DATE: June 14, 2021
SUBJECT:
Title
ORDINANCE AMENDING SAN DIEGO UNIFIED PORT DISTRICT CODE, ARTICLE 4, SECTION 4.37 - REGULATION OF CHARTER VESSEL OPERATIONS IN SAN DIEGO BAY AND DISTRICT TIDELANDS, REMOVING APPLICABILITY TO KAYAKS, CANOES, AND PADDLEBOARDS
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
San Diego Unified Port District (District) Code Section 4.37 (Code 4.37) was amended in May of 2021 to address all charter vessel operations in San Diego Bay and District tidelands with the goals of ensuring public safety, protecting consumers, regulating and policing unpermitted charters, and leveling the playing field for charter operators.
Enforcement of the amended Code 4.37 began on July 1, 2021, and staff has been providing continuous outreach to the charter community to implement the new program and working with the District's marina and sportfishing landing tenants to address any lease issues. During this first year of the program, staff is also gathering input from tenants, charter operators, and the public, and plans to update the Board and all stakeholders on the results of the first year "pilot program" in early fall of 2022, following the busy summer charter season.
Staff is now proposing a minor amendment to Code 4.37 to adjust the definition of charter vessels within this code section to remove kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards from the list of vessel types regulated by this Code section. In recent months staff has determined that the rental of kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are of a different operational nature than that of other charter vessel operations and that the full regulations of Code 4.37 related to these activities is not recommended at this time. Future consideration will be given to any changes in regulation of rental of kayaks, canoes and paddleboards as part of our stakeholder outreach and one-year review of the initial pilot program.
Removing kayaks, canoes and paddleboards from the charter vessel definition in the Port Code Section 4.37 will...
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