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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/28/2006 - Study SessionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes Study Session Febtuary 28, 2006 — 4:00 p.n ROLL CALL Present: Council Member Curry, Council Member Sehch, Mayor Webb, Council Member Ridgeway Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky, Council Member Daigle, Council Member Nichols (Council Member Nichols and Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky arrived late.) CURRENT BUSINESS 1. CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR - None 2. STATUS REPORT ON LOWER BAY DREDGING AND ENFORCEMENT ISSUES. [100 -2006] Using a PowerPoint presentation, Harbor Resources Manager Rossmiller explained why dredging of the harbor is needed. He provided a brief history of dredging in the harbor and displayed a 1919 dredging plan and a dredging timeline covering 1906 to present. Council Member Nichols joined the meeting at 4:09 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Rosansky joined the meeting at 4:14 p.m. Manager Rossmiller displayed an aerial photo of the Orange County area and stated that dredging of the lower bay can only be successful when combined with a comprehensive source control program with the City's watershed partners. He stated . that approximately $145 million has been spent in the watershed to control the sediment that enters the bay. Manager Rossmiller stated that if the dredged sediment meets certain quality criteria, it can be reused. If it has to be disposed of, it is taken to a site in the ocean called LA -3. He displayed a drawing showing the location of LA -3 and noted that it has been used for disposal every year since 1976. Additionally, Manager Rossmiller displayed a map showing the areas to be dredged in the lower bay dredging project. Continuing with the PowerPoint presentation, Larry Paul, consultant, explained the strategy being used to obtain funding for the lower bay dredging project. Manager Rossmiller stated that the regional general permit renewal is an important part of the comprehensive lower bay dredging project. He explained what the regional general permit is, its benefits, the status of the current renewal process and key aspects of the new permit. The renewal is expected to be approved by the end of April 2006. He also explained the work being done to maintain the eelgrass Volume 57 — Page 566 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes February 28, 2006 habitat in the harbor and the importance of doing so. Manager Rossmiller stated that there is another form of dredging done in the harbor and he displayed a map showing seven locations around Balboa Island where sand will be pushed up onto the beaches. He stated that the City tries to use existing sand sources when replenishing areas whenever possible. Lastly, Manager Rossmiller displayed information on how the council members and the general public can assist the City with its goals, which includes writing letters of support for continued funding for the City's dredging projects to Senator Feinstein and the Energy and Water Appropriations Committee. At the request of Council Member Selich, Manager Rossmiller displayed an aerial photo and pointed out the locations in the harbor that are private waterways and not the responsibility of the City to dredge. He noted that these dredges, if above certain quantities, require individual permits, but that lower quantity dredges can utilize the regional general permit process. Manager Rossmiller also provided the status of the City's new dock standards and noted that the Harbor Area Management Plan (RAMP) grant was received from the State Department of Water Resources. In response to Council Member Curry's question, Manager Rossmiller explained how a disruption in funding can affect the dredging schedule. At the request of Council Member Nichols, Manager Rossmiller explained how dredged sediment and sand has been reused in the past. In response to Mayor Pro Tem. Rosansky's question, Manager Rossmiller provided examples of other cities that have owned their own dredging equipment and described some of the disadvantages to a municipality owning its own equipment. S. DOGS ON THE BEACH. [100 -20061 Lieutenant Kaminsky provided a brief summary of his staff report. Using a PowerPoint presentation, he displayed an aerial photo of "Dog Beach" in the City of Huntington Beach, and showed the signs that are posted there and at other beaches in Huntington Beach. He also displayed photos and showed a short video to demonstrate some of the problems associated with dogs on beaches. Lieutenant Kaminsky briefly discussed the environmental concerns associated with dogs on beaches, as provided in his staff report. He stated that Laguna Beach is the only city of those surveyed that allows dogs on the beaches year round. He explained that the City of Newport Beach previously had a similar ordinance and that Laguna Beach is experiencing some of the same problems that Newport Beach experienced. Mayor Pro Tern Rosansky confirmed with Lieutenant Kaminsky that the Police Department is not recommending a change to the City's current ordinance. Council Members Ridgeway and Curry spoke in support of the current regulations. John Cunningham reported that the Board of Directors of the Balboa Island Improvement Association recently conducted an unanimous vote to request that the City prohibit dogs from Balboa Island beaches at all hours. He stated that a letter would be sent to the City Council formalizing this request. Volume 57 - Page 567 City of Newport Beach Study Session Minutes February 28, 2006 4. INSURANCE RENEWALS - WORKERS COMP /GENERAL LIABILITYIPRO PERTY. 1100 -20061 Human Resources Director Ramsey provided a summary of the items that would be before the City Council at the regular meeting. These included Item Nos. 8, 9 and 10, Excess General Liability Insurance Renewal, Excess Workers Compensation (WC) Insurance Renewal and Property Insurance Program Renewal. Mark Zahoryin, Senior Vice President, Brown & Brown Insurance, the City's broker, provided a brief overview of what is done each year to negotiate insurance for the City. He explained the current market conditions for excess general liability, excess workers compensation and property insurance, and how the market conditions and expectations affect his market selections. Mr. Zahoryin stated that he's pleased with the results and described what those are for the three types of insurance. In response to Council Member Curry's questions, Mr. Zahoryin stated that the Governor's reforms of two years ago had a significant affect, industry wide, because it gave insurance companies opportunities to legitimately lower workers compensation premiums. He additionally expressed his opinion as to the effect if the reforms were undone. Lastly, Mr. Zahoryin confirmed that, for a city the size of Newport Beach, the City's insurance coverage is comparable to other cities. In response to Council Member Selich's questions, Risk Manager Farley stated that the City paid approximately $980,000 for the workers compensation claims filed in 2004/05. She added that there were 147 claims filed and that these numbers are fairly average for the City. Most of the claims are from the Police, Fire and General Services departments. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None ADJOURNMENT - at 5:40 p.m. The agenda for the Study Session was posted on February 22, 2006, at 3:35 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. Rec Secretar f; Mayor Q{11 City Clerk ro .r Volume 57 - Page 568