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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSS4 - Water Propelled Vessels - PowerPoint (Staff)February 24, 2015 Item No. SS4 City Council Study Session February 24, 2015 Definition • Water Propelled Vessel Above Water Surface • JetLev, Jetpack, Flyboard, Jetovator, Aquaflyer, Aquaboard etc.. . • User wears a backpack, boots, board or "bicycle" usually connected to a personal watercraft type vessel via a hose • Water forced down, creating lift, raising user above the water A� mm�� Background • City staff has received inquires from 2 other companies wishing to operate in Newport June 2014: Council adopted urgency Ordinance 2014 -11 • 6 month prohibition on issuing new permits • Direction to Harbor Commission to form ad hoc committee • July 2014: Harbor Commission creates Ad Hoc Committee • Commissioners Kenney and McIntosh Issues • Location • Safety • Sound Concerns • Operation of Equipment • Commercial vs. Private • Hours of Operation • Large Wakes • Pollution Concerns • Other Vessels Public Outreach • August 11 — Ad Hoc Meeting • Identified issues • Public input received • August 13 — Harbor Commission • Public input received • August 20 — Ad Hoc Meeting • Commercial operators: Allow? How many? • Private operators: Allow? Location? Public Outreach • September 3 — Ad Hoc Meeting • "Tourist Draw" & "Revenue Generator" added to list of issues • Attendees asked whether "For or Against" and why, in 2 words • September 10 —Harbor Commission Public input received October 6 — Ad Hoc Meeting Coast Guard assessing how to regulate this activity Committee Research and Reconnaissance • Committee Member observations • Significant restriction of commercial operation of these vessels in other areas of the harbor • Research types of equipment • Jetpack America btip://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-17A6znsfOM Flyboard httl): / /www.)�outube.com /watch ?v= m4Bm3cs9TFo • Jetovator httl2: / /www.youtube.com /watch ?v= Xie8Tella6s Committee Research and Reconnaissance • Equipment available to private consumer at low cost Movie r.+tl Uek @ eegl,Ay, ebk open tv :oe? Pr tom, \1 Dm0MM The Hydra Powered Jetovator. This is the ffying. steerable seat mat suspends its rider 25' in the alf with three powerful pets of water. An easily installed and removable u- adapter re- dwects 90% of me rearward thrust of an existing personal watercraft. A 440' hose Connote the PWC to the flying seats rear and'haG' me seat's three water het nozzles with nigh - volume, low- pressure water, for speeds up to 25 mph. As a dnver controls the trading personal watercraft, the flying seat's rider steers with two Individually controlled water noses levers that enable backflips, barrel roft, corkscrews, and even 10' dives underwater, The seat's ceder stands on two foot pads over a urethane foam-padded motorcyle -style seat. The lightweight flying seat's hydrodynamic powder - coated alutnirsum tubular frame provides optimal thrust -to- weight ratio while enabling reliable use in salt water, and its buoyant polyethylene body provides flotation. Safe, proficient operation typically requires only 20 mmuiss of instruction. Special Conditions and guarantee limrtatons apply, 49' L x 20' W 15' D. ( 100 lbs, ) Descnption i Item 12994 PrtCefi,bbd HOW marry? I - 56-d Cola -- Yj rm rr, 5�,[,Lxn<r lsan Committee Research and Reconnaissance • Equipment available to private consumer at low cost Gone are the days where waterskis and tubes were the most sought -after water toys. They've been replaced instead by jet - powered watercraft that send users soarin through the air at considerable attitudes. uc o recently debut is called theJetov or($5,975).Oi eaboardtherideablejet- pack,adr line junkies nperformbackflips.bar- rel rolls, and at speeds nearing 25 mph. Propulsion for this high - octane craft is supplied via a 40 -foot terse that's connected to the business end of a PWC (not included) with a minimum 130-horse- power engine and its speed is dictated by a friend pushing on the throttle. www.jetovatorcom JANUARY 2015 / POWER &MOTORYACHT 19 Advertisement in Power & Motoryacht Magazine, January 2015 Committee Research and Reconnaissance • Current operator uses 3 safety and instructional personnel for each rider Private /consumer operator: No safety personnel Nay. Channel 250' between beach and moorings Space Constraints in the Harbor 300' between Nay. Channel and Lido Isle 150' between beach and moorings 400 between moorings ;. and Nay. Channel Harbor Entrance/ Nay. Channel 200' wide channel Harbor Commission Conclusions 1. Public concerns were predominantly noise and safety 2. Current operator, Jetpack America, has had 1 safety incident that we know of in the 3+ years of business. 3. No specific location in harbor designated because: a) Amount of area required b) Need to move around harbor to mitigate noise Harbor Commission Conclusions 4. Because goal is to fly high and fast, both commercial and private operation could regularly violate speed restrictions Advertisement in Jetpack America office window 1 ��� M I With Harbor Commission Conclusions S. Because most operators are not experienced, potential for accidents and injury. Harbor Commission Conclusions 6. Because operating in the ocean outside of Newport Harbor is still an 6 ?ach economically viable business model. Harbor Commission Recommendation (October 13, 2014, Unanimous) Prohibit both commercial and private operation of vessels propelled by water above the surface of Newport Harbor Mission Bay Model • Since 1980, Mission Bay Sport Center has had a master lease with the City of San Diego • MBSC subleases to complimentary, aquatic businesses • Jetpack America on initial one year lease • Jetpack America is on a 5 year lease with annual business operations plan approved by MBSC and City of San Diego • Jetpack America operates in 2 designated areas with other uses in general vicinity Mission Bay Jetpack America operates in 2 designated areas with other uses in general vicinity red line = 1 mile (to scale) Newport Harbor For More Information http: / /www. newportbeachca .gov /waterpropelled Chris Miller, Harbor Manager cmiller@newportbeachca.gov (949) 644 -3043 Shannon Levin, Harbor Analyst shannonga newportbeachca.gov (949) 644 -3041