October 13, 2026
Agenda Item No. 5
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
Paul Blank, City Harbormaster - 949-270-8159, [email protected] PREPARED BY:
Cynthia Shintaku, Management Analyst - 949-270-8159
[email protected]
TITLE:
Resolution No. 2026-90: Accepting a Grant from the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways for the Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange Program (SAVE) ABSTRACT:
The City of Newport Beach (City) applied for and has been awarded grant funding by the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways for the Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel (SAVE) Exchange Program. The funding will be used to remove and reduce abandoned and surrendered vessels in our waterways.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) 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; Adopt Resolution No. 2026-90, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Accepting a Grant from the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways for the Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange Program (SAVE); and Approve Budget Amendment No. 27-026 recognizing $50,000 in grant revenue from the California Division of Boating and Waterways (13501-431385-G2745) and appropriating $50,000 to Account No. 13501-980000-G2745 and $5,000 to Account No. 10001-980000-G2745 Abandoned Watercraft Abatement.
DISCUSSION:
Newport Harbor is one of the largest small-craft recreational harbors on the California coastline and is a welcoming port to many boaters as they cruise the Pacific Ocean or tour local waters. The City encourages public access to the water and offers slips and vacant moorings for rent to both locals and visitors. With approximately 1,200 public moorings, the harbor also serves as the home to a variety of permitted vessels.
While the majority of boaters and mooring permittees properly use the harbor, there are occasional issues with vessel abandonment, illegal berthing, and derelict vessels. As a result, some vessels may face citations, impoundment or subsequent legal action (such as liens, junking and demolition). These vessels may pose on-the-water hazards and can be prone to discharges of oils, gas, sewage or other fluids; become platforms for wildlife to overrun; or worse, take on water and sink in the harbor. Occasionally, these derelict and abandoned vessels result in disposal-related costs to the City, and as such, the City requires funding for proper disposal.
The SAVE program, formerly called the Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund and the Vessel Turn In Program, was enacted in 1998 and 2010. The program provides an efficient and cost-free alternative for boat owners to surrender unwanted vessels to a participating agency in lieu of abandonment, helping to eliminate the expensive, difficult and time-consuming adjudication and removal process that abandoned vessels require.
Since 2014, the City has applied for and been awarded the SAVE grant. Below is a chart that references the grant funding awarded and the number of vessels removed each year. The number of vessels removed under the program is determined by the size and condition of each vessel.
Grant Year
Award Amount
Vessels Removed
2014-2016
$125,700
30 2017-2019
$125,000
25 2019-2021
$175,000
47 2021-2023
$175,000
27 2023-2025
$175,000
37 2025-2027
$100,000
10 The Harbor Department has proactively educated mariners on the SAVE program and encourages individuals to turn in vessels they can no longer care for. All of the vessels processed through this program are either decaying, nonoperational and/or have become a financial detriment to their owners.
In April 2026, the City applied for the next round of SAVE grant funding. During the application process, the City was notified by the State of California that grant funding would be further reduced. In September 2026, the City was awarded a $50,000 SAVE grant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Budget Amendment appropriates $50,000 in additional revenue from the State of California, Department of Boating and Waterways and $55,000 in increased expenditure appropriations. This grant reimburses 90% of eligible SAVE grant expenditures, with the City providing a 10% match. This is a two-year grant program and will conclude on September 30, 2028.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to 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.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Resolution
Attachment B – Budget Amendment
1 Resolution No. 2026-90: Accepting a Grant from the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways for the Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange Program (SAVE) October 13, 2026
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