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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2 - Review and Approve the Proposed Harbor Commission Objectives for FY 13-14�EwvoRr m= NEWPORT BEACH Harbor Commission Staff Report Agenda Item No. 2 September 11, 2013 TO: HARBOR COMMISSION FROM: Public Works Department Chris Miller, Harbor Resources Manager 949 - 644 -3043, cmiller @newportbeachca.gov TITLE: Review and Approve the Proposed Harbor Commission Objectives for Fiscal Year 2013 -14, and Approve Commission Pairings with Council Members ABSTRACT: The Harbor Commission will review and approve the proposed Commission Objectives for 2013 -14. The Commission will also assign and approve the pairings of individual Commissioners with respective Council Members for the upcoming year. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Approve the proposed Commission Objectives for 2013 -14; and 2. Approve the pairings of individual Commissioners with respective Council Members for the upcoming year. FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: There is no fiscal impact related to this item. DISCUSSION: Please see the attached proposed Harbor Commission Objectives for 2013 -14. 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. Review and Approve the Proposed Harbor Commission Objectives for Fiscal Year 2013 -14, and Approve Commission Pairings with Council Members September 11, 2013 Page 2 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: W" V ris Miller Attachments: A. Proposed Harbor Commission Objectives for 2013 -14 Newport Harbor Commission Objectives FY 2013 -14 [Proposed Draft] These objectives are intended to support the mission of the Harbor Area Management Plan and to carry out the role and key responsibilities of the Harbor Commission: (1) to ensure the long term welfare of Newport Harbor for all residential, recreational, and commercial users; (2) to promote Newport Harbor as a preferred and welcoming destination for all to enjoy. These proposed objectives are subject to the review and approval of the Commission, and final approval of the Newport Beach City Council. Principal responsibility for the achievement of each objective is assigned to a subcommittee of the Harbor Commission, as noted below. Progress towards these objectives will be reported, when appropriate, by the chair of each subcommittee during regular meetings of the Harbor Commission. The chair of each subcommittee is shown in italics. Ensuring the Long Term Welfare of Newport Harbor 1) Support all efforts to achieve final interagency approval of the Newport Shallow Waters Eelgrass Mitigation Plan, facilitiating a new Regional General Permit (RGP 54) effective April 2014. The purpose of the Plan is to enable a more efficient and cost - effective RGP 54 permitting process for dock maintenance dredging through an ecosystem -based approach to sustaining and promoting the population of shallow water eelgrass in all areas of Lower Newport Bay where such eelgrass is found. [West, McIntosh, Avery] 2) Complete the development of recommendations for the best pubic use of Lower Castaways, the last remaining undeveloped city-owned waterfront property. Collaborate with the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission in developing specific recommendations for presentation to the City Council. [Girling, Avery, Rhyne] -2- 3) Secure California Department of Recreation approval for a proposed amendment to the Harbor Code which would grant an exception to the harbor speed limit for sanctioned sail racing and human powered racing events. With such authorization, recommend the proposed amendment to the City Council for enactment. [Blank, West] 4) Investigate the existing designations of Bulkhead and Pierhead lines throughout the harbor in conjunction with current vessel overhang regulations and compliance. Determine if specific changes to those harbor boundaries and overhang regulations or their enforcement should be recommended to the City Council. Develop specific recommendations to the Council if any changes are deemed appropriate. [Rhyne, McIntosh, Stapleton] 5) Strengthen the Harbor Commission's pubic outreach to better communicate the Commission's role, purpose, and objectives as a citizens advisory voice for the harbor community. [Girling, Avery, Blank] Promoting Newport Harbor as a Preferred and Welcoming Destination 6) Collaborate with Newport Beach & Company to plan and execute a Harbor Summit event involving key stakeholders in the harbor community. The Summit will engage the stakeholders in the development of coordinated strategies for increasing the number of visiting vessels, enhancing the harbor experience for visitors and residents, and better supporting the businesses that serve all harbor users. [Blank, Girling, West] 7) Carry forward the results of last year's evaluation of existing public piers and potential new locations for public piers. Present specific recommendations to the City Council on public pier improvements and additions to facilitate better access to harbor area business and amenities serving both visiting and local boaters. [ Blank, Girling] 8) Complete the evaluation of public anchorage alternatives, specifically addressing the concept of establishing an anchorage in the Turning Basin such as the one used on a temporary basis during the 2012 Lower Bay dredging project. [Avery, McIntosh, West] 9) Update and publish a 3rd edition of The Complete Cruising Guide to Newport Harbor, first published by the Harbor Commission in 2010. [West, Rhyne, Stapleton]