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Home My WebLink About24 - 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