To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ELIZABETH HAUSE, WATERFRONT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
TITLE
title
ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2611-101 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE FY 2026/27 SURRENDERED AND ABANDONED VESSEL EXCHANGE (SAVE-26) GRANT AGREEMENT, GRANT NUMBER C26S0610 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, DIVISION OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND ANY RELATED DOCUMENTS
ADOPT BY 4/5THS VOTE AND BY TITLE ONLY RESOLUTION NO. CC-2611-102 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING A 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET MODIFICATION APPROPRIATING $26,600 IN GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS, GRANT NUMBER C26S0610 TO THE CITY’S WATERFRONT DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR THE DISPOSAL OF ABANDONED OR SURRENDERED VESSELS IN KING HARBOR
end
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) provides a Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) grant program for local public agencies with jurisdiction over navigable waterways to fund the removal and prevention of abandoned recreational vessels in California waterways. Staff previously applied for the SAVE grant program in 2023 and was awarded $32,500 in SAVE-23 grant funds. The funding allowed the City to remove nine (9) abandoned or surrendered vessels from Basin III. Staff reapplied for the grant funding in 2025 and received a $75,000 SAVE-25 grant award that, to-date, has funded the removal of an additional five (5) surrendered and abandoned vessels from King Harbor. In 2026, the City was awarded an additional $26,600 through the SAVE-26 grant program, which would allow the City to continue its vessel removal efforts through 2028, subject to City Council approval of the Grant Agreement.
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. The grant term is two years.
In 2023, the City was awarded $32,500 through the SAVE-23 grant program to assist with the removal of abandoned and surrendered vessels in Basin III. Working with the Redondo Beach Marina and Harbor Patrol, staff prioritized vessels for removal and successfully removed and disposed of nine (9) vessels. Building on this effort, the City applied for the SAVE-25 grant cycle in April 2025 and was awarded $50,000, which City Council accepted on November 4, 2025, along with the associated budget amendment to appropriate the funds. In March 2026, the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) notified grant recipients that supplemental funding was available. Staff submitted a request for additional funding, which was approved, resulting in an additional $25,000 award and bringing the total SAVE-25 grant funding to $75,000. To date, five (5) vessels have been removed under the SAVE-25 program, with additional removals anticipated over the next year as funding allows.
In September 2026, the City was awarded an additional $26,600 through the SAVE-26 grant program. Staff will continue to administer the SAVE-25 and SAVE-26 grants, including coordinating with the Harbor Patrol and marina managers in King Harbor to identify the vessels that should be prioritized for removal.
Staff recommends the City Council adopt the proposed resolutions approving the SAVE-26 grant agreement and authorizing a budget modification to appropriate the $26,600 in grant funding for the removal and disposal of abandoned and surrendered vessels in King Harbor.
COORDINATION
The item was coordinated between the Waterfront Department, Financial Services Department, and the City Attorney’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
If approved, $26,600 in grant funds will be appropriated in the FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget for the Waterfront Department.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Reso - No. CC-2611-101 - SAVE 26 Grant Agreement Resolution
• Reso - No. CC-2611-102 - SAVE 26 Grant FY 2026-27 Budget Modification Resolution