Postponed! Coastal Commission Hearing on Harbor Patrol Dock Access Postponed Until June

Based on the widespread concern from members of Coastkeeper and other interested members of the public, the County postponed their application hearing and pulled the item off of the Coastal Committee’s meeting agenda for this Wednesday. At this time, they anticipate it will go before the Commission in June.

Coastkeeper sees this as a win, and that it is an opportunity to work on a Permit Amendment that is more favorable to boaters and the general public. They are encouraging everyone to sign up to speak at the Coastal Commission hearing on Wednesday during the public comment period (since the agenda item is removed.)  Coastkeeper's goal is to get the old permit enforced now - meaning 72 hour tie up at the dinghy dock and use of the visitor dock.  

We are encouraging our members make public comments and urge the commission to immediately enforce the old permit until the new permit is approved by the commission, not to wait for another boating season to go by. 

You can sign up to speak at the meeting here:
 

https://www.coastal.ca.gov/meetings/request-testimony/wednesday/

 The Harbor Commission Meeting will include a discussion of the Harbor Commission Objectives, which have been significantly revised since the last meeting. 

It includes objectives to shrink the size of the mooring field footprints, mooring extensions and mandatory reductions in lengths upon transfer, the possibility of eliminating some on-shore moorings, and the need for increased rates on moorings. 

We need your attendance at the meeting to voice your concerns! The meeting will be held at 5PM, with attendees allowed access in the Community Room adjacent to the City Council Chambers. The revised Harbor Commission Objectives can be downloaded below as well as the NMA Comments for the Harbor Commission Meeting:  

CATALINA ISLAND COMPANY REOPENS MOORINGS TO ALL BOATERS AT TWO HARBORS AND OTHER AREAS FROM WHITES LANDING TO EMERALD BAY

Shore Access Permitted for Essential Activities and Active Use

AVALON, CALIF. (MAY 13, 2020) Catalina Island Company announced today that it has received authorization from the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, with the concurrence of the California State Lands Commission, to reopen the moorings it administers in the Two Harbors area to all boaters beginning Thursday, May 14. The sites, which include Isthmus Cove, Cat Harbor, Fourth of July Cove, Cherry Cove, Hen Rock, Whites Landing, Moonstone, Emerald Bay, Howland's Landing, Little Geiger and Buttonshell, will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 7:00am on Thursday.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and discouragement of non-essential travel, use of the moorings has been limited to sub lessees only since the middle of March.

We have been working diligently with Los Angeles County officials over the past several weeks to reopen our moorings in a way that is safe for all boaters, said Randy Herrel, Sr., president and CEO, Catalina Island Company. We know that boating with loved ones allows a family to spend time together while remaining socially distanced from others. Picking up a mooring can make boating more enjoyable, as well as help ensure a safer experience for all.

Boaters will be able to come ashore for essential activities including:

• Food and necessary shopping at the Two Harbors General Store (face coverings are required)

• To-go food/drink pick up from the West End Galley (items must be consumed aboard your boat per County regulations)

• Restroom and coin-op shower facilities

• Trash facilities

• The Two Harbors pier is available for shore access only and is not open for recreational use. Additionally, while beaches are open for active recreation, activities such as sunbathing, sitting, gathering and picnicking are not permitted.

Mooring reservations are available at VisitCatalinaIsland.com/mooringrez starting at 8:00pm on Thursday evenings immediately preceding each weekend. Weekday moorings are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Upon arrival, call Harbor Patrol on VHF 9. 

For the well-being of all, shore-boat service is currently unavailable.

Mooring use is subject to change based on the fluidity of the health pandemic.

The NMA Annual Meeting

Thursday, April 23rd, 6:30 PM

Marina Park

1600 West Balboa Blvd.

Newport Beach, CA  92663

Stay Tuned!

At the Harbor Commission meeting of June 12, 2019, the Harbor Commission reviewed proposed amendments regarding offshore mooring extensions. The Commission approved a Harbor Department Policy based on this recommendation and requested staff to present the revised policy to the City Council for approval in February or March 2020. 

The revised mooring extension procedure:

1. A Mooring Permittee shall in writing complete a Request for Mooring Extension form providing all requested information. 

2. The Harbormaster shall review the request for compliance with all Title 17 Regulations and the approved list of Maximum Vessel Lengths by Field and Row to determine if the request can be granted (Attachment A below). 

3. If the request does not exceed the maximum length in the mooring field row per Attachment A, the Harbormaster may approve up to a five-foot extension. However, the Harbormaster has the discretion to deny the request based upon existing conditions, navigational concerns or restrictions that may result from allowing such extension. 

4. If the request is for more than five feet, and within the maximum vessel lengths, the Harbor Commission will decide the issue. 

5.The decision of the Harbor Commission may be appealed to the City Council. 

6.The Harbor Commission may periodically review the Maximum Vessel Lengths set forth in Attachment A and update as necessary. 

7. Exceptions may be made based on end-tie or proximity to the channel, public beaches and footprint of the mooring field and general navigational considerations

If the Harbormaster or the Harbor Commission, as applicable, approves an application for an amendment to the offshore mooring permit under this section, such approval shall be conditional and contingent upon the following requirements: 

a. The mooring permittee must occupy the mooring with the new vessel within twelve (12) months following the date of approval; and 

b. The mooring permittee’s rights pursuant to a valid mooring permit, as amended, shall not be sold or otherwise transferred for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of occupancy of the mooring with the new vessel. The sale or transfer of said permit shall comply with the requirements of subsections (B)(3), (E) and (F) of Section 17.60.040.

This week the Coastal Commission is meeting in Newport Beach, and among the topics being discussed is public access to the Harbor Patrol's dinghy dock, which has recently been reopened, but with restricted hours.  

Among the speakers lined-up for public comment was the NMA's John Fradkin.  The public comment session got cut short due to time constraints, and unfortunately John did not have an opportunity to comment.  The Coastal Staff is likely reviewing the County CDP application over the next few weeks and will issue their recommendations.  Here is the text of John's comments, in which he states the NMA's position on attempts to to reduce hours on dinghy docks. This letter will be distributed to the Commissioners and staff:

Honorable Coastal Commissioners

Sep 11, 2019

My name is John Fradkin.  I am a director of the Newport Mooring Association.

The Newport Mooring Association champions the rights and needs of the mooring permittees who lease moorings from the City of Newport Beach. Dinghy access from public docks is of paramount importance to our membership. If you can’t access your mooring easily, then that mooring has very little value. 

There are over 700 offshore moorings in Newport Harbor. Only about 150 of them have access to a regular shoreboat service – those being the moorings controlled by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club and the Balboa Yacht Club. The remaining 550 offshore moorings are accessed by several ways, but primarily by small dinghies launched at public docks. Mooring permittees are the single largest user group of the public docks. 

Life on a mooring is not easy. Fresh water access is difficult. Access to electricity is difficult. Just accessing the boat is difficult. When attempting a multi-day maintenance project on a boat on a mooring, it is very helpful to be able to leave your dinghy at a dock overnight so that you can return the next morning and get back to work with a minimum of effort. 

We need more public access to the harbor and anytime there is a reduction in public access from public dinghy docks in Newport Harbor, the Newport Mooring Association feels compelled to speak out in protest.

Unfortunately this past year saw a reduction in public access to Newport Harbor at the Orange County Sherriff Department facility’s dinghy dock located on Bayside Drive. This is an especially important access point for mooring permittees as it is the only public pier on that side of the harbor. Additionally there is always easy parking availability nearby, and if you have a mooring in the A field, it allows you to not have to drive your car all the way out to the end of the Balboa Peninsula which saves you a lot of time. 

Access to this dinghy dock has gone from 72 hours to daylight hours only. Why was this change made?  Because some people were abusing the 72 hour rule and their leaving dinghies there for extended periods of time. That is not a good excuse in my mind. Enforcing a 72 hour rule is a simple code enforcement issue that is not too different from enforcing the daylight hours only rule now in place. A cell phone camera and some stickers would be the only additional equipment necessary. In my estimation, it would only add a minute or two to the current job of enforcing a daylight hours only policy.

The Newport Mooring Association respectfully asks you to encourage the reinstatement of 72 hour dinghy dock access at the Orange County Sherriff Department dock on Bayside Drive so that mooring permittees can better access and maintain their boats.

Thank You.

Here is a link to the public comment section of the meeting:

https://cal-span.org/unipage/?site=cal-span&owner=CCC&date=2019-09-11

The Coastal Staff is likely reviewing the County CDP application over the next few weeks and will issue their recommendations.