The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutS15 - City Council Bay Issues CommitteeCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Agenda Item No. S15 January 9, 2007 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: City Manager's Office Dave Kiff, Assistant City Manager 9491644 -3002 or dkiff @city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: Resolution 2007-_ Relating to the Formation of the Bay Issues Committee (a City Council Ad Hoc Committee) ISSUE: Should the City Council form a new ad hoc committee to address Newport Bay issues? RECOMMENDATION: 1. Adopt Resolution 2007- forming the Bay Issues Committee (a City Council Ad Hoc Committee). 2. Confirm the Mayor's appointments of Council Members Selich, Daigle, and Gardner to the Committee. DISCUSSION: Several important projects and activities are underway in the Upper (and to a lesser extent the Lower) Newport Bay that require Council direction and advice. These include: • The Back Bay Science Center. Construction is underway at the BBSC on Shellmaker Island, and decisions need to be made with BBSC partners (like the California Department of Fish and Game, UCI, the County of Orange, and the Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends) regarding curriculum, activities, and administration of the BBSC. • Upper Newport Bay Ecosystem Restoration Project. The large dredging project for the Upper Bay is underway today, but it needs more funding from the federal government. An advocacy strategy needs to be coordinated to ensure that the UNBERP is completely funded and completed. • Harbor Area Management Plan (HAMP). The HAMP is an attempt to provide an integrated management plan that balances residential, commercial, recreational, and environmental needs of the waters of the Upper and Lower Bays. The Newport Beach Harbor Commission Resolution Relating to Ad Hoc Committee on Bay Issues January 9, 2007 Page 2 will take a leading role in the development of the HAMP, but Council members' early input will be equally important. Comprehensive Resource Management Plan (CRMP). The CRMP is somewhat different in scope than the HAMP, because the CRMP looks at the lands owned by the City, the County, and DF &G adjacent to or within the Upper Bay and attempts to set forth a consistent management plan for these lands. The CRMP would address public access improvements, restoration projects, education and interpretive elements, and some type of coordinated management of the properties. Big Canyon Creek Restoration Project. As this Project enters Phase II (Design and Construction Documents), the City Council should be involved early on in decisions relating to final plans and timing of any improvements that may result from the plans. • Lower Newport Bay Services Study. The Cooperative Agreement entered into between the County of Orange and the City in late 2006 envisioned both parties embarking on a study of services in LNB, including law enforcement, tidelands properties, and more. Council input is needed early on in these discussions, which would begin after a Strategic Planning effort is complete at the County level. • Other projects and programs as needed that do not fall under the purview of the Coastal /Bay Water Quality Committee nor the Harbor Commission. Staff seeks Council's guidance on these issues relating primarily to the Upper Bay, but to some extent the Lower Bay. We suggest forming a short-term ad hoc committee on Bay Issues to help us ensure that the Council is familiar with and supportive of the direction in each of these activities. Environmental Review: The City Council's approval of this Agenda Item does not require environmental review. Public Notice: This agenda item may be noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the public meeting at which the City Council considers the item). Submitted by: Dave Kiff Assistant City Manager Attachments: Resolution 2007 - Purpose and Role of the Bay Issues Committee x Resolution Relating to Ad Hoc Committee on Bay Issues January 9, 2007 Page 3 RESOLUTION 2007- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH FORMING THE CITY COUNCIL AD HOC COMMITTEE ON BAY ISSUES WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach is underway with or embarking upon several important projects or programs involving Newport Bay; and WHEREAS, these projects and activities include, but are not limited to, the Back Bay Science Center, the Upper Newport Bay Ecosystem Restoration Project, a Harbor Area Management Plan, the Big Canyon Creek Restoration Project, a Comprehensive Resource Management Plan for the Upper Bay, and a Lower Newport Bay Services Study; and WHEREAS, the City currently has a Coastal -Bay Water Quality Citizens Advisory Committee and a Harbor Commission, each of which has duties and roles that are distinct and different from each other and from the management and oversight of specific capital projects or land management at Newport Bay; and WHEREAS, City staff seeks timely and early input from the Council as to the direction and goals of each of these projects and programs; now, therefore be it RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Newport Beach that it hereby creates the Ad Hoc Committee on Bay Issues, to be known as the Bay Issues Committee, with the following duties and requirements: 1. To specifically advise City staff and the remainder of the City Council as to the development and implementation of the Harbor Area Management Plan, the Comprehensive Resource Management Plan, the Big Canyon Creek Restoration Project, the Back Bay Science Center, the Lower Newport Bay Services Study, and the Upper Newport Bay Ecosystem Restoration Project; and 2. To advise City staff and the remainder of the City Council as to issues, projects, and programs of importance to Newport Bay not directly under the purpose and responsibilities of the Harbor Commission or the Coastal -Bay Water Quality Committee; now, therefore be it 3. The Committee shall consist of three members of the Newport Beach City Council; and 4. The Committee shall be staffed by the City Manager's Office; and N Resolution Relating to Ad Hoc Committee on Bay Issues January 9, 2007 Page 4 5. The Committee's term shall expire December 31, 2008. ADOPTED this 9th Day of January, 2007. SIGNED: Steve Rosansky, Mayor of Newport Beach ATTEST: LaVonne Harkless, City Clerk Resolution Relating to Ad Hoc Committee on Bay Issues January 9, 2007 Page 5 AD HOC COMMITTEE ON BAY ISSUES AUTHORIZATION: Established by Resolution No. 2007 -_ adopted on January 9, 2007. MEMBERSHIP: Three members of the City Council, appointed by the Mayor as confirmed by the Council. City staff support shall come from the City Manager's Office. TERM: December 31, 2008, unless otherwise extended by the City Council. PURPOSE & RESPONSIBILITIES: A. To specifically advise City staff and the remainder of the City Council as to the development and implementation of the Harbor Area Management Plan, the Comprehensive Resource Management Plan, the Big Canyon Creek Restoration Project, the Back Bay Science Center, the Lower Newport Bay Services Study, and the Upper Newport Bay Ecosystem Restoration Project; and B. To advise City staff and the remainder of the City Council as to issues, projects, and programs of importance to Newport Bay not directly under the purpose and responsibilities of the Harbor Commission or the Coastal - Bay Water Quality Committee. S