To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: KATHERINE BUCK, ACTING WATERFRONT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
TITLE
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ADOPT BY 4/5THS VOTE AND BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2605-028 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING A 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET MODIFICATION APPROPRIATING $25,000 IN GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS TO THE CITY'S WATERFRONT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR THE DISPOSAL OF ABANDONED OR SURRENDERED VESSELS IN KING HARBOR
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) offers a Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) grant program to assist local governments in removing and disposing of abandoned and surrendered vessels. In April 2025, the City of Redondo Beach applied for the SAVE-25 program and was awarded a $50,000 grant for a two-year period from November 5, 2025 to September 30, 2027. In March 2026, DBW notified grant recipients that additional funding was available and staff applied for supplemental grant funding, with DBW awarding the City an additional $25,000 to augment the City’s existing SAVE-25 grant award for a new total of $75,000. A budget modification is required to allocate the additional $25,000 of funding. To date, the grant funding has supported the removal of 19 abandoned vessels in King Harbor.
BACKGROUND
The SAVE grant program has been managed by DBW since 1998 as a way to remove, reduce, and prevent abandoned recreational vessels in California waterways. DBW offers the SAVE program as a way to assist local public agencies with jurisdiction over navigable waterways in California with funding to support the removal and disposal of: (1) abandoned vessels within the Grantee’s jurisdiction; and (2) recreational vessels that the verified titleholder has willingly surrendered and the vessel is in danger of being abandoned, which would cause environmental degradation or result in the vessel becoming a hazard to navigation of a California waterway. The grant money covers 90% of the costs of removal and disposal of abandoned or surrendered vessels and the remaining 10% is funded through staff time.
In 2023, the City applied for a grant from the SAVE-23 award cycle to assist with removing abandoned and surrendered vessels from within Basin III, and the City was awarded $32,500. Staff worked with the Redondo Beach Marina and Harbor Patrol to identify vessels that should be prioritized for removal using the grant funding.
In April 2025, staff applied for the SAVE-25 award cycle and was awarded $50,000 in grant funding. On November 4, 2025, Council approved the $50,000 SAVE-25 grant award and the required budget amendment needed to allocate the grant funding.
In March 2026, DBW notified all grant recipients of that additional funding was available, and staff submitted a request letter to DBW for additional funding. The request was approved and DBW awarded the City with $25,000 of supplemental grant funding. Approval of the Budget Resolution would allocate the additional $25,000, bringing the total for the SAVE-25 grant to $75,000.
Staff will continue to administer the grant, which includes coordinating with the Harbor Patrol and marina managers in King Harbor to identify the vessels that can be prioritized for removal. As of May 2026, 19 vessels have been removed from King Harbor and safely disposed of utilizing SAVE grant funding.
At this time, staff is recommending that the City Council adopt, by 4/5ths vote, a resolution to allocate $25,000 in additional grant funding to assist the City in removing abandoned and surrendered vessels in King Harbor.
COORDINATION
This item was coordinated between the Waterfront and Economic Development Department, Financial Services Department, and City Attorney’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds from the grant will be appropriated in the FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget for the Waterfront and Economic Development Department.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Reso - No. CC-2605-028 - Budget Resolution Appropriating SAVE Grant FY 2025-26
• Agmt - Amendment No. 1 to Grant No. C25S0607, State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways