June Casagrande
The waters adjacent to Rhine Wharf Park at Lido Drive could soon
be home to a 100-foot-long floating dock where boaters can berth
temporarily to get to the businesses on shore.
The $100,000-plus proposal, controversial among some residents who
say it will add to noise, traffic and parking problems there, is just
one of the major items on tap for the city's Harbor Commission.
The young commission, formed in April, has only met seven times.
But in its short life, it has already emerged as one of the most
important decision-making bodies in the city. Finding ways to dredge
the harbor without violating eel grass protections is one of the
colossal tasks the commission faces. The 50 or so "derelict boats"
now bringing down the harbor's beauty form another monumental
challenge for the commission, as does the highly controversial
question of whether private dock owners should be allowed to continue
to rent out their dock space.
"The commission is involved in some very important things," said
Seymour Beek, a member of the commission and one of the original
advocates of creating the body.
The commission does more than just fill the void created by the
Harbor Committee, which was disbanded after the end of last year.
That ad hoc body, which existed for about three years, was mainly
responsible for creating a "harbor element" for the city's general
plan. After that list of priorities and goals for the harbor was
created and approved by council members, the committee became
somewhat moot.
The commission -- made up of Beek, Timothy Collins, John Corrough,
Marshall Duffield, Donald Lawrenz, Paulette Pappas and Ralph Rodheim
-- has much farther-reaching powers than its predecessor. On Tuesday,
the City Council gave its preliminary approval to changes to the
city's municipal code that will clear the way for the body's expanded
powers.
MORE POWER TO THEM
For example, a mooring user whose permit for the mooring was
revoked will have to appeal to the Harbor Commission to have the
matter reconsidered. Previously, either city staff members or the
City Council had to hear each appeal. The commission will also hear
appeals from owners of "derelict boats," as identified by the
Sheriff's Harbor Patrol. Though about 100 boats have been removed
from the harbor since the city passed an ordinance two years ago,
it's an ongoing problem that commissioners want to correct.
"One of the things that gives Newport Harbor charm is the fact
that there are boats in the harbor," Beek said. "But if they're
