HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 - Water Taxi & Multiple Vessel Mooring- CIS O
Agenda Item No. 10.
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Dave A. Webb, Public Works Director — (949) 644 -3330,
dawebb@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Chris Miller, Harbor Resources Manager
PHONE: 949 -644 -3043
TITLE: Water Taxi and Multiple Vessel Mooring System.
ABSTRACT:
As part of Mayor Hill's initiatives and programs to undertake in 2014, the Mayor proposed to review two
pilot programs within the Harbor. The first would be a year -round water taxi service to service the
harbor. The second would be a focused effort to develop a Multiple Vessel Mooring System for the
double -point mooring fields. Staff is seeking City Council direction to the Harbor Commission to
evaluate and propose a pilot program for a water taxi service and /or a Multiple Vessel Mooring System
within Newport Harbor.
RECOMMENDATION:
a. Direct the Harbor Commission to form an Ad -Hoc Committee to evaluate a pilot program for a
possible green, electric water taxi service within the Harbor, and then have the full Harbor
Commission review and make a recommendation to the Council on the merits for
implementation of such a service; and
b. Direct the Harbor Commission to form an Ad -Hoc Committee to evaluate a pilot Multiple Vessel
Mooring System including water and power, and then have the full Harbor Commission review
and make a recommendation to the Council on the merits for implementation of such a mooring
system.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There is no fiscal impact at this time.
DISCUSSION:
At the Mayor's Dinner on February 7, 2014, the Mayor outlined multiple initiatives he would like to
undertake in the 2014 calendar year. Two of these initiatives are discussed within this report and
involve the Harbor Commission and Newport Harbor. Both initiatives could increase recreational
access to the harbor
The first of these initiatives includes review and feasibility of a pilot program for a year -round green,
electric - powered water taxi service within the harbor. As the name implies, the water taxi service would
provide transportation within the harbor whether to and from the mooring fields /anchorage areas,
or from one waterside location to another such as restaurants, beaches or neighborhoods.
The second has to do with a focused effort to develop a Multiple Vessel Mooring System for our
mooring fields. The Multiple Vessel Mooring System describes a more efficient method of mooring two
or more vessels in the mooring fields via a floating dock.
The Mayor's initiative focuses on expanding this concept with the idea of using one or more mooring
fields that could be redone with floating docks with both water and power. The docks may be anchored
by pilings or anchored in a manner similar to the way moorings are anchored today.
The Harbor Commission may create up to two Ad -Hoc Committees (with less than a quorum of
Commissioners) to study these two issues and return to the City Council with recommendations for
possible implementation.
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.
In the future, CEQA analysis may be required if the above programs return to the City Council for
implementation.
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.)
ATTACHMENTS:
Name: Description:
❑ 14 -02 -25 Example of MVMS in Newport Harbor.pdf Example of a Multiple Vessel Mooring System
Example of a Multiple Vessel Mooring System
Currently Deployed in the Single Point Mooring Field
in Newport Harbor