Harbor Commission
Regular MeetingNewport Beach, CA · June 14, 2023
Agenda
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
HARBOR COMMISSION AGENDA
Council Chambers-100 Civic Ctr. Dr./Teleconference Location Pursuant to
GC§54953(B): 9 Beach Club Dr., Business Ctr., Stateline, NV 89449
Wednesday, June 14, 2023 - 5:00 PM
Harbor Commission Members:
Steve Scully, Chair
Ira Beer, Vice Chair
Don Yahn, Secretary
Scott Cunningham, Commissioner
Marie Marston, Commissioner
Rudy Svrcek, Commissioner
Gary Williams, Commissioner
Staff Members:
Paul Blank, Harbormaster
Jennifer Biddle, Administrative Support Specialist
The Harbor Commission meeting is subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act. Among other things, the Brown Act requires that
the Harbor Commission agenda be posted at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance of each regular meeting and that
the public be allowed to comment on agenda items before the Commission and items not on the agenda but are within
the subject matter jurisdiction of the Harbor Commission. The Chair may limit public comments to a reasonable amount
of time, generally three (3) minutes per person.
The City of Newport Beach’s goal is to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an
attendee or a participant at this meeting, you will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, we will
attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact Paul Blank, Harbormaster, at least forty-eight
(48) hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your particular needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible at
(949) 270-8158 or pblank@newportbeachca.gov.
Questions and comments may be submitted in writing for the Harbor Commission's consideration by sending them to
harborfeedback@newportbeachca.gov. To give the Harbor Commission adequate time to review your questions and
comments, please submit your written comments no later than 5 p.m. the day prior to the Harbor Commission meeting.
All correspondence will be made part of the record.
NOTICE REGARDING PRESENTATIONS REQUIRING USE OF CITY EQUIPMENT
Any presentation requiring the use of the City of Newport Beach’s equipment must be submitted to the Harbor
Department 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.
1) CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2) ROLL CALL
3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4) PUBLIC COMMENTS
Public comments are invited on non-agenda items. Speakers must limit comments to three (3)
minutes. Before speaking, we invite, but do not require, you to state your name for the record.
The Harbor Commission has the discretion to extend or shorten the speakers’ time limit on
non-agenda items, provided the time limit adjustment is applied equally to all speakers. As a
courtesy, please turn cell phones off or set them in the silent mode.
5) APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Draft Minutes of the May 10, 2023 Harbor Commission Regular Meeting
Harbor Commission Meeting
June 14, 2023
Page 2
05-10-2023 Harbor Commission Draft Meeting Minutes
05-10-2023_Harbor Commission Draft Minutes_Chair Scully Comments
05-10-2023_Harbor Commission Draft Minutes_Commissioner Marston
Comments
6) CURRENT BUSINESS
1. Discussion of New Permit, Sub-Permit, or License Type for Use of
City-owned Moorings
There are currently thirteen mooring permits assigned to the City of Newport Beach .
There is demand for longer-term use of moorings than a sub-permit allows. Some of that
demand comes from mariners who wish not to go through the mooring permit transfer
process. The Harbor Commission will discuss opportunities and operational
characteristics of a new arrangement that will allow mariners to make use of City -owned
moorings without having to acquire an existing permit or participate in the sub -permit
process.
Any recommendation resulting from this discussion will be forwarded to the City Council
for consideration.
Recommendation:
1) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this
action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and
2) Direct Staff to return with a formal recommendation on a new arrangement for the use
of City-owned moorings.
Staff Report
Attachment A - Moorings Permitted to the City of Newport Beach
Attachment B - Current Mooring Sub-Permit Agreement
Attachment C - Current Offshore Mooring Permit
Item No. 6.1 Additional Material Presented at Meeting_Commissioner
Presentation_June 14, 2023
2. Discuss Potential Harbor Commission Objectives for 2024
The Harbor Commission periodically conducts a review and updates its Objectives. This
year they decided to continue working on the 2022 Objectives instead of creating new
ones for 2023, as there was still much work to be done and it would allow the new City
Council Members to settle in and learn about the Harbor Commission. The Harbor
Commission will begin discussing a plan to develop Harbor Commission Objectives for
2024.
Recommendation:
1) Find this action exempt from 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
Harbor Commission Meeting
June 14, 2023
Page 3
change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and
2) Provide input on the creation of the 2024 Harbor Commission Objectives and/or create
an Ad Hoc Committee to develop Objectives for each functional area and return to the
Harbor Commission with recommendations for 2024 Objectives.
Staff Report
3. Ad Hoc Committee Updates
Several ad hoc committees have been established to address short term projects outside
of the Harbor Commission objectives. This is the time the ad hoc committees will provide
an update on their projects.
Recommendation:
1) Find this action exempt from 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, Division 6, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in
physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and
2) Receive and file.
Staff Report
4. Harbor Commission 2022 Objectives Update
At the February 8, 2023, Harbor Commission meeting the decision was made by the
Commission to continue the 2022 Objectives instead of creating new ones for 2023. The
Commission felt there was still much work to be done on the 2022 Objectives and it would
allow the new City Council Members to get settled and learn about the Harbor
Commission. Each ad hoc committee studying their respective Functional Area within the
Commission’s 2022 Objectives, will provide a progress update.
Recommendation:
1) Find this action exempt from 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, Division 6, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in
physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and
2) Receive and file.
Staff Report
Attachment A - Harbor Commission 2022 Objectives
Attachment B - Harbor Commission 2022 Objectives Tracking Sheet
5. Harbormaster Update - May 2023 Activities
The Harbormaster oversees the City Harbor Department and is responsible for the
management of the City’s mooring fields, enforcement of the municipal code, events
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June 14, 2023
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permitting, safety and rescue operations, the Marina Park Guest Marina, marine sanitation
pump out equipment and public pier maintenance, impound and disposition of abandoned
and unclaimed vessels and public relations and information dissemination on and about
Newport Harbor.
This report will update the Harbor Commission on the Harbor Department ’s recent
activities.
Recommendation:
1) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this
action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and
2) Receive and file.
Staff Report
Attachment A - Harbor Department Statistics Infographic
Attachment B - Harbor Department Statistics by Month, Current Year
Attachment C - Harbor Department Statistics, Year over Year Comparison
Attachment D - Harbor Department Definitions
Item No. 6.5 Additional Material Presented at Meeting_Staff Presentation_June 14,
2023
7) MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
8) COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS (NON-DISCUSSION ITEMS)
9) MATTERS WHICH COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE
AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM)
10) DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 5 p.m.
Location Change for this meeting to Marina Park: 1600 W. Balboa Boulevard.
11) ADJOURNMENT
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