Harbor Commission - Regular Meeting

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

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 agenda or 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.

Draft minutes of the July 8, 2026 Harbor Commission Regular Meeting

7.8.2026 Harbor Commission Meeting Minutes Draft 7.8.2026 Harbor Commission Draft Meeting Minutes- Vice Chair Scully

Create and Appoint Members to a Proposed State Lands Ad-Hoc Subcommittee

At the Harbor Commission meeting on July 8, 2026, the Harbor Commission requested consideration of establishing a subcommittee to review and discuss State Lands Commission directions related to Newport Harbor. Once convened, the subcommittee will provide recommendations and updates during future Harbor Commission meetings. 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. Establish a subcommittee and appoint Harbor Commissioners to review, discuss and recommend items from the State Lands Commission. Identify up to three Harbor Commissioners to serve on the subcommittee.

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 because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and 2. Receive and file.

Harbor Commission 2026 Objectives

Each ad hoc committee studying their respective Objective within the Commission's 2026 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 because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and 2. Receive and file.

Harbormaster Update - July 2026 Activities

July 2026 was an extraordinarily busy month for the Harbor Department, with calls for service running significantly above normal levels. The challenge was compounded by the absence of anticipated new staff at Balboa Yacht Basin (BYB) due to delays in the recruiting process. Despite being short-handed, the entire team rose to the occasion, pitching in across all functions to ensure that expectations were met for every harbor stakeholder and that Newport Harbor remained clean, safe, and well-enjoyed. The overwhelming focus for the month was on safety, driven by the high volume of vessels and recreational traffic on the harbor during peak summer season. Notable incidents included the termination of a dangerous voyage involving unsupervised minors, the successful deployment of a new patrol boat tracking system, multiple vessel rescues and assists, and the continued pursuit of an unpermitted commercial charter operator who was arrested twice - once in June and again on July 31 after skipping a second court appearance, resulting in a $15,000 bench warrant. On the "Well-Enjoyed" front, the Department completed a full inspection of BYB, tested new customer self-service technology, and continued to demonstrate the operational advantages of managing both Marina Park and BYB under a single management structure. 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.

MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION

A motion to reconsider any action taken by the Harbor Commission must be made at the same meeting or the subsequent meeting at which the action was taken and may only be made by one of the Harbor Commission members who voted with the prevailing side.

COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS (NON-DISCUSSION ITEM)

MATTERS WHICH COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION OR REPORT (NON-DISCUSSION ITEMS)

DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING: September 9, 2026 at 5 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT