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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/09/2014 - Harbor CommissionNEWPORT BEACH HARBOR COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES City Council Chambers Wednesday, April 9, 2014 6:30 PM 1) CALL MEETING TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM. 2) ROLL CALL Commissioners: Duncan McIntosh, Chair Brad Avery, Vice Chair Paul Blank David Girling Karen Rhyne Joe Stapleton Doug West Staff Members: Chris Miller, Harbor Resources Manager Shannon Levin, Harbor Resources Supervisor Council Liaison: Council Member Nancy Gardner 3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Vice Chair Avery 4) PUBLIC COMMENTS Chair McIntosh invited those interested in addressing the Commission to do so at this time. There being no one wishing to address the Commission, Chair McIntosh closed public comments. 5) APPROVAL OF MINUTES —March 12, 2014 Minutes Motion: Commissioner Blank made a motion to approve the minutes of the Harbor Commission of the March 12, 2014, Regular Meeting. Commissioner West seconded the motion, which carried with 7 ayes and 0 noes. Approved. 6) CURRENT BUSINESS 1. Balboa Island— Base Flood Elevation and Sea Wall Height Chief Building Official, Seimone Jurjis, will give a presentation on the Base Flood Elevation and the sea wall height as it pertains to FEMA's requirements for Balboa Island. Recommendation: 1) Receive and file. Chief Building Official Jurjis gave a presentation focusing on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the Biggert- Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act, results of the base flood elevation study by DHI, the Balboa Island sea wall height, how residents can obtain affordable flood insurance, Newport Beach's participation in the NFIP, insurance costs, addressing risk, ways to reduce insurance rates and working toward the potential upgrade or replacement of the sea wall. In response to questions by Commissioner Girling, Chief Building Official Jurjis stated he believed most of the elevation certificates have been approved. New structures and the insurance premiums signed into law by Obama will be 100% of the actuarial amount. He also believes some property owners may be exempt from the program. He further explained that when the new base flood elevation is implemented, the finished floor height for new structures will be 9 feet and existing structures can be 8.3 feet when doing an alteration. Commissioner Avery inquired as to whether other areas of the City are at risk. Chief Building Official Jurjis explained that the Peninsula is at risk of flooding but in the worst case condition. Only Balboa Island is completely mapped as a special hazard area. Chief Building Official Jurjis also confirmed new structures are taller than existing structures because of the higher 9 foot grade. Commissioner Stapleton inquired about the cost of the new seawall and pumping stations. Chief Building Official Jurjis stated it will be expensive but he did not know the cost. Commissioner West asked if drainage work (storm drains and pumps) would be completed independently of the seawall height issue. Chief Building Official Jurjis responded that the entire project needs to be reviewed first. Once cost is determined, the next steps can be planned. Chief Building Official Jurjis confirmed that the seawall is owned by the City, and concurred with Commissioner West that the City's infrastructure needs to be protected. There being no members of the public wishing to address the Commission, Chair McIntosh closed public comments. 2. Harbor Commission 2013 -14 Goals and Objectives - Update The Harbor Commission will provide an update of the Commission's 2013 -14 Goals and Objectives. Recommendation: 1) Receive and file. Commissioner West gave an update on interagency approval of the Newport Eelgrass Mitigation Plan and the new Regional General Permit (RGP -54). He also indicated that he is making progress on publication of a new edition of the Complete Cruising Guide to Newport Harbor. Commissioner Girling gave an update on the Lower Castaways including a desire for marine uses, as well as topics from the prior Parks, Beaches and Recreation meeting such as bike parking, moving the McFadden monument, programmable waterfront flat lawn uses, and fire rings. He also indicated that he and Harbor Resources Manager Miller will be speaking at the April 16, 2014 Department of Fish and Wildlife meeting regarding Lower Castaways. After that meeting, Commissioner Girling would like additional direction from the Commission to present to the City Council for feedback. Commissioner West spoke about the proposed amendment to the Harbor Code, which would grant an exception to the harbor speed limit. The Commissioners and constituents indicated their support for moving this item forward. Commissioner Rhyne provided an update on Bulkhead and Pierhead Lines. She indicated the process has been narrowed to boat overhang only. After some discussion, it was decided to put this item on the next agenda for more direction from the Commission. Commissioner Girling discussed public outreach and stated it is an ongoing process. Commissioner Blank stated the Harbor summit has not received the time or attention it deserves, and it may be a carryover objective for next year. Commissioner Blank gave an update on the public piers objective and stated the City Council would be enacting the Commission's recommendations in the near future. Commissioner Avery gave an update on the public anchorage alternative. He stated the Commission has support from the Coast Guard to pursue an anchorage and suggested forming a subcommittee to move this objective forward. With regard to taking items off of their list, discussion followed regarding the Harbor summit and presenting that objective to City Council as a carryover item for next year. It was further noted that the public piers objective is substantially complete. No members of the public wished to address the Commission. 3. Water Taxi Ad Hoc Committee Update Commissioner West will provide an update of the Ad Hoc Water Taxi Committee and solicit input from the public and Harbor Commission. Recommendation: 1) Receive and file. Commissioner West indicated the objective of the Ad Hoc Water Taxi Committee is to determine the feasibility of implementing a water taxi service in Newport Harbor on a pilot basis and to present a study to the City Council in early June 2014. At the March 25, 2014 meeting, the Committee outlined the scope of work, reviewed the 2009 feasibility analysis, reviewed key assumptions that emerged, discussed Coast Guard and other regulatory requirements and reviewed possible operational models. The next public meeting will be scheduled for April 17, 2014. At that meeting, Commissioner Stapleton will discuss Uber technology. Vessel criteria will also be discussed. Discussion ensued regarding the significant capital needed from private and public sources to implement the pilot study, looking at which existing businesses would be affected by a water taxi service, and how the service would be subsidized. No members of the public wished to address the Commission Chair McIntosh moved to receive and file the report. 4. Multiple Vessel Mooring System Ad Hoc Committee Update Commissioner Avery will provide an update of the Ad Hoc Multiple Vessel Mooring System Committee and solicit input from the public and the Harbor Commission. Recommendation: 1) Receive and file. Commissioner Avery gave an update on the Ad Hoc Multiple Vessel Mooring System Committee. He stated there has been good representation from the public and good participation. He spoke about the objectives of the pilot program. The first objective is to install a float for existing moorings thereby increasing the usability by making it easier to land and take off from a fixed dock. The second objective is to deliver more services to mooring users. He stated a good trial would be six 50 -foot floats to hold different combinations of boats. Commissioner Avery further discussed the Helix and Sea Flex systems and how they will be explored as part of the year -long trial. He emphasized this is only a pilot program and the goal is to get the mooring leaseholder's view of how this program would work for them. Commissioner West asked about the economics and how it would impact the individual user if two or more boats were consolidated per mooring. Commissioner Avery stated that economic impacts to the individual user are not part of the pilot program. Discussion ensued regarding the needs of the mooring owners. No members of the public wished to address the Commission. Chair McIntosh moved to receive and file the report. 7) SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS There were no subcommittee reports. 8) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COUNCIL LIAISON ON HARBOR RELATED ISSUES Council Member Gardner commented that the issues generated by City Council will be funded by Council. 9) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH HARBOR RESOURCES MANAGER ON HARBOR RELATEDISSUES Harbor Manager Miller explained that new residential pier permits were issued to 882 permittees. Pier permits are annually issued and now may be issued for up to a ten year period. An RFP will be issued for the upcoming public piers for maintenance project. 10) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS OR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COUNCIL LIAISON OR HARBOR RESOURCES MANAGER Jim Mosher announced the City Council adopted a new change to the Harbor Code allowing residential permit holders to renew their permits for 10 years with automatic renewals for 50 years. 11) COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION. ACTION OR REPORT INON- DISCUSSION ITEM) • Live - aboards • Derelict boats Commissioner Rhyne announced that Recreational Boaters of California (RBOC) is hosting a coalition meeting on April 21, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Center to discuss the copper TMDL. 12) DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING: May 14, 2014, 6:30 PM 13) ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Harbor Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM. The next meeting of the Harbor Commission will be held on May 14, 2014, at 6:30 PM.