Harbor Commission - Regular Meeting

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The Harbor Commission will Elect Officers for the 2026-27 Year 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 change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and 2. Elect Chair; and 3. Elect Vice Chair; and 4. Elect Secretary.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Public comments are invited on 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 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 June 10, 2026 Harbor Commission Regular Meeting

6.10.2026 Draft Harbor Commission Meeting Minutes 6.10.2026 Draft Harbor Commission Meeting Minutes Draft- Secretary Scully

Progress Update - Small Vessel Rental Customer Safety Program: City-Produced Safety Video, Knowledge Quiz, and Certification Process

Commissioner Scully will provide the Harbor Commission with an update on significant progress made toward improving safety for single-day small vessel rental customers operating in Newport Harbor. Since the Commission's initial policy discussion in September 2025 and the follow-up discussion in March 2026, the Newport Harbor Safety Committee has advanced the development of a City-produced safety video, an associated knowledge quiz, and a certification process. This report introduces that update and invites Commission discussion regarding the potential adoption of these tools as a strong suggestion or formal requirement for all small vessel rental customers on Newport Harbor. 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; or 3. Provide direction to staff and/or the Newport Harbor Safety Committee regarding the implementation of the City-produced safety video, knowledge quiz, and certification process as a strong suggestion or potential requirement for all single-day small vessel rental concession operators and their customers in Newport Harbor.

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.

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

Harbormaster Update-June 2026 Activities

June 2026 was a busy and productive month for the Harbor Department, marked by significant activity across all three pillars of our mission: keeping Newport Harbor clean, safe, and well-enjoyed. The Department assumed management responsibility for slips and garages at Balboa Yacht Basin (BYB), a milestone transition that is already yielding measurable improvements in service delivery and facility conditions. Water quality remained a priority, with staff responding to multiple spill reports, advancing the oyster garden program, and celebrating an anecdotal but encouraging sign of ecological health - an adolescent octopus photographed swimming at Marina Park. On the safety front, a significant enforcement action resulted in the arrest of an unpermitted charter operator on an outstanding warrant, and staff conducted numerous rescues, assists, and educational interventions throughout the month. The "Well-Enjoyed" category reflects a harbor humming with summer activity, with staff going above and beyond to assist boaters, enforce public dock rules, and ensure commercial operators comply with Marine Activities Permit (MAP) requirements. 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.

COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS (NON-DISCUSSION ITEMS)

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

DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 AT 5 P.M.

ADJOURNMENT