Title
Harbormaster Update - July 2026 Activities
Recommendation
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.