To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: Ted Semaan, Public Works Director
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RECEIVE AND FILE A STATUS REPORT ON THE CITY'S REQUEST TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRANSIENT VESSEL MOORINGS FROM THE MAIN HARBOR CHANNEL
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In June 2020, during budget development, the City Council directed staff to contact the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBAW) to determine the feasibility of reducing the number of transient vessel moorings from the main harbor channel. The grant-funded moorings are scarcely utilized and expensive to maintain. City staff initiated an inquiry in June 2020 and staff has maintained a dialogue with DBAW staff over the past four months. The City is still awaiting a response from DBAW. Once a definitive response is received, staff will present the issue to the Harbor Commission for consideration.
BACKGROUND
During FY 2020/21 budget development, the City Council directed staff to contact the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBAW) to determine the feasibility of reducing the number of transient vessel moorings from the main harbor channel. 25 moorings were installed in 2014 to provide a recreational opportunity for boaters and a safe haven for vessels caught in severe weather conditions.
Usage of the moorings has been very low and they are expensive to maintain. During the past three years the usage rate has been roughly 5%. As Public Works staff does not have the expertise or resources needed to perform the specialized maintenance the moorings require, maintenance is provided through an outside contract. The current agreement has an annual not to exceed amount of $60,000. As installation of the moorings was funded by a $250,000 grant from DBAW and the grant agreement requires the moorings to remain in place for 20 years, that agency's approval would be needed to remove any of the 25 units.
Staff initially contacted DBAW on June 15, 2020, to inquire about the possibility of removi...
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