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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3 - Virgin Oceanic Mooring in Newport HarborPART CITY OF SEW NEWPORT BEACH `qoa P Harbor Commission Staff Report Agenda Item No. 3 June 13, 2012 TO: HARBOR COMMISSION FROM: Public Works Department Chris Miller, Harbor Resources Manager 949 - 644 -3043, cmiller @newportbeachca.gov TITLE: Virgin Oceanic Mooring in Newport Harbor— Potential City Partnership ABSTRACT: Virgin Oceanic is proposing a partnership with the City in support of the Five Dives Project. In exchange for publicity for the City via marketing, website visibility and the adoption of the vessel Cheyenne as Newport's flagship vessel, Virgin Oceanic would receive free moorage for the Cheyenne while in the Newport Harbor. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Recommend to the City Council that a partnership be formed with Virgin Oceanic and that a mooring be provided free of charge for the vessel Cheyenne; or 2. Recommend to the City Council that a partnership be formed with Virgin Oceanic and that a mooring be provided for a prorated cost based on the months used; or 3. Recommend to the City Council another partnership scenario as determined by the Harbor Commission: or 4. Recommend that the City not participate in a partnership with Virgin Oceanic. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: It is anticipated the City would not pay for any of the costs associated with this partnership. However, the mooring revenue potentially lost if the total permit cost is waived would be $3,838.75 ($30.71 per foot x 125). DISCUSSION: Virgin Oceanic owns the vessel Cheyenne which is the mother ship to the on -board submarine which will dive to the deepest parts of the world's oceans. Cheyenne is 125' long and 60' wide and has been moored in Newport Harbor for nearly 1.5 years. In February 2011, the Harbor Commission approved temporary, short term moorage for the Cheyenne at no cost. In July 2011, the Harbor Commission extended the approval under the same terms. Then, in April 2012, the Harbor Commission extended the approval, but recommended Virgin Oceanic pay for the mooring space at the current mooring permit rate. Virgin Oceanic Mooring in Newport Harbor— Potential City Partnership June 13, 2012 Page 2 The Harbor Commission also assigned Commissioner Girling to investigate the possibility of the a partnership with Virgin Oceanic, and to report back at the June Commission meeting with findings. Please refer to the attached proposal by Virgin Oceanic. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Staff recommends the Harbor Commission 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. NOTICING: The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the Harbor Commission considers the item). Submitted by: Chris Miller Attachment: Virgin Oceanic Proposal for Partnership EMM May 7, 2012 Mr. David Girling Newport Beach Harbor Commission Re: Virgin Oceanic Mooring Dear Dave: Thank for taking the time to meet and become familiar with out program and operations. I know your report back to the commission is coming quickly; I wanted to give you an outline of the factors we see around the mooring and entering into a longer term arrangement with the City. As a born and raised son of Newport Beach, I am enthusiastic about the prospect of Newport adopting Cheyenne, the sub mothership, as the honorary Flagship of Newport Beach. The current status of the mission is we are beginning manned sub testing this week after successful ballast trim and launch and recovery practice last week. We have worked closely with VisitNewport and ExploreOcean and look forward to continuing our support for their respective missions. As a airline and tour organizer, Virgin brings many tourists to Newport. In the exploring world, we are happy to help elevate the Nautical Museum's new direction of ExploreOcean and can help make their efforts more visible. In -kind sponsors are recognized on our website and typically have made a six figure commitment to the program; this is the type of recognition we would like to share with the City of Newport Beach. These sponsors are like Helly- Hansen, our clothing partner. We would provide web links to the two websites. In turn, we are requesting the availability of a mooring over a five -year period. With regard to cost for the mooring, we suggest that the current arrangement be maintained; we will pay for the actual mooring and the City allows our presence without cost. We can deliver excellent value to the City with a very modest foregone revenue commitment. Our expectation is that we will occupy the mooring for only a small fraction of that time period; our goal is to go to sea in the upcoming months and be gone for a extended period of time, six to sixteen months at a time. It will have value to us throughout to know we can return to Newport when possible. The location of the mooring is flexible. The best location so far has been off 10th Street for being out of traffic patterns and drawing a low profile. As a practical matter the location works well due to minimal tidal currents; the Ferry /Newport Landing location is more challenging in that regard. The solution to being a tourist attraction and maintaining our practical needs may be to make periodic stays near the Ferry, while being permanently based at 10th Street. There are benefits beyond the website visibility for the City as well. A few minutes on the cat during any good weather highlights the natural attraction the program provides. We have been active in the educational role, gaving talks to 400 people for the Nautical Museum, science classes at Newport Harbor High, and several local yachtsman's and Rotary type lunch groups. We participated in last year's boat show by giving onboard tours and spent an evening at the Boy Scout Base for touring. We expect to continue this kind of activity. I hope this is a thorough enough review of where we are today and look forward to working with the City to complete a arrangement that works for both sides. Best Regards, Chris Welsh Co- Founder Virgin Oceanic A NEWPORT HARBOR NAUTICAL MUSEUM Inspiring a new wave of ocean discovery Building on our educational mission founded 25 years ago, ExplorOcean Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is dedicated to generating a new wave of ocean discovery; it works everyday to offer a rich, multilayered visitor experience with an exciting mix of interactive educational programs, exhibits, and fun and entertaining experiences both on land and on- the - water. Its home is on one of the most scenic pleasure harbors in the world and is a gateway to ocean adventure. The next 25 years and beyond; soon, the museum's role will take on a whole new meaning as the organization is poised to become a cultural icon and resource for our community. Our future center and its programming will address: • The ocean is a vast, mysterious, and largely uncharted frontier awaiting new explorers. • Ocean exploration is one of humankind's greatest and most important adventures. • Everyone can play a role in ocean exploration, and your participation can begin right here in Newport Beach. ExplorOcean /Newport Harbor Nautical Museum will be an exciting cultural destination designed to bring out the ocean explorer in everyone. As part of our educational mandate, we will address the growing popularity of exploring the deepest spots on our planet. In the new museum, we will feature Deep Dive simulators inspired by Virgin Oceanic's Five Dives Expedition winged submarine and its highly anticipated expeditions to the world's deepest ocean trenches. Here visitors will take an undersea "flight" to the otherworldly realm of the deep ocean; and they will be rewarded by amazing discoveries. The Five Dives Expedition ExplorOcean Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is the Southern California Educational Partner of the Five Dives Expedition. The Goal of the Five Dives Expedition is to dive a one -man submarine to the deepest spot in each of the five ocean trenches of the world. The museum will present unique educational opportunities for the community during Five Dive's short -term off -shore testing period as well as long -term to cover its entire revolutionary mission. We are also preparing to produce a new educational video(s) as part of our online ExplorOcean educational video series that will cover the expedition beginning with the sub's testing off the coast of Newport Beach. The partnership with Five Dives includes: • An Unmatched Educational Initiative for our Community. • Access to ground breaking discoveries of the least explored areas of Earth: the deep ocean trenches. • Local visibility of a symbol of what may be historic missions to the blue planet's deepest spots on the earth. • Inspiration for today's youth with Chris Welsh, The Five Dives Expedition Co- Founder /Pilot, a local product of Newport Beach; Chris' story particularly resonates with local children and residents. A Partnership for the Future ExplorOcean /NHNM's objective is to provide our community with access to The Five Dives Expedition and offer GSTEM (Geography, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educational programming that will impact the youth of our area. The Newport Mesa Unified School District is comprised of 22 elementary schools, two intermediate schools and four high schools, one alternative education center and one adult educational center, serving a total of nearly 22,500 students. Collaborations with our school district and community organizations can result in valuable and long- lasting rewards. GSTEM topics relevant to the Five Dives Expedition include: natural history, deep sea biology, marine mammals, pelagic fish, sand transport, storm runoff, sea cliff erosion, water quality, submarine geology, near -shore bathymetry, surf and currents, internal waves, ocean acidification, and pollution. In closing, ExplorOcean /Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is committed to expanding a child's capacity of wonder. When you inspire their curiosity, when you ensure the world is a limitless marvel you instill a value of discovery and three - dimensional thinking that will be a part of them forever. A mission like The Five Dives Expedition exemplifies this commitment. ��� � �� f �\ Harbor & Bay Element Goal Implementation Harbor & Bay Element Action Items Public Launch Ramp — lower Castaways Harbor Maint facilities —lower Castaways Marina Park Mariner's Mile walk /Rhine Channel walks New anchorage N. Lido Turning Basin Long term dredging /permitting solution Enhance mooring usability Summer Water Taxi Service Additional public dock space for small boats Harbor Resources Admin support Implement Harbor Area Management Plan Challenges to the Harbor and Bay Element Goals HB 1.2; 6.4; HB 11.1 H B 1.1; 1.2; 6.1; 6.2; 6.3, 6.4; 3.1 HB 6.2 HB 5.3 HB 1.1; 13 HB 5.2; 6.3; HB 6.5; 6.7 HB 1.1; 6.4; HB1 -13 HB 7 -10 New upland development -- Preservation of design and character of the harbor New upland development -- Retention of water - dependent and related uses Retain deep channels and private access to dredging /permits Number & size of tour and entertainment vessels Code enforcement Pursuit of Harbor Area Management Plan (HAMP) elements HB 1 HB 2 HB 5 HB 4.3 HB 1 HB 7 -10