HomeMy WebLinkAbout24 - Orange County Coastal Coalition and Coast StudySEW 130 -
o� Newport Beach City Council
z AGENDA ITEM 24
March 8, 1999 Council Meeting
qLr FORS
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DAVE KIFF, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT: ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL COALITION and COAST STUDY
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
A. Approve Resolution 99- endorsing the City's participation in the Orange
County Coastal Coalition; and
B. Designate as the City's representative to the Orange County
Coastal Coalition.
C. Authorize Mayor O'Neil to sign letter in support of US Army Corps of Engineers'
proposed reconnaissance study on the Orange County coastline.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Newport Beach includes 6.62 miles of coastline. Given the
importance of maintaining this coastline to residents and visitors, the City Council has
long placed a priority on coastal protection. The Council's past actions have included:
• Advocating for sand replenishment to ensure long -term supplies of sand along the
beaches in West Newport;
• Opposing further leasing of oil deposits off of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) by
continuing the existing moratorium;
• Joining "CalCoast;' a coalition of California coastal cities interested in beach replenish-
ment issues. The Cityjoined CalCoast in 1998 and paid a $500 membership fee.
• Participating in or organizing various coastal summits, including one held in 1996
regarding OCS issues and another in early 1999 regarding beach replenishment.
At the 1999 summit, Orange County Supervisor Tom Wilson (5" District)
announced the intent to form the Orange County Coastal Coalition. As stated, the
mission of the Coalition would be to jointly advocate for:
• Beach replenishment funds;
• Ocean water quality;
• Beach maintenance;
• Habitat enhancement;
• Rocky inter -tidal zone protection; and
• Bluff stability;
One of the Coalition's first action items is expected to be to support the US Army
Corps of Engineers' proposed reconnaissance study of the Orange County coastline. As
the Council is aware, the Corps completes its studies in two phases — it first conducts a
reconnaissance study to determine the federal interest in a particular geographic area.
Beach City Council
If the "recon" study finds that there is a federal interest, the Corps then proceeds with a
feasibility study that typically proposes a series of projects that will improve the area in
question. If the Corps completes the Coast recon study, finds a federal interest, and
completes a feasibility study, it may lead to a long -term commitment by the federal
government to provide resources for beach replenishment, ocean water quality, and bluff
stabilization.
Corps feasibility studies and study outcome projects are typically cost - shared
with local participants. While the Orange Coast reconnaissance study will be funded
entirely by the Corps, the feasibility study will require a 50% match by local partners.
Any projects resulting from the feasibility study will require a 35% match by local
partners.
At this early phase in the process, there is no City financial obligation beyond
limited staff time and a Council member's time if the City chooses to join the Coastal
Coalition or to advocate for the reconnaissance study. As envisioned, the Coalition's
operation will rely upon staff assistance by all of its member agencies — something that
the City does today with all Newport . Bay and ocean- related activities.
I recommend that the City participate in the Coalition and provide a letter of
support for the Orange Coast reconnaissance study.
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A — Resolution 99- relating to the Orange County Coastal Coalition
Attachment B — Letter for Mayor O'Neil relating to the US Army Corps' beach
erosion and shoreline protection reconnaissance study.
RESOLUTION 99-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
RELATING TO PARTICIPATION IN THE
ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL COALITION
WHEREAS, Orange County's coast is critical to the quality of life enjoyed by its
residents and plays a vital role in the economic viability of the region; and
WHEREAS, many of the County's beaches suffer from severe erosion due to the
diminution of the natural supply of sand and beach material and by intervention from
man and urban development; and
WHEREAS, our County's beaches, tidepools, and bays are a recreational
resource used by millions of people each year— both residents and non - residents; and
WHEREAS, beach water quality is a significant and on -going challenge facing
our coastal resources; and
WHEREAS, working jointly with the County of Orange and the State Department
of Parks and Recreation and as a member of the Orange County Coastal Coalition, the
City of Newport Beach can provide a strong and effective voice for the Orange County
coast; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Coastal Coalition's focus will include, but not be
limited to, beach erosion and sand replenishment, ocean water quality, habitat
enforcement, rocky inter -tidal zone protection, beach maintenance, and bluff erosion;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Newport Beach that the City does hereby agree to participation and membership in the
Orange County Coastal Coalition.
ADOPTED this 8`h day of March, 1999.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
DRAFT LETTER ON CORPS STUDY
March 9, 1999
The Honorable Christopher Cox
Member of the US House of Representatives
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2402
South capitol Street & Independence Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Cox:
The City of Newport Beach respectfully requests your support to include $500,000 in General
Investigations funds for a Fiscal Year 2000 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill for
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE). With the funds, the Corps will prepare a 905(b)
reconnaissance report and project study plan(s) to address beach erosion and shoreline
protection along the Orange County coastline.
We request your support for the preparation of specific authorizing language, using Section 110
of the River and Harbor Act of 1962 -Flood Control Act of 1962, Public law 87 -864, which states:
A) Surveys of coastal areas of the United States and its possessions,
including the shores of the Great Lakes, in the interest of beach erosion
control, hurricane protection and related purposes: Provided, that surveys
of particular areas shall be authorized by appropriate resolutions of either
the Committee on Public Works of the United States Senate or the
Committee on Public Works of the House of Representatives.
We understand that current U.S. Army Corps of Engineers policy guidance has introduced a cost
limitation of $100,000 for the completion of reconnaissance phase and established a goal of
completing the reconnaissance phase in six to twelve months. We fully support the expedited
time for completion of studies, but ask for increased study funding based on the potential for the
preparation of multiple Project Study Plans (PSPs) along the Orange County coast. Several
coastal cities have expressed interest in participation in the Corps reconnaissance and feasibility
phase study process. We propose to use the Corps' "Coast of California Storm and Tidal Waves
Study" for Orange County as a basis for more detailed technical studies.
If we can be of any assistance by providing you with additional information, please contact me at
(949) 644 -3004. As always, thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
A 05a
DENNIS D. O'NEIL
Mayor of Newport Beach