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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/14/2014 - Harbor CommissionNEWPORT BEACH HARBOR COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES City Council Chambers Wednesday, May 14, 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 — Commissioner Girling 4) PUBLIC COMMENTS Chair McIntosh invited those interested in addressing the Commission to do so at this time. Jim Mosher commented on the recent adoption by City Council of a new records retention policy for audio and inquired to the timing of when staff will make Harbor Commission audio available. He also commented that because the MVMS and Water Taxi Ad Hoc Committees have not been able to share information with one another there may be information to be shared within those committees. There being no others wishing to address the Commission, Chair McIntosh closed public comments. 5) APPROVAL OF MINUTES —April 9, 2014 Minutes Motion: Commissioner Rhyne made a motion to approve the minutes of the Harbor Commission of the April 9, 2014, Regular Meeting. Commissioner West seconded the motion, which carried with 7 ayes and 0 noes. Approved. 6) CURRENT BUSINESS Lower Castaways Park— Conceptual Review The Harbor Commission subcommittee will review the current status of the Lower Castaways Park project. The subcommittee will also ask the Commission to recommend that the conceptual project be forwarded to the City Council for review. Recommendation: 1) The Harbor Commission recommends that the conceptual plans for the Lower Castaways project be forwarded to the City Council for further review. Commissioner Girling started by explaining the multiple presentations made to different groups including the Harbor Commission, Parks Beaches and Recreation Commission (PB &R), Tidelands Management Committee and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). Chris Miller and Girling attended a DFW meeting to discuss the boundary of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) which may affect the waterside component of the project. Commissioner Girling spoke about revenue producing uses, and reported that the City Council will look at whether a revenue producing use would make sense, but due to current zoning it may not be practical. Additionally, he reported that the PB &R meeting provided good feedback and the current concerns are the right mix of parking, adequate parking of bikes, moving the McFadden monument onto Lower Castaways, low level lighting, programmable lawn areas, metered parking and the removal of the grand staircase. Commissioner Girling further reported on the Field of Honor ceremony at Upper Castaways and the purchase of flags to honor veterans. He added that events such as this could be augmented by the users of Lower Castaways. Commissioner Rhyne commented that the metered parking would be for people who would be using the park area. Commissioner Avery stated he was pleased there is not a lot of development, and that the plan encouraged multiple open uses without a lot of concrete. Chair McIntosh opened public comments. Jim Mosher stated the parking lot should be free and not metered in order to encourage use and not restrict parking. Len Bose commented on Newport Harbor Shipyard's water runoff system, and he asked if there was a concern about water runoff from a possible boat launch in the future. Commissioner Girling stated that a boat launch was considered but limited access was an issue. Chair McIntosh closed the public hearing. Motion: Commissioner Blank made a motion to take this matter to the City Council and include the findings. Commissioner West seconded the motion, which carried with 7 ayes and 0 noes. Approved. 2. Multiple Vessel Mooring System Ad Hoc Committee Update and Review of Draft Report Commissioner Avery will present a draft report for the proposed pilot Multiple Vessel Mooring System, and will ask the Commission to recommend that the draft report be forwarded to the City Council for review. Recommendation: 1) The Harbor Commission recommends that the draft report for the pilot Multiple Vessel Mooring System be forwarded to the City Council for further review. Commissioner Blank recused himself as he is a mooring permit holder in the City of Newport Beach. Commissioner Avery presented a PowerPoint presentation on the mooring pilot program. He stated the purpose of the program is to add value for the mooring holders, bring the moorings closer together to reduce the size of the mooring fields and create more water space for all users to enjoy. Commissioner Avery stated that four meetings have been held with good representation from the permittees. He discussed the multiple anchor methods available to secure the floats including the weight and chain method, the Helix anchor with Seaflex band and the hybrid system. Commissioner Avery reported the Committee has asked for volunteers for the pilot project and is looking at installing three traditional weight and chain floats and three Seaflex band system floats. The pilot program would run for a full year and the docks would run 40 -50 feet long and 6 feet wide. He further stated sea lions are the greatest threat due to the amount of damage they create to the docks. He reported there has not been overwhelming support from the Newport Mooring Association, and if City Council decides to move forward with the program, he would suggest surveying all of the mooring owners to get a feel for demand. Council Member Gardner asked if the City would need permits to put in pilings. Chris Miller responded there were no pilings as the City would be using existing moorings, and some existing moorings would be removed so the Seaflex floats can be installed. In response to a question by Commissioner West, Avery stated the Committee would like to install floats at the east end of the H field by the 151h Street public pier and in the D field. The cost of installing the floats was discussed. Miller stated the schedule and costs are conservative and are high estimates. Chair McIntosh opened public comments. Jim Mosher questioned where the money is going to come from, how long it will take to pay back the investment and what annual maintenance costs would be. He also asked if there would be more demand for a water taxi. Marshall Duffield emphasized nothing new is being invented. He stated most mooring users are not 40 feet away from each other and recommended charging a bit more because mooring users would appreciate the safety and ease of using the new docks. Charging a bit more would pay for the docks over a period of a few years. Len Bose asked if the placement of the bands would be marked so people will know how far they should stay away from the docks. Chair McIntosh closed public comments. Commissioner Avery clarified that there would be no connectivity between the taxi and the moorings. Commissioner West reiterated there would not be a connection because the MVMS would not stimulate the need for the water taxi beyond the current demand. He asked what the demand would be for offshore moorings at a higher price than now exists. He likes the concept but is concerned about selling them at a higher price. West also commented that the program could impact all mooring options in the harbor and force prices downward. He believes the alternatives look more like slips, and that is a good thing. Chair McIntosh suggested a mailed survey to see if users would pay more for a mooring. Commissioner Avery reiterated this is a test and there is no cost to the permittees who participate. Their existing moorings would be removed, and when the trial is over, the floats would be removed and the permittee's original moorings would be replaced. He further stated the main point which is to deliver value to everyone who uses the harbor. Motion: Commissioner Girling made a motion to take this to City Council, incorporating the fact that this is not subject to CEQA. Commissioner Stapleton seconded the motion, which carried with 7 ayes and 0 noes. Approved. 3. Water Taxi Ad Hoc Committee Update Commissioner West will provide an update of the Water Taxi Ad Hoc Committee's progress, and solicit input from the public and the Harbor Commission. Recommendation: 1) Receive and file. Commissioner West gave an overview of accomplishments to date. The Committee has conducted several public meetings and reviewed the 2009 Water Taxi Exploratory Committee's report. He has met with Hornblower Cruises and Events, and Willard Marine, to seek expertise on the subject, and he has also arranged to speak with the Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors Department. He believes the Committee has no means to estimate the demand for taxi service in the harbor, and although there is interest, the Committee cannot predict ridership. He stated demand would likely be seasonal and not sustainable year around. The size of the harbor and five (5) mph speed limit make on- demand service challenging. Commissioner West further commented that an established route is likely the most feasible operations model, and a pilot program with less than four (4) boats would not be meaningful. He gave information on costs for vessels and salaries for captains, and stated that a water taxi operation could not break even and would require a subsidy. Commissioner West indicated an operation could be in place by the summer of 2015. Some existing passenger service operators have expressed concern about a subsidized operation. He believes the best the Committee can do is to advise City Council of the realities associated with a pilot program. Commissioner Girling commented that the demand issue resonates both with the moorings and the water taxi, and that this requires further consideration with studies performed. He commented that current harbor operators would be affected by a subsidized water taxi, and he would like to see if any of those operators would want to participate in creating a water taxi as part of their existing business. Commissioner Stapleton discussed technology and marketing associated with a water taxi, and suggested an RFP process so the City is not competing with private businesses. Commissioner Girling liked the idea of a water taxi and stated resistance levels start at $5.00, so the fare structure needs to be in the $145 range. West stated the only on -call water taxi that has been identified in the harbor is $25 per trip, so demand is limited at this price. Commissioner West commented that properly marketed, the demand can be created and may create a spillover benefit to other harbor operators. Commissioner Blank questioned if service might be provided on a more limited scale on a small, underserved portion of the harbor. Commissioner West stated that had already been discussed and the Committee would prefer to do something that would encompass the entire harbor. Chair McIntosh opened public comments. Jim Mosher stated he believed Mayor Hill was not proposing doing anything new but proposing to integrate the Water Taxi and MVMS, revitalization of the public piers, increased number of floating docks, new technology and marketing to make things work together. Marshall Duffield stated he is in favor of the concept but has a problem when it is a sight- seeing boat as the City would then be competing with others who have leases to be on the water. Chair McIntosh closed public comments. Commissioner Blank addressed Mr. Mosher's comment and stated he believed Mayor Hill was considering the mooring permit holders as potential customers when they were not in the past. Commissioner West stated that with the moorings and a water taxi, the City would have a shore boat operation. But that is not the most feasible pilot program because the mooring will not create a new volume of boaters who need shore boat service. Chair McIntosh asked if four (4) boats could be chartered for the pilot program. It was agreed there would be another meeting of the Water Taxi Ad Hoc Committee to outline the final presentation to the City Council. This will give the Commission a better understanding of how the Committee intends to present it to Council. Motion: Commissioner Girling made a motion to present this issue at the City Council study session on June 24, 2014. Commissioner Stapleton seconded the motion, which carried with 7 ayes and 0 noes. Approved. 4. Harbor Lines and Vessel Overhang Subcommittee Update Commissioner Rhyne will provide an update of the Harbor Lines and Vessel Overhang subcommittee, and seek input and direction from the Harbor Commission. Recommendation: 1) The Harbor Commission will receive and file the update from the Harbor Lines and Vessel Overhang subcommittee, and will provide input and direction for the subcommittee. Commissioner Rhyne gave a presentation regarding overhang compliance, violations, current overhang rule and potential rules which would fit the needs of the harbor right now. She reported the Commission had proposed to look throughout the harbor and make recommendations based on different areas with narrower channels, and stated a nee¢ ffep new rules before an issue arises. Commissioner Rhyne further proposed setting an absolut lima , an looking at areas of the harbor that have more water area. She stated it could be 25 -30 feet in locations with plenty of water and "l 5 feet or less" in areas where there is less water. Further, boats that are not in compliance today would not be in compliance with the new rule, and the boats that are in the compliance today would remain in compliance. Commissioner Avery commented in the ongoing lack of code enforcement and discussion ensued about the need for a uniform rule as a starting point. Chair McIntosh opened public comments. There being no one wishing to speak, Chair McIntosh closed public comments. Motion: Commissioner Blank made a motion to present the Commission's recommendations to City Council. Commissioner Avery seconded the motion, which carried with 7 ayes and 0 noes. Approved. 7) SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Commissioner Avery reported that in the upcoming week, the vessel Gran Finale would be anchoring in the basin near the west end of Lido Isle for three (3) days. 8) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COUNCIL LIAISON ON HARBOR RELATED ISSUES Council Member Gardner stated the budget process was underway and money was being allocated for the harbor. 9) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH HARBOR RESOURCES MANAGER ON HARBOR RELATED ISSUES Harbor Resources Manager, Chris Miller, reported he sent mailers to the residential pier permittees and about 150 people have contacted him asking for the 10 -year residential pier permit. He also reported on the Balboa Island beach replenishment project which takes place every year. Additionally, at the City Council meeting the prior evening, Mayor Hill asked about the idea of the City owning a dredge. 10) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS OR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COUNCIL LIAISON OR HARBOR RESOURCES MANAGER None. 11) COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS OR MATTERS WHICH MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION OR REPORT (NON- DISCUSSION ITEM) A. Update on Grand Canal, including dredging, sand replenishment and the Park Avenue Bridge B. Derelict vessels C. Live - aboards 12) DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING: June 11, 2014,6:30 PM 13) ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Harbor Commission, the meeting was adjourned a�6:0,P! PM. The next meeting of the Harbor Commission will be held on June 11, 2014, at 6:30 PM. nn �, �/ \1