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NEWPORT BEACH
�« City Council Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 11
October 22. 2013
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
David A. Webb, Public Works Director
949 - 644 -3330, dawebb @newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Chris Miller, Harbor Resources Manager
949 - 644 -3043, cmiller @newportbeachca.gov
APPROVED: A
TITLE: Approve Harbor Commission Objectives for FY 2013 -14
ABSTRACT:
The Harbor Commission is requesting Council to review and approve their Objectives
for FY 2013 -14.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Harbor Commission's FY 2013 -14 Objectives.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There is no fiscal impact related to this item. However, the Harbor Commission's
Objectives include projects which, when implemented, will require funding through the
normal budgeting process.
DISCUSSION:
Over the past several months, the Harbor Commission has developed a list of
Objectives for FY 2013 -14 which support their mission, and the mission of the Harbor
Area Management Plan, which is:
"To protect and improve the resources of Newport Harbor, Upper Newport Bay,
and the ocean beaches to ensure their proper use and enjoyment by all things
that derive life, recreation, or commerce from our City's most important asset."
In keeping with this mission, the Commission's Objectives are intended to advance two
over- arching purposes:
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Approve Harbor Commission Objectives for FY 2013 -14
October 22, 2013
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1. Ensuring the long term welfare of the harbor for all residential, recreational and
commercial users; and
2. Promoting Newport Harbor as a preferred and welcoming destination for all to
enjoy.
The Commission's specific objectives to support these two purposes are listed in
Attachment A. Both the Tidelands Management Committee and the Harbor
Commission have reviewed these objectives at their respective meetings in September.
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).
Submitted by:
David A. Webb
Public Works Director
Attachment: A. Harbor Commission Objectives for Fiscal Year 2013 -14
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Attachment A
Newport Harbor Commission Objectives
FY 2013 - 14
As approved by the Commission on
September 11, 2013 for review by the City Council
These objectives are intended to support the mission of the Harbor Area
Management Plan and to carry out the role and key responsibilities of the
Harbor Commission: (1) to ensure the long term welfare of Newport Harbor
for all residential, recreational, and commercial users; (2) to promote
Newport Harbor as a preferred and welcoming destination for all to enjoy.
These proposed objectives are subject to the review and approval of the
Commission, and final approval of the Newport Beach City Council. Principal
responsibility for the achievement of each objective is assigned to a
subcommittee of the Harbor Commission, as noted below. Progress towards
these objectives will be reported, when appropriate, by the chair of each
subcommittee during regular meetings of the Harbor Commission. The chair
of each subcommittee is shown in italics.
Ensuring the Long Term Welfare of Newport Harbor
1) Support all efforts to achieve final interagency approval of the Newport Shallow Waters
Eelgrass Mitigation Plan, facilitating a new Regional General Permit (RGP 54) effective April
2014. The purpose of the Plan is to enable a more efficient and cost- effective RGP 54
permitting process for dock maintenance dredging through an ecosystem -based approach
to sustaining and promoting the population of shallow water eelgrass in all areas of Lower
Newport Bay where such eelgrass is found. [West, McIntosh, Avery]
2) Complete the development of recommendations for the best public use of Lower
Castaways, the last remaining undeveloped city -owned waterfront property. Collaborate
with the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission in developing specific
recommendations for presentation to the City Council. [Girling, Avery, Rhyne]
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3) Secure California Department of Recreation approval for a proposed amendment to the
Harbor Code which would grant an exception to the harbor speed limit for sanctioned sail
racing and human powered racing events. With such authorization, recommend the
proposed amendment to the City Council for enactment. [Blank, West]
4) Investigate the existing designations of Bulkhead and Pierhead lines throughout the
harbor in conjunction with current vessel overhang regulations and compliance. Determine
if specific changes to those harbor boundaries and overhang regulations or their
enforcement should be recommended to the City Council. Develop specific
recommendations to the Council if any changes are deemed appropriate. [Rhyne,
McIntosh, Stapleton]
5) Strengthen the Harbor Commission's public outreach to better communicate the
Commission's role, purpose, and objectives as a citizen's advisory voice for the harbor
community. [Girling, Avery, Blank]
Promoting Newport Harbor as a Preferred and Welcoming Destination
6) Collaborate with Newport Beach & Company to plan and execute a Harbor Summit event
involving key stakeholders in the harbor community. The Summit will engage the
stakeholders in the development of coordinated strategies for increasing the number of
visiting vessels, enhancing the harbor experience for visitors and residents, and better
supporting the businesses that serve all harbor users. [Blank, Girling, West]
7) Carry forward the results of last year's evaluation of existing public piers and potential
new locations for public piers. Present specific recommendations to the City Council on
public pier improvements and additions to facilitate better access to harbor area business
and amenities serving both visiting and local boaters. [Blank, Girling]
8) Complete the evaluation of public anchorage alternatives, specifically addressing the
concept of establishing an anchorage in the Turning Basin such as the one used on a
temporary basis during the 2012 Lower Bay dredging project. [Avery, McIntosh, West]
9) Update and publish a 3rd edition of The Complete Cruising Guide to Newport Harbor, first
published by the Harbor Commission in 2010. [West, Rhyne, Stapleton]
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