Harbor Commission to tackle dredging issues
June Casagrande
NEWPORT BEACH -- Finding solutions for residents who can’t dredge near
their private piers because of eel grass is a top priority for the city’s
new Harbor Commission, members decided Wednesday.
The just-created committee held its first meeting at City Hall on
Wednesday night to select officers and decide which issues will be its
top priorities.
Among the most urgent situations, members agreed, was dredging for
private dock owners. Though a decision in March by the California Coastal
Commission cleared the way for some Upper Bay pier owners to apply for
dredging permits, those with eel grass around their docks are not allowed
to dredge.
“It’s not an endangered plant species, but it provides a habitat for
the critters,” said Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff. “It’s important to
the marine environment.”
The coastal commission’s position remains unclear on whether residents
can remove the eel grass from near their docks if they plant eel grass
elsewhere.
“What the city is working to do is to set up a system of mitigation
banks,” said Kiff, who is the city staff representative to the
commission. The banks would be areas where the eel grass could be
replanted, he said.
Commissioners hope to take their first steps toward resolving the
problem at their next meeting, which is scheduled to take place May 29 at
City Hall.
Also likely to be on the agenda: Ways to enhance the area for
visitors, such as by building guest docks. They will also begin to look
into the politically treacherous question of whether the city should
impose a fee on private dock owners who rent their piers to boat owners.
Commissioners voted to appoint Tim Collins as chairman, Marshall
Duffield as vice chairman and Ralph Rodheim as secretary.
FYI
The next meeting of the Newport Beach Harbor Commission will be at 6
p.m. May 29 in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd. For
more information, call (949) 644-3000.
* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)
574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.