COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
PLAN
FOR THE
NOYO HARBOR BLUE ECONOMY +
VISIONING RESILIENCY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
OCTOBER 2023
1 PREPARED BY:
Jocelyn Enevoldsen, Coastal Communities Program Director, JP Consulting Sarah McCormick, Special Projects Manager, City of Fort Bragg Anna Neumann, Harbormaster, Noyo Harbor District
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose of This Document: Community Engagement Plan 3
The Noyo Harbor Blue Economy 6
+ Visioning Resiliency Implementation (BEVRI) Plan 6
Need for the BEVRI Plan 6
Background on Coastal Resiliency Planning and the Blue Economy 6 Brief History of Previous Local Planning Efforts 7
Charting Our Course to a Vibrant Future 8
Community Collaboration in Building the BEVRI Plan 9
Goals for Community Collaboration 9
Strategy for Community Collaboration 9
Anticipated Outcomes of Community Collaboration 14
Measuring Outcomes and Reporting Findings 14
Community Outreach Tools and Timeline 15
Tools for Collecting Community Input 15
Timeline 17
Regional Collaboration & Agency Outreach 19
Agency Coordination 19
Local Coastal Program (LCP) 21
Local Coastal Programs as Planning Tools 21
BEVRI Plan Technical Studies and LCP Amendment 22
3 Purpose of This Document: Community Engagement Plan
This Community Engagement Plan (CEP) outlines an approach for our community to help build the Noyo Harbor Blue Economy + Visioning Resiliency Implementation Plan (BEVRI Plan), which will:
● Identify our community’s priorities for a vibrant future on the north coast, where our local environment and economy work in harmony to support our community well-being; ● Develop comprehensive baseline information about the existing environmental, physical, economic and social conditions of Noyo Harbor; and
● Provide technical analysis and findings necessary for informed decision making as we move to update the City’s Local Coastal Program and implement coastal climate resilience and economic development projects.
We envision the BEVRI planning process as an opportunity to empower our community to build a resilient future that preserves and strengthens our connections to coastal and ocean ecosystems going back generations. This document contains background on coastal resiliency planning, a brief explanation of the “Blue Economy”, previous local planning efforts related to the blue economy, as well as descriptions of various public engagement strategies to be employed, tools for collecting community input and reporting back out to the community.
We’ll use tools like surveys, listening sessions, interviews, and in-person workshops to learn more about our community’s visions for the future and integrate them into the BEVRI Plan. There will be opportunities for the public to inform and participate in site-specific studies, the BEVRI Plan, and subsequent Local Coastal Program amendment.
The public is invited to share ideas anytime through the http://www.noyooceancollective.org/website by accessing the Form on Get Involved page, via email to [email protected], or in writing and delivered to City Hall located at 416 N. Franklin Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437. The public has an opportunity to speak at any City Council meeting. If you would like an e-notifications to be sent to your email when agenda items are scheduled, please sign up for the Blue Economy “Notify Me” list on the City’s website: www.city.fortbragg.com.
As the planning process unfolds, public engagement opportunities will be scheduled and posted on the Event Calendar at www.NoyoOceanCollective.org, in addition to the City’s normal public notification process. The graphic below depicts the overall process and opportunities for public engagement:
4 Community
Engagement
Plan
• Draft Communinty Engagement Plan circulated for Public Review/Comments • Community Engagement Plan presented to City Council, Harbor Commission, Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo indians Tribal Council, and County Board of Supervisors. Public comments encouraged.
• Outreach Team Training
• Initial Community Survey Circulated
Sea Level Rise
• Draft Scope of Work presented to City Council for approval. Public comments encouraged
• Consultant Contract presented to City Council. Public comments encouraged • Draft SLR Analysis circulated for Agency Review
• Draft SLR Analysis circulated for Public Review/Comments • Public Workshops to Present Findings from SLR Analysis and elicit public feedback • Community SLR Survey Circulated
• SLR Analysis presented to City Council. Public Comment encouraged Water Quality
Assessment
• Draft Scope of Work presented to City Council for approval. Public comments encouraged.
• Consultant Contant presented to City Council. Public comment encouraged. • Draft Water Quality Assessment circulated for public review/input • Community Workshop to present findings from Water Quality Analysis and elicit public feedback
Aquaculture
• Public Workshops related to Aquaculture. Public comments encouraged. • Communinty Survey circulated related to Aquaculture
5 Facilities
Assessment
• Community Survey circulated related to Land Uses within Fishing Village Zoning Designation
• Facilities assessment will be incorporated into the draft BEVRI and available for public review
Implementation
Projects
• Public Workshops to seek input on potential coastal resiliency projects • Community Survey circulated related to proposed coastal resiliency projects BEVRI Plan
• Draft BEVRI Plan circulated for Agency Review/input
• Draft BEVRI Plan circulated to public for review/input • Community survey circulated to bookend BEVRI planning process • Draft BEVRI presented at public meeting to elicit input LCP Amendment
• Workshop to receive public input/feedback on goals, policies, programs of Local Coastal Program Amendment
• Draft language presented to City Council. Public comment encouraged. • Draft language circulated for Agency review/input
• Public Hearing before City Council adoption. Public comments encouraged. • LCP amendment submitted to Coastal Commission for consideration. • Public Hearing before Coastal Commission for certification. Public input encouraged.
6 The Noyo Harbor Blue Economy
+ Visioning Resiliency Implementation (BEVRI) Plan
Need for the BEVRI Plan
Our way of life on the north coast has been impacted by changesin our local environment and economy, and more changes are projected to come. To strengthen our community’s ability to adapt to future changes and build a vibrant and resilient future, the City of Fort Bragg and Noyo Harbor District are partnering with California Sea Grant to develop the BEVRI Plan. The BEVRI Plan will provide a process by which a shared community vision for the future of Noyo Harbor is identified. It will also contain comprehensive baseline information about the existing environmental, physical, social and economic conditions in Noyo Harbor to support informed decision making.
Meaningful opportunities for community collaboration will occur throughout the BEVRI Plan development process, as outlined in this document. Findings from the BEVRI Plan will inform Local Coastal Program (LCP) updates for both the City of Fort Bragg LCP and County of Mendocino LCP, which guide development in the coastal zone while protecting coastal resources, per California’s Coastal Act (see Local Coastal Programs, page 21).
Background on Coastal Resiliency Planning and the Blue Economy Communities around the world are planning for resiliency in the face of environmental changes and related potential threats to ecosystems, infrastructure, economies, and community fabric. Through proactive planning and coordination, resiliency planning empowers communities to reduce vulnerabilities and build capacity to withstand and recover quickly from disruptive events. Examples of resiliency planning include: land use planning that accounts for expected changes from climate change; technological solutions that prevent and reduce the effects of natural catastrophes; social and ecological restoration projects that repair and strengthen degraded social and ecological systems; and economic diversification efforts that can help reduce impacts from disruptions.
In alignment with resiliency planning opportunities, community interest and previous planning studies, the City and regional partners are considering opportunities for economic diversification based on our location on the Pacific Ocean. The term “Blue Economy” refers to the contribution of the ocean to economies and the need to address the ecological functioning of ocean and coastal ecosystems. The United Nations and World Bank both define the Blue Economy with a focus on sustainable use of ocean resources for economics, ecosystem health, and livelihoods. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes the New Blue Economy as “a knowledge based economy, looking to 7 the sea not just for the extraction of material goods, but for data and information to address societal challenges and inspire their solutions.” Other Blue Economy definitions highlight the importance of specifying economic benefits that may not be marketed, like cultural values, biodiversity, coastal protection, and carbon storage.
California’s blue economy was calculated to have an economic impact of $42.4 billion in 2022 according to the State Controller’s Office, and blue economy businesses statewide have increased annual revenues by 18% and jobs by 163% over the past 10 years, despite COVID impacts. California’s cabinet-level state body for coordinating activities to protect and steward California’s coast and ocean, the Ocean Protection Council (OPC), highlights a strategic goal for actions toward a sustainable blue economy in California (see OPC 2020-2025 Strategic Plan). At the local level, ports and harbors in California are uniquely positioned to develop and support blue economy activities, as they are often afforded governing roles as special districts and hold responsibilities as landlords, regulators, and environmental stewards. Port and Harbor leadership can be excellent facilitators with expertise in permitting and supporting public-private partnerships to advance local blue economy initiatives.
Brief History of Previous Local Planning Efforts
For thousands of years, people have been connected to the natural abundance of the place now known as Fort Bragg, California. Our connections to fishes, forests, and fields are central to our way of life – for sustenance, jobs, spirituality, recreation, and more. In recent decades we’ve seen changes in our ocean and fisheries, the decline of the local timber industry and subsequent closure of the mill, and hundreds of jobs lost.
While devastating to our community and economy, these changes have also revealed opportunities to re-envision a vibrant future in which our local economic and ecosystem health are compatible. Since the closure of the Fort Bragg Georgia Pacific Mill in 2002, our community has been engaged in the cleanup and reimagining of the former mill site, and planning for additional local economic development opportunities. Community priorities that have emerged from these planning efforts include: calls for increased coastal access, interest in local ocean research and education, and needs for workforce development opportunities and housing.
Several important community priority projects have since been realized. At the former mill site, 107 acres of parkland with multi-use trail along the bluff tops has reconnected residents and visitors to nearly three miles of coastline for the first time in over a century. The Noyo Center for Marine Science was formed when Fort Bragg City Council authorized funding to develop and form the nonprofit, which today offers robust programming in ocean education, exploration, and experience from three locations. The 8 Noyo Center has completed design plans for an Ocean Science Center on 11.6 acres on the former mill site, and is currently working with West Business Development Center on a comprehensive business plan and blue economy strategy.
In 2020 the City of Fort Bragg received funding to develop an economic diversification study. The study revealed numerous local and regional assets, the most prominent being our location and our community itself. With direct proximity to the Pacific Ocean, and the unique skill sets of the men and woman that work in the forests and on the water, we are uniquely positioned to offer a harbor with full service marine facilities, marine research, aquaculture, ecotourism, and blue economy innovation. This economic diversification study culminated in the Blue Economy Symposium and Learning Festival in May 2022, focusing on several aspects of the blue economy including sustainable fisheries, aquaculture opportunities, education, job training, and infrastructure needs. The event highlighted the importance of working waterfronts in coastal resiliency planning, and offered a chance for community members, decision makers, and experts to exchange information and further our collective vision for the future.
Charting Our Course to a Vibrant Future
The foundation for sustaining a level of community readiness, continuous adaptation, and workforce capabilities is directly linked to community empowerment. This planning effort is built on a foundation of prior community planning efforts, and committed to inclusive community collaboration and two-way information exchange. Together, we will help prepare our region for climate resiliency by conducting site specific technical studies for informed decision making, through developing a shared community vision for Noyo Harbor, and by identifying coastal resilience measures and/or potential implementation projects, partners, and financing strategies for climate-ready coastal infrastructure that support coastal ecosystems. Importantly, the BEVRI Plan will also evaluate our region’s readiness for blue economy initiatives and workforce development opportunities in order to leverage historic federal investment becoming available through the Inflation Reduction Act.
The BEVRI planning process will unfold over the next two years, led by the City of Fort Bragg and Noyo Harbor District with support from the community, Noyo Ocean Collective, California Sea Grant Program, and California Coastal Commission staff. The subsequent year will be dedicated to developing goals, policies and programs to codify findings. Local context matters, and the resulting Local Coastal Program Amendment will help ensure future development aligns with our unique local perspective, while also adhering to the Coastal Act.
9 Community Collaboration in Building the BEVRI Plan
The BEVRI planning process is an opportunity to build a shared vision for our collective community wellbeing and a path for getting there. Together we’ll chart a course forward that is practical and inspired, based on meaningful community input, centers community priorities, and supports a future where our local economy and environment work in harmony.
Goals for Community Collaboration
In order to provide clear expectations and measurable outcomes from community engagement efforts, the following initial goals have been developed. Goals will be refined and updated through future coordinated efforts by the Planning Team in partnership with our local community (for an overview of the process for community collaboration, see Figure 1, page 10). Throughout the BEVRI planning process, information about community touchpoints will be recorded to measure progress and ensure accountability.
Our goal is to empower our local community to guide, build, and implement the BEVRI Plan in order to improve local livelihoods, strengthen our ability to adapt to future changes, and support healthy coastal and ocean ecosystems.
● In-person events: sharing information out through touchpoints with 2,000 local residents ● Social media posts: engagement with 5000 views and comments ● Flyers and postcards: touchpoints with 3000 local residents ● Community meetings: touchpoints with 1000 individuals ● Completed surveys and/or recorded comments: input from 1000 local residents Strategy for Community Collaboration
Our strategy for community engagement involves: (a) a team approach to two-way information exchange for “inviting in” input and “sharing back” findings; (b) a survey-centered approach for collecting targeted information about community members’ perspectives and priorities to guide BEVRI Plan outcomes, and; (c) the use of best practices for collaborative community engagement.
Team Approach: Planning Team and Community Outreach Team Preparing our community for climate resilience and blue economy initiatives is a big lift that will require grassroots support from a broad community base. It is critical the community is empowered to build local leadership and capacity, as it is the community that will implement outcomes and realize resilience goals. Implementation of this Community Engagement Plan (CEP) will be led by the City’s Special Projects Manager, Noyo Harbormaster, and the California Sea Grant Mendocino Coast Extension Fellow, with 10 support and guidance from the Planning Team. The Planning Team consists of representatives from the City of Fort Bragg, Noyo Harbor District, Noyo Ocean Collective, and California Sea Grant.
The Community Outreach Team consists of community members who have established connections within different community groups in our region. This team approach will assist the Planning Team in identifying environmental justice communities and ensure techniques for outreach are crafted in collaboration with environmental justice communities and/or organizations. The term “environmental justice” is understood to include both substantive and procedural rights, meaning that in addition to equitable distribution of environmental benefits, environmental justice communities also deserve equitable access to decision making. Our goal is to better understand past and present injustices that exist, and to integrate input from these communities into planning documents.
Outreach workers are trained and mentored by the Planning Team to share information with the community about how to get involved in developing the BEVRI Plan, and provide facts, answers to frequently asked questions, and guidance for learning more about related topics. The Community Outreach Team will help arrange and host outreach events, and serve as liaisons between the Planning Team and community. Together the Community Outreach Team and Planning Team will coordinate, advertise, participate in, and report out about BEVRI community outreach events. Outreach efforts and outcomes will be documented and included as an appendix to the BEVRI plan, and utilized to inform updates to Local Coastal Program.
To invite community and partner feedback and review, a draft CEP along with the accompanying project website [www.NoyoOceanCollective.org] was circulated to the public, Noyo Ocean Collective and Coastal Commission staff for review and input. Presentations were also given at public meetings before City Council, Harbor Commission, Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians Tribal Council, and County Supervisors. The Planning Team has incorporated feedback in the final CEP. Once the California Sea Grant Mendocino Coast Extension Fellow is on boarded, a Community Outreach Team training will be scheduled in November. Those interested in participating in the Community Outreach Team are invited to submit an application. Applications can be found on the Get Involved section of the website or in the lobby of City Hall, located at 416 N. Franklin Street.
Two-Way Information Exchange: Inviting In Input and Sharing Back Findings It is important to note that community planning efforts require two-way information exchange as a foundation for collaboration and community empowerment. The BEVRI Planning Team has information to share with the community, and the community has information to share with the Planning Team. Our inclusive team approach offers peer to peer learning through trusted networks that can speak 11 authentically to the issues. Our approach to two-way information exchange will enable our community to shape and actualize the BEVRI plan through iterative phases.
The BEVRI planning process is designed to continue cultivating existing relationships while growing new relationships through established community networks. It is an opportunity to continue a conversation with those actively engaged in shaping the future of our region, while simultaneously attracting additional perspectives and amplifying the voices of those that have previously been left out.
We’ll “share information out” with the community about the BEVRI planning process through:
● Noyo Ocean Collective website [www.NoyoOceanCollective.org] ● Social media: Facebook [NoyoOceanCollective] and Instagram [NoyoOceanCollective] ● Flyers and postcards
● Traditional news releases
● Tabling at community events
● Informal conversations
● Workshops
● Community meeting presentations
● Public meetings (Fort Bragg City Council, Noyo Harbor District, etc.) We’ll “invite in” community perspectives and input through:
● Surveys with questions on targeted topics
● Listening sessions
● Community meeting presentations
● Tabling at community events
● Informal conversations
● Comment form on website [www.NoyoOceanCollective.org] We’ll “share findings back” with our community through:
● Final published BEVRI Plan and updated LCPs for City of Fort Bragg and County of Mendocino ● E-newsletter and announcements through website [www.NoyoOceanCollective.org] ● Community meeting presentations
● Informal conversations
● Public meetings (Fort Bragg City Council, Noyo Harbor District, etc.) 12 Use of Best Practices for Collaborative Community Engagement Our community engagement strategy and processes will be guided by industry-established best practices for community engagement, including:
Engage Early and Often
● Community members need information, time, and multiple opportunities to get involved in building the BEVRI Plan. Our community involvement strategy outlines an approach for frequent engagement opportunities throughout all BEVRI planning phases, from beginning to end.
Set Clear Goals
● By establishing clear goals and measurable metrics for community involvement in building the BEVRI Plan, we can ensure we’re working collaboratively toward a common endpoint and mutually agreeable outcomes.
Pursue Inclusivity
● It is our priority to seek out and amplify voices within our community that have been historically marginalized. There’s a role for everyone who wants to get involved, and we commit to creating spaces and using tools that will ensure we invite and integrate inclusive perspectives in the BEVRI Plan.
Build Lasting Relationships
● The BEVRI Plan is not a standalone effort, it builds on prior community outreach processes and will lay the foundation for more to come. By listening to, planning for, and acting with our community members in mind, we’re committing to building and strengthening our community connections throughout the BEVRI process and beyond.
Ensure Transparency
● We know that nurturing trust is key to achieving our collective successes. We’re aiming for utmost clarity in our communications and building shared expectations for BEVRI Plan process and outcomes that are measurable and hold us accountable for our commitments. 13 14
Anticipated Outcomes of Community Collaboration
● Local community who is informed, engaged, and empowered:
○ Shapes and realizes collective vision for vibrant future where our local environment and economy work in harmony
○ Is aware of the process and outcomes of a series of technical studies on our local physical, environmental, and economic conditions
○ Highlights diverse and marginalized voices
○ Leverages a network of community leaders to invite community input ● Final BEVRI Plan that is robust, visionary and practical, and strategic:
○ Reflects community visions for vibrant future, built through inclusive representation of diverse community groups
○ Builds upon previous planning and community outreach work ○ Ties in to Noyo Harbor Community Sustainability Plan
○ Guides local efforts to connect our community to historic federal investment opportunities
● Updated LCPs for City of Fort Bragg and Mendocino County:
○ Reflect current, specific, strategic community priorities for local coastal activities ○ Prepare us for changing future while retaining our traditions going back generations Measuring Outcomes and Reporting Findings
In order to ensure transparency and continue building community trust, the Planning Team will prioritize opportunities to measure outcomes from the BEVRI planning process and share back findings with the community. Findings will be shared through in-person opportunities like presentations at public meetings, and through written methods, such as summaries within the written BEVRI Plan.
Examples of the type of quantitative information that may be reported back include numbers of completed surveys, workshops hosted, presentations at public meetings, and analytics from NOC website and social media engagement. Examples of the type of qualitative information that may be reported back include: summaries of themes from survey responses, summaries of findings from informal conversations, comments and emails received through the NOC website. Appendices to the BEVRI Plan will include analytics from survey software, as well as written comments and emails. 15 Community Outreach Tools and Timeline
Tools for Collecting Community Input
The tools that we’ll use to collaborate with the community will include:
● Surveys to invite targeted input on variety of BEVRI Plan related topics ● Pop-up events and tabling for ‘information exchanges’ at community events ● Listening sessions and workshops
● Immersion in place events, like “walk and talks” at Noyo Harbor, Noyo Headlands Coastal Trail ● Formal press releases
● Written updates in local organizations' newsletters
● Website and social media
● Informal discussions and word-of-mouth communications ● Input received through website [www.NoyoOceanCollective.org] Survey Strategy Overview
Surveys will be used to collect targeted information from community members about their views on specific topics related to the BEVRI Plan. A ‘bookends survey’ approach – where the same survey questions are asked of the community at the beginning and end of the community engagement process – will be used to detect shifts in community awareness and/or perceptions during the BEVRI planning process. In addition to the bookend surveys, 3-5 surveys will be created and conducted as the BEVRI Plan progresses.
Surveys will focus on targeted topics related to BEVRI Plan elements (for example, commercial fishing, Noyo Harbor businesses, sea level rise planning, LCP updates, etc.) Surveys will be brief in order to reduce participant fatigue and attrition (for example, no more than 10 questions per survey). Surveys will be made available to community members in both digital and paper formats, and in English and Spanish.
Survey response data will be stored securely in password protected digital files and/or filing storage systems in locked offices. Survey findings will be synthesized and summarized in the BEVRI Plan in a chapter that describes the community engagement process and findings. Survey findings may also inform process steps for technical studies.
Personal Interviews
The Planning Team will conduct individual or small group interviews with various community members and people from local organizations to discuss the BEVRI Plan and LCP amendment process, and confirm 16 common understanding and goals. Later, the Planning Team will conduct personal interviews about specific topics related to coastal/ocean activities. Interview participants will include people from local community‐based organizations, businesses, community leaders, and other community members.
Findings from interviews will inform subsequent next steps of the BEVRI planning process, and themes will be summarized in a chapter of the written BEVRI Plan.
Workshops
Between three and five workshops will be organized over the course of BEVRI Plan development, in sequence to progressively build upon prior workshop themes. Workshops will be structured strategically to facilitate discussions about resilience and adaptation opportunities related to the BEVRI Plan, and opportunities for blue economy business and workforce development. Workshop agendas will reflect workshop goals for facilitating positive community experiences, creating community awareness, inviting community input, and fostering meaningful dialogue. Workshops will include presentations, breakout discussions and other participatory activities like surveys, and intentional opportunities for reporting out findings and next steps. Summaries of each workshop agenda and outcomes will be made available on the Noyo Ocean Collective website. Workshop facilitation and materials will be available in English and Spanish and will be ADA compliant.
Pop‐Up Events, Tabling at Community Events
To create enthusiasm and awareness, the Community Outreach Team will join community events that are already occurring in order to provide an overview of the BEVRI Plan and process, share resources, conduct surveys, and communicate opportunities to be involved in shaping the future of our coastal community.
Tactile and Visual Tools
At public events and workshops, the Community Outreach Team will use tactile tools like 3D models and maps to foster interactions with community members that invite imaginative approaches to visioning the future. Tactile tools can be effectively used to engage participants’ senses at in-person events, which can lead to creativity and cooperative, constructive dialogue. Tactile tools can ignite the power of play and allow people to communicate about complex concepts in a relaxed and natural manner. Visual storytellers will also be invited to work in concert with technical subject matter experts to shape complex processes into visual stories that are relatable, accessible, and tailored to the local community.
Public Meetings before Decision Makers
Presentations about BEVRI Plan-related opportunities and updates will be given at regularly scheduled public meetings before decision makers of the City of Fort Bragg, Noyo Harbor District, Sherwood Valley 17 Band of Pomo Indians, and Mendocino County. We will also request to present to the California Coastal Commission, Mendocino-Lake Community College District, Fort Bragg Unified School District, as well as to boards of various local organizations. Public participation and comments are encouraged.
Website
The Noyo Ocean Collective website [www.NoyoOceanCollective.org] serves as a repository for all things BEVRI planning. It showcases various methods for community involvement, contains a social media kit, hosts BEVRI surveys and a comment form, and displays an event calendar. We will post BEVRI Plan technical studies as they are developed, and highlight various resources for curious minds to learn more. The website will be updated regularly to both solicit input and report findings.
Social Media
Social media will be used to direct users to the website, and will also include standalone posts with cogent messaging and visual content about outreach opportunities to help build the BEVRI Plan. For example, social media posts will highlight opportunities for the community to participate in workshops, take surveys, and attend pop‐up events to provide input on the BEVRI Plan. Social media posts will be developed along the timeline of the various engagement and outreach opportunities, and will be shared through the social media channels of NOC member organizations and other interested parties.
Social media use by the BEVRI Planning Team and NOC partners will follow best practices for using social media for community engagement. Social media posts will be branded and use Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible colors, images, and branding. Posts will use plain language and be in English and Spanish. A social media kit is included on the NOC website to encourage community members to post and help keep messaging and branding cohesive.
Timeline
Figure 2 shows a timeline for community collaboration during the development process for the BEVRI Plan and LCP updates (also referred to as LCP amendments). This draft CEP was created in summer 2023 and will be updated based on community and partner review in autumn 2023. Once the CEP is finalized, it will be implemented through the duration of the planning process into 2026. From autumn 2023 to spring 2025, technical studies will be conducted to inform the BEVRI Plan (for more information on technical studies, see Local Coastal Program and BEVRI Plan Technical Studies, page 17). The BEVRI Plan will be finalized in autumn 2025. The Planning Team will coordinate on LCP amendment development activities with Mendocino County and Coastal Commission staff from spring 2025 until the LCP Amendment is locally adopted and submitted to the Coastal Commission for certification by October 2026.
18 Figure 2. Timeline for community collaboration in BEVRI Plan and LCP Amendment Development 19 Regional Collaboration & Agency Outreach
Agency Coordination
Several agencies share responsibility for the success of Noyo Harbor, a special public district and public subdivision of the State of California, organized under Section 6200 et seq. of the California harbors and Navigation Code. These agencies include, but are not limited to, the Noyo Harbor District, Mendocino County, City of Fort Bragg, California Coastal Commission and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As such, the BEVRI Plan and subsequent Local Coastal Program update necessitates interagency coordination.
Regular updates will be provided on a quarterly basis in writing and/or in-person throughout the planning process, for agency consideration and input. The Draft BEVRI Plan will be circulated for three weeks to allow adequate time for agency review and comment, prior to public draft circulation. Agency comments will be incorporated in the text of document or included as an addendum.
Similarly, a draft of relevant LCP policies will also be circulated to agencies to ensure consistency. The California Coastal Commission will consider all LCP updates through the certification process (see Local Coastal Programs, page 21).
Tribal Consultation
Throughout the three year planning process, City staff will invite meaningful engagement with Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians (SVBP) Tribal Council to identify tribal interests and protect tribal cultural resources. City staff will coordinate with the Tribal Administrator to deliver quarterly updates either inperson or as part of the Tribal Administrator’s regular report out.
In addition to SVBP Tribal Council, the tribal led nonprofit, Kai Poma will also be consulted to better understand tribal interests and resources might be impacted by sea level rise, the BEVRI plan and LCP updates. Kai Poma was recently formed by representatives from Round Valley Tribes, Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians to steward 217-acres of coastal bluff top and beach that was owned by the State of California and managed by Caltrans.
Noyo Ocean Collective Collaboration
The Noyo Ocean Collective (NOC) is a collaboration between the City of Fort Bragg, Noyo Harbor District, Noyo Center for Marine Science, Mendocino College, and West Business Development Center. NOC is committed to meeting on a monthly basis and to assist with community engagement through the following methods:
20 • Sharing content and public engagement opportunities through individual NOC websites and email lists;
• Displaying flyers, posters and other announcements at individual NOC sites; • Hosting outreach events at individual NOC sites;
• Providing feedback on draft work products, such as the scope of work for technical studies, the technical studies themselves, draft BEVRI Plan and proposed LCP amendment.
In addition to support from NOC partners, the many affiliates of NOC that meet in-person on a quarterly basis will also assist the Planning Team. For example, the Planning Team will coordinate with Fort Bragg Unified School District to identify the best methods to reach teachers, students, and parents. Or with California Sea Grant will lend expertise to ensure a proposed scope of work is requesting the best available science and outreach tools.
21 Local Coastal Program (LCP)
Local Coastal Programs as Planning Tools
California state law requires local governments with jurisdiction along California’s coastline to conduct land use planning and permitting in accordance with California’s Coastal Act. The Coastal Act outlines how coastal land may be developed, or protected from development, with consideration for public coastal access and recreation; protection of habitat, biodiversity, and open space; and balanced development for private and commercial uses. In practice, the Coastal Act gives authority to the California Coastal Commission to certify local governments’ land use plans through planning documents called Local Coastal Programs (LCP). Permitting authority over most development is retained by local government entities, although the Coastal Commission must review and approve any amendment to a certified LCP.
The City of Fort Bragg adopted its initial LCP in 1980 and it was certified by the Coastal Commission on July 14, 1983. Since then several amendments have been adopted and certified; the last comprehensive update occurred in August 2008. Our LCP consists of a Land Use Plan and Implementation Program reflecting distinctive qualities of Fort Bragg, while also addressing regional and statewide interests, and conforming to Coastal Act goals and policies.
BEVRI Plan and Subsequent LCP Amendment
Findings from the BEVRI Plan will be incorporated into goals, policies and programs of the City of Fort Bragg’s LCP, as well as Mendocino County’s LCP update related to the Fishing Village zoning designation.
In a parallel process, findings from the County of Mendocino’s Sea Level Rise Resiliency Strategy will be incorporated into the City’s LCP update regarding sea level rise. As such, it is important for the City of Fort Bragg, Noyo Harbor District, Mendocino County, and Coastal Commission staff to coordinate closely on findings and policy recommendations. This will be accomplished with regular bi-monthly meetings scheduled throughout the duration of the project. Joint community engagement activities will also be coordinated, when appropriate.
The City’s LCP amendment process ensures that a draft of proposed LCP amendments are available to the public at least six weeks before a vote, and formal notice is given at least ten working days before a Public Hearing on the matter. Following City Council approval of proposed changes, staff will prepare an LCP Amendment Submittal and transmit to the Coastal Commission for consideration. Upon receipt, Coastal Commission staff will review the package for completeness and request additional information, as necessary. Once the application is deemed complete, Coastal Commission staff will prepare a report 22 and recommendation, which will be published at least seven calendar days before consideration. The hearing itself is noticed at least ten days before a decision is made.
The overall process is iterative and structured to provide the public opportunity to review and weigh in.
Often modifications are requested by the Coastal Commission, in which local acceptance to modifications might not be straightforward. As such, timing for LCP processing is dynamic and difficult to predict. The proposed timeline delivers a Draft LCP Amendment by June 1, 2026 in order for it to be locally adopted by September 30, 2026 and submitted to the Coastal Commission for consideration by October 15, 2026.
BEVRI Plan Technical Studies and LCP Amendment
The BEVRI planning effort includes development of several technical studies and analyses to gather comprehensive information about the existing conditions of Noyo Harbor. This work supports informed decision making, will use the best available science and be peer reviewed by subject matter experts. An initial list of studies to be conducted include:
● An analysis of site-specific scenarios for sea level rise, tsunami hazards, and increased erosion in Noyo Harbor will be used to identify opportunities and limitations for proposed development, infrastructure needs, and adaptation needs.
● A parcel inventory to identify current land uses, economic contributions, boundaries, and historic status. Space within the harbor is limited, and a comprehensive review of existing development is needed to inform strategy for increasing overall productivity. ● A harbor facilities conditions assessment to assess and document the present condition of Noyo Harbor facilities, will include data review and interviews with Harbor District Management, City and County officials, and marina users to gather understanding of any chronic maintenance needs, operational issues or concerns, and conditions assessments on key facilities. The assessment will focus on structural integrity and a mooring basin analysis in order to maximize harbor use and benefit to the local economy. The assessment will also identify needed harbor improvement/projects, and provide cost estimates for repairs and replacements. ● An assessment of opportunities and limitations of blue economy uses in Noyo Harbor will assess adaptation and resiliency measures based on the site‐specific sea level rise and hazard assessment; a suite of potential projects to pursue in and around Noyo Harbor; and potential partners and funding sources.
● Additional technical studies will include an aquaculture feasibility study that incorporates a water quality assessment and considers future climate impacts on potential aquaculture operations, and an analysis of harbor special district management. 23 Proposed scopes of work related to formal Requests for Proposals will be considered by City Council at a regularly scheduled public meeting, in which the public is encouraged to participate and provide input.
Professional Agreements will similarly be considered by Council, and final work products will be presented to City Council for adoption. The public has an opportunity to speak at all City Council meetings.