Newport council to take up jetpack law Tuesday
For thrill seekers who haven’t yet fulfilled their desire to fly high above Newport Harbor with the help of a water-propelled jetpack, there might still be time.
The Newport Beach City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on an ordinance that would allow one jetpack business to operate in the harbor and prohibit others. The proposed law also would ban residents and tourists from using their own jetpacks on Newport waterways.
Jetpacks are backpack-style devices that use seawater to propel riders into the air while they are tethered to an instructor’s watercraft via a long hose.
The issue has been the topic of roughly a year of debate between Jetpack America — the business currently operating in the harbor — and nearby homeowners who say the activity is a nuisance in the otherwise quiet recreational harbor.
In June, the City Council agreed to a six-month moratorium on permits for businesses operating “water-propelled vessels” like jetpacks. Council members directed the Harbor Commission to study the activity, including concerns about safety and noise.
Jetpack America had its permits before the moratorium and was allowed to operate in the harbor throughout the ban. Under the proposed ordinance, Jetpack America could operate until its permits expire in May. The city would then begin accepting applications for businesses to set up in the harbor.
After months of studies and public hearings, the Harbor Commission voted in December to recommend that the council allow water-propulsion businesses to operate only on the open ocean.
During a February study session, the council asked city staff to come up with a proposal that wouldn’t ban the activity completely but would limit its effects on nearby homeowners.
Official motto
The City Council also will discuss placing the official motto of the United States, “In God We Trust,” in the council chamber or elsewhere at City Hall.
Councilman Kevin Muldoon made the suggestion, following the lead of many other cities nationwide.
Tuesday’s council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Drive.