Newport Beach calls new local emergency as battered coastline braces for king tides
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Bracing for more unusually high king tides on an already battered coastline, Newport Beach officials declared a local emergency Monday, committing $1.5 million to relocate sand from the Santa Ana River to eroded beaches on the city’s west end.
Approved during a special council meeting, the declaration is the city’s second weather-related emergency this month. It follows an Oct. 9 order that saw the construction of beach sand berms to protect against massive swells and flooding from Tropical Storm Rachel.
The new resolution authorizes officials to potentially close streets and restrict parking in certain low-lying waterfront areas, including Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island, the city’s Finley Tract and Newport Island during the forecasted high tide period expected Sunday through next Thursday.
It further helps the city secure state and federal resources while deploying field barriers, sandbags, emergency pumping, and drainage operations — essential measures as Newport records ocean water levels 18 to 22 inches above earlier predictions.
City officials also hope to replenish beach areas between 36th and 62nd streets by using approximately 100,000 cubic yards of sand from the mouth of the Santa Ana River. The council awarded a $1,487,678 contract Monday with Riverside-based Jeremy Harris Construction, with an additional $375,000 contingency, for work anticipated to begin this week.
Public Works Director Dave Webb said the city secured the permits from the county, which has jurisdiction over the riverbed and performs its own sand removal every three to four years, indicating the city might seek repayment for the work it does now.
“We are cleaning out the river mouth and material they would eventually have to remove, so I think it’s fair to ask the county for some level of reimbursement for that work we’re doing for them,” Webb told the council.
The replenishment will be funded by more than $1.82 million in city revenue from paid parking lots and mooring, pier and marina rentals, as well as $200,000 in oceanfront encroachment fees paid by private property owners for right-of-way improvements — all funds restricted for use on tidelands projects.
Staff said on Monday that the city activated its Emergency Operations Center at City Hall this week to coordinate department responses to potential coastal flooding and damage. It’s the first activation to take place since the COVID pandemic, he said.
Mayor Lauren Kleiman said she’s scheduled meetings with officials from the county as well as the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and is reaching out to state legislators to seek assistance with the city’s preparations.
“[This is] all with the goal of ensuring we as a city have all the resources we need to protect our community and that we are aware of every resource that may be available to our residents and businesses in need of assistance as we prepare for and recover from these El Niño conditions and events,” she said.
Local residents speaking in comments Monday urged city leaders to do whatever it takes to protect the city’s world renowned beaches.
“The beaches are a jewel — they are the reason that we are here, and right now that is in danger,” said Kristina Grace. “I’m truly frightened I might wake up and my home won’t be here, and I have to rely on you. I know we have the means and we’re in a time crunch right now. We have to do something this week.”
Kevin Kassel said even with the emergency measures taken earlier this month, the city barely survived the fallout of flooding from Tropical Storm Rachel. He said leaders need to invest more in future budgets to mitigate the impacts of what he referred to as a new normal in Newport.
“This is our new reality,” he said. “We need to be prepared for an ongoing and massive increase in spending on these issues to keep our beaches and keep our properties there and to keep this being the beautiful, incredible, world-renowned destination that it is.”
With intense tides anticipated this weekend, officials in a release Monday urged waterfront property owners and those in vulnerable areas to protect their homes, vehicles and belongings by installing sandbags or temporary flood barriers near seawalls, garages, doorways and other low-lying openings.
Residents should inspect private flood protection systems, clear debris from drains and gutters and move vehicles away from flood-prone streets and parking areas.
Free, prefilled sandbags are available at the city’s Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave.; Marina Park, 1600 W. Balboa Blvd.; and temporary Fire Station No. 1 at the East Ocean Front Parking Lot near Balboa Pier. Empty sandbags are also available at Lifeguard Headquarters and Newport Beach fire stations. Supplies are limited.
For online weather conditions, visit NewportBeachCA.gov/ElNino. Emergency alerts are available through Newport Notified at NBPD.org.
— City News Service contributed to this report.
