COASTAL CONSERVANCY

Staff Recommendation October 5, 2006

LOS ANGELES MARITIME INSTITUTE

TOPSAIL YOUTH PROGRAM SWIFT OF IPSWICH RESTORATION

File No. 06-079 Project Manager: Neal Fishman/Carol Arnold

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Authorization to disburse up to $200,000 to the Los Angeles Maritime Institute to repair the tall ship Swift of Ipswich for use as a waterfront attraction and a sailing classroom LOCATION: The Swift of Ipswich is docked at Berth 84, foot of 6th St., Los Angeles Harbor, San Pedro (Exhibit 1: project Location and Map). PROGRAM CATEGORY: Urban Waterfront Restoration and Education

EXHIBITS Exhibit 1: Project Location and Site Map

Exhibit 2: Photographs

Exhibit 3: News Article

Exhibit 4: Letters of Support RESOLUTION AND FINDINGS:

Staff recommends that the State Coastal Conservancy adopt the following resolution pursuant to Sections 31000 et seq. of the Public Resources Code:

“The State Coastal Conservancy hereby authorizes disbursement of an amount not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) to the Los Angeles Maritime Institute to repair the tall ship Swift of Ipswich, subject to the following conditions:

1. Prior to the disbursement of any Conservancy funds, the Association shall submit for review and approval of the Executive Officer of the Conservancy (“Executive Officer”) a budget, schedule, final designs and plans, and any contractors and subcontractors to be employed;

2. The Los Angeles Maritime Institute shall identify the Coastal Conservancy as a sponsor of the Swift of Ipswich on educational materials, advertisements, and publications, in a manner that shall be approved by the Executive Officer of the Conservancy.”

Staff further recommends that the Conservancy adopt the following findings:

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TALL SHIP SWIFT OF IPSWICH

“Based on the accompanying staff report and attached exhibits, the State Coastal Conservancy hereby finds that:

1. The proposed project is consistent with Section 31119 (regarding education projects) and Chapter 7 (regarding urban waterfronts) of Division 21 of the Public Resources Code.

2. The proposed project is consistent with the Project Selection Criteria and Guidelines adopted by the Conservancy on January 24, 2001.

3. The Los Angeles Maritime Institute is a private nonprofit organization existing under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, and whose purposes are consistent with Division 21 of the California Public Resources Code.”

PROJECT SUMMARY: This project will result in the restoration of the historic 70’ topsail schooner Swift of Ipswich to provide a waterfront attraction in the Los Angeles Harbor and an educational and character-building experience for disadvantaged Southern California youth through the Los Angeles Maritime Institute’s (“Institute”) TopSail Youth Program (Exhibit 2: Photographs). Built in 1938, the Swift was purchased by the Institute in 1992 to serve as one of the TopSail Youth Program’s sailing and training vessels. It has been in service most of that time, but was recently retired due to the effects of aging and disrepair.

The TopSail Youth Program (“Program”) is geared to serve young adolescents who have been impacted by poverty, addiction and/or dysfunctional home environments. Often dropping out of school, these “at-risk” youth are in desperate need of positive experiences and relationships that can help them transition out of adolescence into a productive adulthood (Exhibit 3: News Article).

The Program has provided a quality learning experience for over 45,000 young people who have sailed on its vessels over the past 14 years. Many of these children had never even seen the ocean, let alone sailed upon it. Program volunteers who crew and teach aboard the ships, have helped many students overcome negative patterns of behavior by treating them with dignity, respect and confidence, and encouraging them to work in a collaborative manner. In addition to sailing duties, participants become the fire department, plumbers, engineers and cooks. In this environment, every person aboard is challenged physically, mentally, and emotionally. Courses are offered as both single-day experiences, as well as longer, multi-day programs.

The Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson, both 111’ brigantines, are the tall ships currently being used by the Program. Sailing aboard one of these larger ships is most appropriate for older students within the seventh to ninth grade range.. The smaller Swift of Ipswich is well suited for smaller and younger groups within the fourth to seventh grades.

Unfortunately, the Swift’s age of 67 years and many years of service have taken a toll and she is no longer suitable for use by the Program in her present condition. By upgrading the Swift, she will become available at least 200 days a year for the next 20 years to help fulfill the Program’s growing demand from teachers, counselors and parents of younger aged children. The restoration of the Swift will be about one-fifth the cost and substantially faster than the three-year time frame required to construct a new vessel. An experienced crew of volunteers will assist with the reconstruction.

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TALL SHIP SWIFT OF IPSWICH

In addition to providing the means for a quality educational experience, the restoration of the Swift will enhance the scenic and historic resources of the Los Angeles Harbor waterfront.

Restoration tasks on the Swift will include the renewal of all deck planking, the existing water tank, a major portion of the electrical system, and the cap rail. Once the decking is removed, more work will likely be required on the underlying structures. In addition, the port diesel oil tank will be removed and scraped, the chain plate will be repaired, and surveys will be conducted to determine possible future work.

The Los Angeles Maritime Institute is highly qualified to take the lead on this restoration effort. It has operated the TopSail Youth Program for 14 years, including overseeing the construction and maintenance of the two brigantines currently in use. During the summer of 2005, with the help of a Conservancy grant, the Institute organized the Los Angeles Tall Ships Festival in cooperation with two other nonprofit organizations coordinating festivals in San Diego and San Francisco. The 2005 Tall Ships Festivals were highly successful, attracting over one million visitors to the three waterfronts.

Site Description: The Los Angeles Maritime Institute is headquartered in the Los Angeles Harbor in San Pedro. The TopSail Youth Program works out of the Institute’s office at the end of Berth 84. The ships currently used for the program are the two 111’ brigantines, the Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson. The 70’ Swift of Ipswich has been in service to the Program for many years but has fallen into disrepair. Designed to replicate a tall ship of the 1770’s, she is a beautiful ship with nine sails set on 14 spars and a figurehead bow. All three ships used by the Program are kept at the Los Angeles Harbor, providing a scenic attraction for visitors to the waterfront, and educational and public access opportunities during tall ship festivals.

Project History: In 1938, William Albert Robinson ordered the construction of the 70’ topsail schooner, the Swift of Ipswich, to be built along the lines of an earlier Swift, an American made brig first noted by the British Admiralty in 1778 when it sailed into the Deptford Dock in London. Robinson had sailed around the world in a 32-foot Alden ketch, and later had sailed from New York out to the Galapagos Islands. In 1937, he established a building yard at Ipswich, Massachusetts, to construct traditional craft, not out of sentiment, but because he believed they would make the best cruising vessels.

Robinson made few changes to the design of the original Swift, other than to scale it down to a somewhat smaller and simpler version. The Swift of Ipswich was built by experienced Essex County shipwrights, men who had worked on famous Gloucester racing and fishing vessels. Satisfied with his creation, Robinson wrote that the Swift proved under sail to be “all that her famous predecessors were – fast, able, comfortable and…safe.”

Some years later, Anderson sold the Swift to the actor James Cagney and his brother, setting off its movie career as an historic ship in Hollywood films. She was later put on display in a Southern California lagoon, then spent some years as a U.S. Coast Guard certified charter boat.

In 1992, Captain Jim Gladson, a retired science teacher, realized a life-long dream by leading the effort to found the Los Angeles Maritime Institute. Captain Gladson envisioned a youth sailing program designed to meet the needs of a large community of under-served youth in Southern California. Shortly after, the Institute purchased the Swift of Ipswich with the help of a loan from a local foundation. Operating as the Topsail Youth Program, the group quickly became

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TALL SHIP SWIFT OF IPSWICH

known throughout Southern California as a sponsor of quality sailing and learning adventures for youth. The loan was paid back in only three and a half years through the generosity of hundreds of local supporters. The Swift was in service with the Program for 14 years, but was recently retired because of needed repairs.

Due to the success of the Program and increased demand from local youth agencies, the Institute oversaw the construction of two 111’ brigantines designed and built specifically for the Program, an estimated eight million dollar project using funds raised from local foundations, individuals and the Port of Los Angeles. During the 14 years since its founding, the Program has provided over 40,000 youth with sailing and educational adventures. During the 2004-2005 school year alone, over 5,000 youth sailing days were accrued by students from 67 different schools and youth organizations.

In 2005, The Conservancy provided a grant to the Los Angeles Maritime Institute to help coordinate the 2005 Summer Tall Ships Festival, as part of a three-city effort to educate the public about tall ships and maritime history. The festivals were highly successful, attracting over one million visitors to the waterfronts of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

PROJECT FINANCING: Coastal Conservancy $200,000 Other:

Confidence Foundation 50,000

Weingart Foundation 100,000

Small Foundations and Fundraising 76,566

Income from Ship Lease 50,000 276,566

In-Kind:

Shipyard Donation of Labor 200,000

Total Project Cost: $676,566

The anticipated source of Conservancy funds is an appropriation to the Conservancy from the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection Fund (Proposition 40). Proposition 40 allows funds to be used for restoring land and water resources in accordance with Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, the Conservancy’s enabling legislation. As described below, the proposed project will help restore the Los Angeles waterfront by rehabilitating the Swift of Ipswich to enhance its scenic value as a waterfront attraction, and to function as an interpretive and educational resource for visitors. In addition, the project is appropriate for funding under Proposition 40, since the Conservancy grant will be matched by monies from other sources.

CONSISTENCY WITH CONSERVANCY'S ENABLING LEGISLATION:

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TALL SHIP SWIFT OF IPSWICH

This project is consistent with Section 31119 (regarding education projects) and Chapter 7 (regarding urban waterfront projects) of Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, in the following respects:

Under Section 31119(a)(1), the Conservancy may “undertake educational projects for pupils in kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, relating to the preservation, protection, enhancement and maintenance of coastal resources,” and to “award grants to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and public agencies for those purposes…”

Under Section 31307, the Conservancy may award grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for the restoration of urban waterfront areas. Under Section 31308, the Conservancy may provide up to the total cost of any urban waterfront project.

The tall ship Swift of Ipswich is an integral part of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute waterfront location as are its other historic ships, the Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson. The ships enhance the scenic resources of the Los Angeles Harbor waterfront, and, serve as outdoor museums.

Additionally, the restoration of the Swift of Ipswich will enable the vessel to sail safely and to provide a public access and quality learning experience for thousands of at-risk youth. Its visibility and usefulness will have a positive impact on efforts to restore other waterfronts on the Coast and to attract tourists to these areas.

This project is also consistent with Section 31305, in that it exhibits “innovation in sensitively integrating man-made features into the natural coastal environment.” The Los Angeles Maritime Institute, the owner of the Swift of Ipswich, uses ships in addition to buildings to display maritime history. Scenic as well as historic, the ships blend well into the land and water environment of the Los Angeles waterfront. Under Section 31316, the Conservancy may undertake projects and award grants for activities that facilitate environmental education related to ocean resource education or maritime history, including the development related amenities and infrastructure. CONSISTENCY WITH CONSERVANCY’S STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL(S) AND OBJECTIVE(S): The project is consistent with Goal 3, Objective A of the Conservancy’s Strategic Plan, in that the presence of tall ships in a waterfront location promotes tourism, and the renovation of the Swift of Ipswich will protect and restore an important cultural and historic resource. Additionally, the project will seek to restore a waterfront facility while leveraging other funds. Finally, the project will increase public use and enjoyment of the Los Angeles waterfront. CONSISTENCY WITH CONSERVANCY'S PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA & GUIDELINES:

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TALL SHIP SWIFT OF IPSWICH

The proposed project is consistent with the Conservancy's Project Selection Criteria and Guidelines adopted January 24, 2001, in the following respects: Required Criteria Promotion of the Conservancy’s statutory programs and purposes: See the “Consistency with Conservancy’s Enabling Legislation” section above.

Consistency with purposes of the funding source: See “Project Financing” section above.

Support of the public: The project is supported by Senator Alan Lowenthal and Assemblymember Betty Karnette, as well as numerous educational and youth advocacy groups (Exhibit 4: Letters of Support).

Location: The Swift of Ipswich is permanently docked along the Los Angeles waterfront near the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.

Need: The Swift of Ipswich has not had a major overhaul since the Program began using it in 1992. Due to its age of 67 years, it is in need of repairs in order to maintain it as a safe and active sailing vessel. The Institute does not have sufficient funds to complete this work.

Greater-than-local interest: The Los Angeles Maritime Institute, home of the Swift of Ipswich and two other tall ships, is a prominent institution in Los Angeles and is visited by tourists from a wide area. The Institute operations the TopSail Youth Program for the benefit of school children from throughout the Southern California area.

Additional Criteria Innovation: The Swift of Ipswich and its two partner tall ships are part of an innovative educational program to promote not only an understanding of maritime history, but a sense of pride and cooperation in students who partake in its educational sailing trips. Restoring the ship will contribute to the appreciation of waterfronts and ocean environments.

Leverage: Conservancy funds will provide less than one-third of project costs. Foundations, private donations, lease income and in-kind services will complete the funding package.

Readiness: The restoration of the Swift of Ipswich is ready to begin and will be completed by Fall of 2007.

CONSISTENCY WITH LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM POLICIES:

The Local Coastal Program of Los Angeles County contains policies to develop its waterfront to serve open space and park functions, and to make it both physically and visually accessible to the public. In Section I (Land Use: Relationship to Port of Los Angeles) of the City of Los Angeles’ San Pedro Coastal Land Use Plan (certified by the Coastal Commission on May 8, 1991), the Port of Los Angeles is recognized as “the predominate influence on the economic well-being of

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TALL SHIP SWIFT OF IPSWICH

the [San Pedro] community”, with a specific objective to “promote the development of the Port to meet the needs of…recreational users.” Restoration of the Swift of Ipswich will provide increased public access and recreational use on the part of students participating in the TopSail Youth Program. It will also preserve an historic and scenic resource that will contribute to the economic well being of the San Pedro community by providing a draw for tourists visiting the waterfront.

COMPLIANCE WITH CEQA: Repair of the Swift of Ipswich is categorically exempt from the

requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under 14 Cal. Code of Regulations Section 15301 because it involves the repair of an existing facility, structure, or mechanical equipment not involving significant expansion of existing use.

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Exhibit 1: Project Location and Site Map

Exhibit 2: Photographs

Exhibit 2: Photographs

Exhibit 2: Photographs

Exhibit 2: Photographs

Exhibit 3: News Article

" UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

IIJ!.Jlk£~" . DAVIS' IJIVINE ' I,OS4,..c;E.u:5 ' JI'V!IIJlD£ . $"~ PIECQ . 8A,..FIIANCISCO

UCLA

August 31, 2006

GRADUA.TE SOI9Ql. OF EDUCATION'" INI'OIlMATlOI'I ST\.IDII!$

MOORE HALL

BOX. ~1S21

LOS ANCELeS, CAUFORl'iI,4 9009S.IS21

Douglas BoscoChairman. State Coastal. Conservancy1330 Broadway. Suite 1100Oakland Ca, 94612

Attn. Carol Arnold

Dear Sirs:

It is an honor for me to write this letter of recommendation regarding the sail training programprovided by the Los Angeles Maritime Institute for the YOWlgpeople of the greater los Angelesarea.

Having used the term " sail training" I would like to emphasize that this program is far more thattraining young people to go to sea. This is about working with adolescents in an envirorunentcompletely different to anything they have experienced up to now. This takes them from theworld of" Me" to the world of" Us ". Life on one of the two ships now operating is all aboutself discipline. planning for a particular goat. whether it be a trip or an in port training evolution,and the team work necessary to attain the goal. The ocean is there with them and its reaJity lendsa real life atmosphere to their experiences.

Specifically. there is a very necessary need to have three ships operational to provide the servicescurrently requested by schools and youth groups. The Swift ofIpswich is the third vessel thatwouldprovidethe neededadditionalsupponfor the programIt is . however. in need of repairs tomake it operational, and we would be most appreciative of any financial support that could beforthcoming from the Coastal Conservancy to meet that need. - . -

My own background consists of time spent at sea. Nevertheless, I have forty one years ofexperience as a math teacher, counselor. middle school and high school principal and I was theSuperintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 1992 to 1997.Myprofessionalworld has been about inner-city youngsters and I know the arena. This program is absolutelytops.! have been working since retirement as an instructor at UCLA's Graduate School ofEducation and can still see first hand the need for imponant programs such as this. It has myunqualified support.

~ 6'"" Q ~~.. .'."~ Sidney A. . pso ' . ~.. ~

Senior te School of EducationUniversity of California, Los Angeles

Cht,j~!':111nDout(:it! Boscol.alilumia Coastal Conserv&lIcy: 3? 0 Broadway. S\:ite 110OakIA!'Id.CA 946\2-\tt~. Carol Arnold

~* CiltSco...tCouncilStn!pt AdClftiI!

252S 0_1 P,rk 9.\1(\,Slnt. Monia. Cj\ 904C1.ST (110) <4S1).172C

GrfS<:<MJ.lOn~.crg~ilirg Add'pu,P.O. lie. 4030s.,,~ Monic:.. CA 90411F (310) ~5~3920

Septcmber S, 2006

To lhc CaJifomj:l, Coa:sbsl Conscr..'uncy:

hJf ti;rl $cou~ \0 ~:&i1"gaiT! or. the top6ai1 schooo.er SWIFT Of' IPSWICH would "c: b.,.lLt\d!

Yuur tlUPPort of Los I\ngele" Maritime Institute's rutonUion afme SWIf'T would ~ an invtstmcnt in m;snyWttYN;In tl;11ntlof hmdcrsbip and ~ha1'o.Ct.eIdevelopment, envirOM'lental education. maritime historicpn.~Tv..tioD. coastal awareucss and oce<lnliter.:u;y, among othe.r key benefits,

SWIFT lUllSn specift] place with Oirl Seoms, since Ol'er many year~ from the 1960's through thc 1980's,,housaf\d~ ofteeMge (jirl SC(,ut<,leamed 1TQm~1Ii1'\~adventuT't4 on SWlFT, saHing out of Santa Bar'bara andVentura.

(iencr~ti()"s of Girl $cOLA\Sha,,~ pro\i~n that S W1.1-1ili of Ii ~ole and ~izc that girl& can handle together,C:C;l'cl:illl1yJunior Girl SCO:.1llrl)Upaof fourth~i..ttJ gradc:rs, as we11as gIrls in middle-school flnd bigh schoollnirC"l!JPIluronly II.dc.):.!.L'f)-fiftccn~)rJs with tJli"...irvolunteer leaders.

5incl; 2003, An..'Ck~Girl Scout CO~Jl1cllhas be~n partnering with LAM1ro get large enough gr~ups ,,[teenage:,irl~ ~(Iaai\ LAM":! bc<A~fuJnew brigant1n~s.with sa.j]jng..~~cheduled,Tmo~~/e-rymonth. A fewgirls haveworkCtl up to ~i111!:C{1J.aliflcddeckhands and en-: now iai1ing all VOhi:ntccrCt'cw with. miudle :!chool youth..iI,,oanJ SW1Fl', YOU1i~e1'girls w~uld be i)fft1'ed a ~~1al progr~!!~ion of opporturoties, im:1udmg dockside,.htpbo:.1rd activities, harbor tonrs. dAY5ails, a.nd a new dod(,)Sld~ovtmight program b!ing developed (by a. teamliJd by a Gtrl Scout w(Jr\cil'ig mW'trd htr GS (jold AW:.Ifd!)

\v..: Ijw'< fbfW\3l'dto' drawing from (')ver 100.00(1 G1r1Scouts ttom. all ovc:t C4!.lifomia. many of whom ha.venever geerJ the ocean! A Te$tor~d SWLF1' w~!Jbe a pe...fecr setting f(')fcmying on. b'!d,tion or fulfilling ourTlc;wly~t.'lted mis5Jon "Girl $cC'\uIi1'1i:tluilJI,; gl:!s of courage, C'ofJtldence and character, who m~ the world ubcll.t:r place.>.

FQf the California COl5tal CI,)J.tttn1~iQIlto SUppOJithe "MTorstion of the SW IFf 01" lPSWrClI '\\'Ould, indeed,'l'.1:lR,kcthe world :abeuer place!'

Felr Winds.

fI~"1 ff'1:-d, ~~Nan;:y t-I. Richardson

:--rirJSCjJu.~Marinervohl:)te~ Iceder (47 years)

Mari.,e F..d.lICiiti(.'nProgrnm Speciali!lt; GSUSA 5ti1ff(retjred)

Joan W. f.lncUltc1)il'Cct~rof' ?ro~1'T\"Angck'6 Girl Scout CounciJ