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Happy New Year Everyone,
It gives me great pleasure to announce that regardless of the marina shut down during the months of March, April, and into part of May, the Long Beach Marinas system finished the fiscal year in the black. For the first time since the rebuild, our occupancy dropped to 86% in May 2020. This was a direct result of our inability to bring in new customers during that period. However, as of December 1, 2020, our occupancy is at 90%. Appointments for new customers are scheduled three-weeks out. The dedication and hard work of our Marina Agents, who have been working throughout this Covid-19 era, and your loyal patronage throughout these turbulent times made it possible for us to maintain the 2015 Marina Series Bond rating at BBB, thus ensuring our interest rate and maintaining investor confidence. Well done everyone!
Here are a couple major capital improvements we have planned for 2021. Staff is currently working with several vendors and contractors to obtain quotes for the installation of security cameras at Shoreline Marina. As part of the reconstruction of the Alamitos Beach Concession stand, the City installed a significant portion of the telecommunication infrastructure needed to support the security system. Moffat and Nichol have been commissioned to begin the permitting process for the reconstruction of ABM boat owner restrooms. Our original CA Coastal Commission permit allowed for the renovation of three restrooms and replacement of ten. Completed plans for the standard restrooms were part of the renovation of Basin 4. At the time, the intent was for all restrooms to be the same. Our intent is to dust off those plans and conduct a boat owner meeting to obtain feedback from our customers, on what is working and what is not. An announcement on the date and time of this meeting and the timeline for the security system installation is forthcoming.
Finally, I want to thank everyone who entered a photo in the First Annual Trees in the Bay photo contest. The winners of our contest are Truman and Tim Rue. Pictured is Truman, age 8, a student at Naples Elementary School. Truman looks forward to the annual tree lighting. He and his dad Tim, paddle out at dusk to “check them out.” Everyone who saw this photo, stated that Truman’s facial expression gave them immediate joy! Truman and Tim would like everyone to know: “We both thought the trees in the bay were especially meaningful this year with so much sadness and uncertainty. We just want to add that they are bright reminders of a tradition that brings smiles and hope for better days ahead.” I couldn’t have put that any better. Thank you, Rue Family, for sharing this special moment with
our Marina Reader Community.
Until Next Time,
Elvira Hallinan
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Marina Offices are open and are now accepting new vessel permit applications. To protect
you and our staff from COVID-19 please call the ABM and Shoreline offices to set up an appointment for any and all boating needs. Note – Many requests can now be handled by phone or email.
Face covering signage has been placed at every gangway and dock. Please continue to fight
the spread of COVID-19 by adhering to CDC recommended social distance and COVID-19 health safety protocols. For more info on CDC COVID-19 mask recommendations click here. Signage is City property – Destruction or removal can adversely affect your slip permit status.
Marina Agents will be in the field identifying slips with unauthorized dinghys/tenders throughout the months of January and February. Please stow your dinghy/tender by permit and as directed in Long Beach Marina Rules & Regulations.
Keep our docks clean and organized - Return dock carts to their designated gangway after each use. Personal items should be stored in your dock box or neatly onboard your vessel.
Make sure to place your 2021 parking passes in your vehicle. Parking enforcement commenced on January 9, 2021.
DID YOU KNOW – The name for January comes from the Roman god, Janus, who is always depicted with two heads. He uses one head to look back on the year before, and the other head to look forward into the New Year! On January 1st, 1892, Ellis Island opened, allowing for the immigration of over 20 million people. The length of February has kept changing. At one point it had as little as 23 days…. 28 days this year.
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Patrols and Enforcement
During the month of November, Marine Patrol officers were dispatched to 83 calls for service. They initiated over 3,287 targeted patrols which include directed patrols of specific areas, dock-walks, and field investigations. Officers took enforcement action on several occasions where a misdemeanor violation took place and wrote approximately 50 citations.
All Training is Good Training
This month marked the long-awaited end of probation for our two newest Marine Patrol officers, Officer Hutt and Officer Pena. A new officer’s field training is normally completed in six months, but as we all know, this year has been anything but normal. Their training was prolonged for several months due to the lack of availability of required training courses as a result of COVID-19 health restrictions. Luckily, they received their needed training and are now full-fledged members of the detail.
Looking Toward the Future
The addition of Officer Hutt and Officer Pena has helped to bolster our staffing levels. The Marine Patrol detail will be looking to further strengthen their numbers in 2021 and will continue to provide 24/7/365 safety and security service to the Long Beach Marinas in the year ahead.
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When the rainy season approaches, the maintenance team jumps into action! We mobilize our heavy equipment operators and large equipment to rake storm debris from the beaches. The raked debris is then compiled into large piles and allowed time to dry. (This removes costly water weight) Once dry, a sand shaker is used to remove loose sand (more weight) before loading the debris onto dump trucks and hauling it away to the dump.
Constantly looking for ways to be more efficient and effective the Marine Bureau, Queensway Bay Maintenance Team has installed a large boom, known as our new “In-Water Storm Debris Management System” just in time for rainy season. This new boom is a primary containment system, designed to trap debris as it is flushed out of the LA River. Once the debris is trapped, it is contained and removed from South Shore Launch Ramp and hauled away to the dump.
This project consisted of the installation of a new main boom and deflection booms. The main boom is located on the West side, North of the South Shore Launch Ramp and runs a total of 800 feet into the middle of the open channel. The deflection booms are located just North of the South Shore Launch Ramp and situated below the mouth of the LA River above Golden Shore Marine Reserve. These deflection booms stretch 700 feet and are designed to deflect trash and debris away from the Reserve and into our new debris boom containment area.
The booms are constructed of twenty-four (24) inch, high density, double-walled, UV resistant HDPE with internal closed cell foam for added floatation. Each is held together with log construction hardware consisting of large stainless steel metal shackles, fasteners and chain link, securing it to large anchors seated on the seafloor with a 4.75 ton working load limit (WLL). These heavy-duty booms have been tested to a breaking strength of 60,000 lbs. This new approach is designed to be pro-active and capable of harnessing water velocity as debris flushes out of the LA River. The goal is to trap the bulk of surface and submerged trash, litter, natural debris and large floating objects in this new boom system at the mouth of the LA River.
With the implementation of this In-Water Storm Debris Management System less debris will reach our harbors, marinas and beaches and will require less equipment, staff and time. We look forward to seeing the boom in action with the first rains of the season. This new approach should result in a much cleaner Long Beach Marina environment for all to enjoy.
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