Harbor Commission - Regular Meeting

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Draft Minutes of the August 12, 2026 Harbor Commission Regular Meeting

Discussion of State Lands Commission Report on City of Newport Beach's Public Trust Lands Management

The California State Lands Commission (SLC) performed a review of the City's management of its granted tidelands and issued a formal report titled, Report on the City of Newport Beach's Public Trust Lands Management (Report) on December 16, 2025 (Attachment A). The Report raised policy and administrative concerns with the City's mooring permit and residential pier permit programs. The Report identified several areas where the City could strengthen its practices to ensure compliance with its legal obligations as a trustee of State lands. Following receipt of the Report, the City Council established the Public Lands Trust Management Ad Hoc Committee (Ad-Hoc) at its February 10, 2026, meeting. The Ad-Hoc requested the Harbor Commission, which serves as the City Council's principal advisory body on all matters relating to Newport Harbor, study the Report's findings and make policy recommendations, which will then be presented to the full 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. Receive and file.

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's Report on the City of Newport Beach's Public Trust Lands Management. Once convened, the subcommittee will provide recommendations and updates during future Harbor Commission meetings. This item was discussed in the August Harbor Commission meeting and continued to the September meeting for further discussion. 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 and discuss the SLC's report and make policy recommendations to the full Harbor 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 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 - August 2026 Activities

Basin marina, support for the Harbor Commission, municipal code enforcement on the harbor, events and marine activities permitting, safety and rescue operations, management of the Marina Park visitor-serving marina, marine sanitation pump-out equipment and public pier maintenance, water quality monitoring and maintenance, impound and disposition of abandoned and unclaimed vessels, and public relations and information dissemination on and about Newport Harbor, as well as several special projects. This report will update the Harbor Commission and the public 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.

MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION

COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS (NON-DISCUSSION ITEMS)

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

DATE AND TIME FOR NEXT MEETING: October 15, 2026 at 5 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT