2nd anchorage for visitors approved for summer trial in Newport Harbor

Newport Beach will have a second anchorage in the harbor for visiting boaters this summer.

The City Council on Tuesday voted 6-1 to authorize a trial for the second anchorage in the Newport Harbor turning basin from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Mayor Diane Dixon dissented.

The anchorage in the turning basin, which is northwest of Lido Isle, would provide free space for boaters who visit the harbor for five days or less this summer. The Harbor Commission this month signed off on the trial and recommended that the City Council do the same.

The harbor’s permanent anchorage — near Lido Isle and Bay Island — is often very crowded during the summer, and an alternative location could give more boaters access to Newport Beach, commissioners said.

Another trial for a second anchorage took place last year after the council agreed to a test from August through October.

After the trial, city staff said the area was “lightly used” but had collected no data. At the time, some harbor commissioners said they weren’t convinced of the demand for a second anchorage.

This time around, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol has agreed to monitor and collect data on daily usage at both the turning basin and the permanent anchorage, as well as the home ports of vessels using the spaces. It also will monitor the number of resident complaints.

In 2012, when the city was dredging portions of the harbor, the visitor anchorage was moved to the turning basin, which led several Lido Isle residents to complain to the City Council about loud music, partying and drifting boats that crashed into docks.

For that reason, harbor commissioners prohibited roping together small vessels to form a raft-like structure in the basin. The council also approved quiet hours from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.

This month, the commission decided to ask the Harbor Patrol to monitor boats in the turning basin anchorage and drop dye tablets into the vessels’ septic systems to ensure that no waste leaks into the harbor. However, boat owners have to consent to boardings of their vessels, according to city law.

Dixon said that while she’s pleased with the enhanced rules instituted by the Harbor Commission, she’s dedicated to supporting the needs of the residents in her district, some of whom have voiced concern about a second anchorage.

“The ‘no’ vote is only to show that I’m watching to make sure we protect the needs of the community,” she said. “Newport Beach visitors have a lot of support, but I am the only one who can support the needs and voices of the residents.”

Dixon later clarified that she specifically meant the residents in her council district.

[Update, 3 p.m.: This story was updated to clarify the mayor’s comments.]