HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdopt Resolution No. 2021-10 Requesting United States Army C /biwo✓Eli -7-0
City of Huntington Beach
File #: 21-273 MEETING DATE: 4/19/2021
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Sean Crumby, Director of Public Works
Subject:
Adopt Resolution No. 2021-10 requesting that the United States Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) fund and immediately proceed with Surfside-Sunset Beach Nourishment Project
Stage 13 from Anaheim Bay Harbor to Newport Bay in Orange County. California
Statement of Issue:
This resolution is drafted to support Stage 13 of the Surfside-Sunset Beach Nourishment Project.
This action recognizes the importance of beach sand nourishment projects to the health,
sustainability, and vitality of Huntington Beach's coastline, and how important these projects are to
protecting both public and private property/assets along the coast. Without these sand
replenishment projects, the City's coastline is prone to damage from winter storms and high tides, as
the sand acts as a natural buffer, protecting the coast from damaging waves and tidal action.
Financial Impact:
City Council previously authorized the funding of the City's share of the costs for the design and
construction of the Stage 13 project in the Fiscal Year 2017-18 budget. The funding for the City's
portion of the project costs have already been transmitted to the County of Orange in June 2018 in
the amount of$281,966.00.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Resolution 2021-10, "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach
Requesting that the United States Army Corps of Engineers Fund and Immediately Proceed with
Surfside-Sunset Beach Nourishment Project Stage 13 from Anaheim Bay Harbor to Newport Bay in
Orange County, California."
Alternative Action(s):
Do not adopt the resolution and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
The natural migration of sand happens in a southerly fashion from Surfside beach, which is adjacent
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to the mouth of the San Gabriel River, transporting the sand down the coast and replenishing the
eroded sand between Anaheim Harbor Bay to Newport Bay. However, the construction of
engineered flood control structures by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the
San Gabriel River and Santa Ana River between 1930s - 1950s prevents the transportation of
sediment and sand down these rivers to naturally replenish sand depleted by winter storms and other
sand depletion activities. Thus, the coastline between Anaheim Harbor Bay to Newport Bay is
dependent on beach sand nourishment projects to replenish eroded sand.
In 1962, Congress passed the Rivers and Harbors Act, which requires USACE to address the
impacts of the constructed flood control structures on natural sand depositions. This led to the first
beach nourishment project in 1964 (Stage 1), which deposited 1.5 million cubic yards of sand on the
beach along Surfside. These projects were scheduled to be conducted every 5-7 years, and there
have been twelve such projects since 1964. The last beach nourishment project was conducted in
2010 (Stage 12). Stage 13 was slated to commence in 2018, but it has been delayed indefinitely by
the Federal government. due to a lack of funding.
Staff from the City and other stakeholders, which includes the County of Orange, the Department of
Boating and Waterways, City of Newport Beach, City of Seal Beach, and the Surfside Stormwater
Protection District, meet with USACE on a regular basis to receive updates regarding the proposed
Stage 13 project. To date, USACE staff has been unable to move the project forward from the project
list to the list of funded projects. The reasons for the lack of funding for the project have not been
made clear to USACE staff, and the project appears to be at an impasse. with no indication that
Stage 13 will receive any funding in the near future.
Without any beach nourishment project since 2010, the coastline between Anaheim Bay Harbor and
Newport Bay has experienced noticeable and dramatic degradation. In certain segments of the
nearly 68,000 linear feet (approximately 12 miles) of coastline, the sand has eroded to the point that
homes in the Surfside community are now threatened by winter storms and high tides. Other
sections of beach within this area are no longer accessible during high tides, and coastal assets are
now threatened, such as beach parking lots, access roads, beach boardwalk, and other structures.
This new threat garnered national attention in July 2020 when the City of Newport Beach's beach
parking lots, streets, and other public/private properties on the Balboa peninsula were flooded with up
to three feet of damaging and corrosive salt water. This type of event was not the result of a large
winter storm, and could be a precursor of what the new normal will be without the protective buffer
that beach sand provides.
This resolution was drafted to draw public attention to the plight of the eroded coastline between
Surfside (Seal Beach) and Newport Beach, as well as serving to notify the USACE and the Federal
government that this project is important to the community and is direly needed. The coastline under
threat is not only a local asset, but also a regional asset enjoyed by residents and tourists from all
over the state. As such, this coastline should be viewed as a resource that must be protected for
future generations. Failure to act immediately could not only result in property damage, but may also
result in loss of life if dangerous flooding occurs.
This resolution will also be adopted by the governing boards of the other local project stakeholders in
the upcoming months. This includes the Cities of Newport Beach and Seal Beach as well as the
County of Orange. Following the adoption of this resolution, City staff will launch a coordinated
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media campaign to generate interest and draw attention to the dire need for the beach nourishment
project, including reaching out to local press and posting information regarding the status of the
project on social media platforms. The media campaign will focus on the present and potential future
impacts to our coastline, if the Stage 13 project and other future beach nourishment projects are
further delayed, which are essential to protecting our coastline and coastal assets, both private and
public.
Environmental Status:
Not applicable.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Infrastructure & Parks
Attachmentfs):
1. Resolution No. 2021-10. "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach
Requesting that the United States Army Corps of Engineers Fund and Immediately Proceed with
Surfside-Sunset Beach Nourishment Project Stage 13 from Anaheim Bay Harbor to Newport Bay
in Orange County, California."
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RESOLUTION NO. 202 1-10
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIUNTINGTON
BEACH REQUESTING THAT Ti-IE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
FUND AND IMMEDIATELY PROCEED WITH SURFSIDE-SUNSET BEACH
NOURISHMENT PROJECT STAGE 13 FROM ANAI-IEIIA BAY HARBOR TO NEWPORT
BAY IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS the longshore current carries beach sand southward along the California
coast, nourishing the beaches of Orange County from Anaheim Bay Harbor through Huntington
Beach to Newport Beach; and
Prior to onshore structural development between the San Gabriel River outlet and
Newport Bay, local beaches received sand from Flood runoff of the Los Angeles, San Gabriel,
and Santa Ana Rivers: and
In 1942, the United States constructed jetties at Anaheim Bay to serve the Seal Beach
Naval Weapons Station, adjacent to Surfside Beach. Waves reflected off the East Jetty combine
with ocean waves, causing strong, localized southward-flowing longshore currents near the jetty.
These currents cause severe down coast erosion at both Surfside Beach in Seal Beach, and
Sunset Beach in Huntington Beach. In response, and without any formal Congressional action,
the Army Corps of Engineers initiated beach replenishments in 1945, 1946 and 1956; and
The Army Corps conducted studies and issued a Report (House Document 602. October
2. 1962) identifying three causes of Orange County beach erosion: (1) the jetties at the entrance
to Anaheim Bay; (2) flood-control structures constructed on the Los Angeles, San Gabriel, and
Santa Ana rivers reducing sand delivery; and (3) construction of the Los Angeles/Long Beach
breakwater system further altering and exacerbating the local sediment transport processes. The
Army Corps acknowledged that all three causes of beach erosion were the result of the Federal
government's own actions. Accordingly, the Army Corps recommended that the Federal
Government provide sixty-seven percent (67%) of the cost of initial deposition of sand, with
periodic beach nourishment. Congress authorized the Report's recommendations through the
1962 River and Harbor Act, Public Law 87-874, which the President signed; and
From 1964 through 1997, Beach Nourishment Stages I through 10 were completed. For
32 years, the Army Corps Commander considered beach nourishment a mandatory requirement.
However; in 1995, the Army Corps began a phase-out of nourishment without regard to its past
practice that nourishment was unique and necessary. Nourishment Stage 1 1 was completed in
2001, and Stage 12 was not completed until 2009: and
On April 2, 2018, the City of Huntington Beach and the County of Orange executed an
Agreement For Construction of Periodic Nourishment Of the Orange County Beach Erosion
Control Project Stage 1 3, in which the City agreed to contribute $281.966 towards Stage 13
construction. The State of California, the City of Newport Beach and others will provide
additional contributions: and
In September 2018, the Army Corps issued a Draft Environmental Assessment for
Nourishment Stage 13, indicating the project would begin in the winter of 2019, and that Stage
14 would occur in 2023. The Environmental .Assessment acknowledged that Stages 13 and 14
were required pursuant to the 1962 act of Congress, Public Law 87-874, and that "Federal
20-9185/241862 l
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-10
authority directs the Corps to nourish the beaches between the Anaheim Bay jetties and the
Newport pier;" and
If nourishment is discontinued, Orange County beaches will erode, reducing recreation
opportunities and protection of shoreline facilities from of storm damage; and
Despite the warning that failure to nourish local beaches would not only reduce
recreation opportunities but also expose property to storm damage; the Army Corps has failed to
fund the Nourishment Stage 13 for I 1 years, and shows no signs of pursuing it;
NOW. THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does hereby
resolve as follows:
l. The City Council finds all of the above Recitals true and correct.
2. The City Council urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Pacific Division
Los Angeles District to immediately fund and proceed with Surfside-Sunset Beach Nourishment
Project Stage 13.
3. The City Council directs the City Clerk to forward this Resolution to Lt. Gen.
Scott A. Spellmon, Conunanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Gen. Paul E.
Owen, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division, and Col. Julie
Batten, Los Angeles District Commander.
4. The City Council directs the City Manager and the City Director of Public Works,
or their designees to meet directly with Colonel Balten, and take all other actions reasonable and
necessary to ensure that Nourishment Stage 13 proceeds immediately in 2021, and Stage 14
occurs within two years of the completion of Stage 13.
5. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Funtington Beach
at a regular meeting thereof held on the 19th day of 4ril. 2021 .
Mayor
1 1 ,N ' 'DAN A�PPR`OVED: INl"f1ATD AND
C Manager Director of Public Works
A13PROED AS TO FORM:
d1/ City Attorney
20-9185/241862 2
Res. No. 20 21-10
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss:
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH )
I, ROBIN ESTANISLAU, the duly elected, qualified City Clerk of the
City of Huntington Beach, and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of said City, do
hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of the City of
Huntington Beach is seven; that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted
by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the members of said City Council
at a Regular meeting thereof held on April 19, 2021 by the following vote:
AYES: Peterson, Kalmick, Ortiz, Carr, Posey, Moser, Delgleize
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
RECUSE: None
City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the
City Council of the City of
Huntington Beach, California