such Claims. This indemnification provision and any other
indemnification provided elsewhere in this permit/lease shall
survive the termination of this permit/lease and shall survive
for the entire time that any third party can make a Claim.
4
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Section 3: The recitals provided in this ordinance are true and correct and are
incorporated into the substantive portion of this ordinance.
Section 4: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall
not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The
City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance, and each
section, subsection, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or
more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses and phrases be declared
unconstitutional.
Section 5: The City Council finds the approval of this ordinance 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. Alternatively, the City Council finds the approval of this ordinance is not a
project under CEQA Regulation Section 15061(b)(3) because it has no potential for
causing a significant effect on the environment.
Section 6: The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of
this ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause this ordinance, or a summary thereof, to be
published pursuant to Charter Section 414.
3
22 of 26
This ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City
of Newport Beach, held on the _ day of , 2013, and adopted on the
day of 2013, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES, COUNCILMEMBERS
NOES, COUNCILMEMBERS
KEITH CURRY, MAYOR
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
,;D Crl
AARON C. HARP, CITY ATTORNEY
ATTEST:
LEILANI I. BROWN, CITY CLERK
F1
23 of 26
Exhibit D
Redline Versions of Amended NBMC Section 17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060
Amendment of NBMC Section 17.35.020(F) Allowing Intra- Family Transfers
F. Encroaching Piers and Floats. In areas where existing piers and floats encroach in
front of abutting upland property owned by others, a new permit approved by the Harbor
Commission shall be required upon:
1. Any change in type of existing use of the piers and floats;
2. Any change in type of existing use of the abutting upland property owned by
the permittee;
3. Any change of existing ownership of the abutting upland property owned by
the permittee or upon the death of the permittee;
4. Any destruction of the pier and float in which over sixty (60) percent of the
replacement value of the pier and float has been destroyed.
5. This subsection shall not apply to the transfer of a permit between family
members or between entities owned /controlled by the same person. Permits
falling under this exception may be transferred administratively subject to approval
by the City Manager or Harbor Resources Manager in accordance with Section
17.60.030(C)(4).
Before the Harbor Commission acts on the new permit, the owner of the abutting upland
property, in front of which the harbor facility encroaches, shall be notified in writing of
the meeting in which the new permit will be considered.
Repeal of NBMC Section 17.35.020(F)
z -
z -
24 of 26
a. - ME
_.
MINMEM: - _
Amendment of NBMC Section 17.60.060 to Clarify Indemnity Obligations
17.60.060 Public Trust Lands.
The following restrictions shall apply to public trust lands under either a permit or a
lease:
A. Leases /Permits. In the event public trust lands are used by an entity other than the
City, then that entity shall enter into a lease or permit with the City. Such leases shall
provide lessees with a leasehold interest in the property for a period of at least five
years, not to exceed a period of time as limited by the City Charter or applicable State
law. Such permits shall provide permittees with an interest in the property for a period of
twelve (12) months or less.
B. Land Use. Leases and permits shall be for uses consistent with the public trust and
Section 17.05.080. Preference shall be given to coastal- dependent uses.
C. Public Access. Public access shall be provided in a manner consistent with
applicable law.
D. Revenue. Rent under this section shall be based upon fair market value, as
determined by the City Council. Such determination shall be based, in part, upon the
findings of a City - selected appraiser.
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E. Commercial uses provided under this Title 17 are exempt from any provision
requiring involvement of the owner or long -term lessee of an abutting upland property.
F. All persons that receive a commercial permit or lease from the City to use public
trust lands shall as a condition of receiving the commercial permit or lease defend and
indemnify the City. Unless different language is provided within a specific commercial
permit or lease, the following indemnity language shall be included, in substantially the
same form, within every commercial permit and lease:
To the fullest extent permitted by law, permittee /lessee shall indemnify, defend (with
counsel approved by the City, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and
hold harmless the City, its elected officials, officers, employees, agents, attorneys,
volunteers and representatives from and against any and all claims, demands,
obligations, damages, actions, causes of action, suits, losses, iudgments, fines,
penalties, liabilities, costs and expenses of every kind and nature whatsoever
permittee's /lessee's occupancy and use, or Permittee's /lessee's guests, invitees,
materials, hazardous waste and/or other hazardous substances as defined by City,
County. State or Federal laws and regulations. The permittee's /lessee's obligations in
other indemnification provided elsewhere in this permit/lease shall survive the
termination of this permit/lease and shall survive for the entire time that any third party
can make a Claim.
26 of 26
August 15, 2013
Newport Beach City Council
City of Newport Beach
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Re: Newport Beach City Council Regular Meeting of August 13, 2013
Current Business Agenda Item No. 20
Honorable Council Members:
I represent John Vallely, owner of the property at 508 South Bay Front, Balboa
Island. I have also been a resident of Newport Beach for almost 40 years. Mr. Vallely's
property is one of the properties identified by City staff as affected by the proposed
amendments to NBMC Sections 17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060 — Item No. 20 on the
Agenda for August 13, 2013.
It is my understanding these proposed amendments come from the City
Attorney's office, and have been under discussion for some time. However, it is
probably fair to say the Vallely dock situation may have prompted the City Attorney's
office to propose the amendments at this time. My understanding is that the Vallely dock
presents a situation not encountered previously by the City's current Harbor Resource
Department, but one that will be encountered for other properties in the future.
Initially, it is important to understand what Mr. Vallely asked the Harbor
Resources Department to do. Mr. Vallely's parents owned and resided at 508 South Bay
Front for over 75 years. Following his mother's death in 2012, and the administration of
his mother's trust that held title to 508 South Bay Front, Mr. Vallely's trust became the
owner of the property. W. Vallely subsequently applied for a transfer of the commercial
pier permit, held in the name of his parents' trust, to his trust. There is nothing more to
the application — it is simply a request to change the name on the commercial pier permit_
following the parent/child transfer.
Citing current NBMC Section 17.35.020(F)(3), the Harbor Resource Manager
took the position that Mr. Vallely must go through the process of applying for a new
commercial pier permit. Mr. Vallely disputes this interpretation and is prepared to file a
writ in Superior Court to compel the transfer. Among other reasons, Mr. Vallely disputes
the decision because Section 17.60.060(E) exempts commercial piers from the provisions
of Section 17.35.020(F)(3).
—n -n f.
' '
HARRY S. CARMACK
ATTORNEY AT LAW��
J� D —)3
474 E. 17th Street, Suite 201
9
Costa Mesa, Califomia 92627
Tel: 949- 642 -5548
Fax: 949 -642 -1588
E -mail: hcarmadc @pacbell.net
August 15, 2013
Newport Beach City Council
City of Newport Beach
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Re: Newport Beach City Council Regular Meeting of August 13, 2013
Current Business Agenda Item No. 20
Honorable Council Members:
I represent John Vallely, owner of the property at 508 South Bay Front, Balboa
Island. I have also been a resident of Newport Beach for almost 40 years. Mr. Vallely's
property is one of the properties identified by City staff as affected by the proposed
amendments to NBMC Sections 17.35.020(F) and 17.60.060 — Item No. 20 on the
Agenda for August 13, 2013.
It is my understanding these proposed amendments come from the City
Attorney's office, and have been under discussion for some time. However, it is
probably fair to say the Vallely dock situation may have prompted the City Attorney's
office to propose the amendments at this time. My understanding is that the Vallely dock
presents a situation not encountered previously by the City's current Harbor Resource
Department, but one that will be encountered for other properties in the future.
Initially, it is important to understand what Mr. Vallely asked the Harbor
Resources Department to do. Mr. Vallely's parents owned and resided at 508 South Bay
Front for over 75 years. Following his mother's death in 2012, and the administration of
his mother's trust that held title to 508 South Bay Front, Mr. Vallely's trust became the
owner of the property. W. Vallely subsequently applied for a transfer of the commercial
pier permit, held in the name of his parents' trust, to his trust. There is nothing more to
the application — it is simply a request to change the name on the commercial pier permit_
following the parent/child transfer.
Citing current NBMC Section 17.35.020(F)(3), the Harbor Resource Manager
took the position that Mr. Vallely must go through the process of applying for a new
commercial pier permit. Mr. Vallely disputes this interpretation and is prepared to file a
writ in Superior Court to compel the transfer. Among other reasons, Mr. Vallely disputes
the decision because Section 17.60.060(E) exempts commercial piers from the provisions
of Section 17.35.020(F)(3).
Newport Beach City Council
City of Newport Beach
August 15, 2013
Page 2 of 4
At Tuesday night's council meeting, several speakers during public comment
grossly misrepresented the status of the Vallely dock matter. In watching the meeting on
television, it appeared to me some Members might have been influenced by these
misrepresentations, or concerned about the proposed amendments based on these
misrepresentations. For that reason, I feel it is necessary to correct the misrepresentations
so Members have the correct information.
First, contrary to the repeated representations of the adjacent property owner at
510 South Bay Front, and her attorney, the Vallely dock is not an illegal structure or use.
The attorney should know better than to make such an incorrect representation to the
Council. Councilman Selich corrected the speakers when he stated that the dock was not
illegal, but rather a "legal non - conforming use."
A "legal nonconforming use" is "a lawful use existing on the effective date of the
zoning restriction and continuing since that time in nonconformance to the ordinance."
(City of Los Angeles v. Gage (1954 127 Cal.App.2d 442, 453.) A property owner has a
vested right to continue lawful uses of property and is not required to obtain a special use
permit in order to continue lawful preexisting uses. (City of Ukiah v. County of
Mendocino (1987) 196 Cal.App.3d 47, 56.) Transfer of title does not affect the right to
continue a lawful nonconforming use which runs with the land. (Hanson Brothers
Enterprises, Inc. v. Board of Supervisors of Nevada County (1996) 12 Ca1.4`s 533, 540.)
508 South Bay Front was purchased by Roland Vallely, John Vallely's father, in
1935. The property had an existing pier. On April 27, 1936, Roland Vallely was granted
a War Department Permit by the Army Corps of Engineers to construct two wooden
floats and three anchor piles in front of his existing pier. These floats and pilings crossed
the extended property line of the adjacent property at 510 South Bay Front. On July 18,
1938, the Newport Beach City Council granted Mr. Vallely's request to install an
additional float, having received the approval of the owner of 510 South Bay Front and
the City Engineer. The floats as constructed have been used and maintained in the same
configuration for approximately 75 years. The Vallely family has operated the marina as
a boat rental and/or boat slip rental for the entire 75 years. The Vallely family has paid
property taxes on this dock, specifically listed by the tax assessor as an improvement to
their property, for over 75 years.
According to City staff reports in 1965 and 1966, there were no City pier permits
or harbor policies when Roland Vallely constructed the additions to the pier in 1936 and
1938. When policies were adopted, it was legal to construct commercial piers that
"encroached" across a neighbor's extended property line. (Section 1 -B of the former
Harbor Permit Policies.) The Vallely dock was a lawful use in compliance with original
permits and existing policies for almost thirty years. On January 9, 1967, the City
Newport Beach City Council
City of Newport Beach
August 15, 2013
Page 3 of 4
authorized the addition of Section 29 to the then Harbor Permit Policies. This Section 29
pertained to the elimination of encroaching pier and float facilities. At that time, the
Vallely commercial dock became a "legal non - conforming use," and remains a "legal
non - conforming use" to this day. The dock is not an illegal structure or use. The
language of prior Section 29 carries forward almost verbatim in today's Section
17:35.020(F).
Second, contrary to what several speakers represented to the Council, Mr. Vallely
has not applied for a new business permit and has not expanded or changed the 75 -year
use of the dock. The information provided by these speakers is a complete fabrication.
The Vallely family has held a business license for their commercial use for almost 75
years --first in the name of Roland Vallely, and since 1972 in the name of the Vallely
Family Trust. The business license is renewed annually by paying the license fee. John
Vallely recently renewed the license as required by paying the annual fee, and, since his
trust is now the property owner, put the license in his trust's name. There is no
application for a new license. Nothing has changed with the respect to the dock or its
use. The representations that Mr. Vallely is doing something that changes the parking
situation as it has always existed are false. The dock space is exclusively leased to boat
owners, just as it has been for over the last 30 years.
Finally, let me provide some history on the adjacent property — 510 South Bay
Front. I feel it is important since that property owner now opposes the amendments to
these ordinances. 510 is the end property of the city block that was originally zoned for
commercial use. It borders Opal Street, with the City's pier extending from the end of
Opal Street. An aerial photograph taken in 1952 shows a sandwich shop stand at 510, the
Vallely dock, commercial businesses, a gas dock, etc., along the block. The commercial
block is currently zoned Mix Use Water Related, which allows commercial uses.
Vallely's commercial use is an approved use.
According to John Vallely, who grew up at 508 next door, sometime in the 1970's
the owner of 510.applied for and down -zoned the 510 property in order to build a duplex
on the property. In other words, a prior owner of 510, for that owner's own economic
benefit, created a situation wherein 510 became a lone, residential - zoned property at the
end of the commercial -zoned block. There are to this day "encroaching" commercial
docks on the entire 500 block, and on the 400 block on the other side of the ferry at Agate
Street. This situation was visible to anyone who purchased 510, yet the current owner of
510 now opposes amendments to the ordinances that would allow these commercial dock
owners to be treated like everyone else in the harbor, i.e., to be allowed to transfer their
commercial dock permit to a family member or related entity without applying for a new
permit.
Newport Beach City Council
City of Newport Beach
August 15, 2013
Page 4 of 4
I've already indicated the prior property owner at 510 gave his approval to
construct the "encroaching" dock in 1938, approval that was subsequently put in a
written, notarized letter. The current owner of 510 doesn't want to recognize Vallely's
vested right to maintain the existing dock, a right that vested between the property
owners when her predecessor at 510 approved the construction of the dock and Vallely
paid for the construction. This vested right runs with the land and is transferable to
subsequent owners.
Instead, the current owner at 510 is trying to accomplish her goal, the removal of
the encroaching dock, by urging the City to require Vallely to apply for a new permit for
the dock — one that she will strenuously oppose. Vallely's position is that his right to the
current permit is also a vested right between Vallely and the City, that the current permit
is transferable as a matter of law, and that the City may not require Vallely to apply for a
new permit. Members may recognize this position as asserting what is commonly
referred to as "grandfathered" rights. Vallely is asserting rights held before changes to
City ordinances.
The bottom line is that the current owner of 510 South Bay Front knows that as
between her and Vallely, she has no legal right to remove the encroaching dock. She
bought the property with full knowledge of the encroachment, and had every right to
investigate Vallely's vested right to maintain the dock pursuant to the prior owner's
permission to build it. She threatened legal action through her same attorney nine years
ago, but has done nothing because she knows she has no remedy at law. Now, she is
trying to reach her goal by opposing amendments to the ordinances that would treat
Vallely like everyone else in the harbor - amendments that should avoid legal action
between Vallely and the City.
would be more than happy to discuss the Vallely dock situation with any
Member.
Very truly yours,
1/,,� C",(
HARRY S. CARMACK
HSC/Vallely.ltr