Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: 4/5th
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Nicholas J. Calderon, Parks Director
Subject: Acceptance of a Grant from the California Division of Boating and Waterways to assist in the disposal of derelict vessels at the Coyote Point Marina
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Recommendation to:
A) Adopt a resolution authorizing the Parks Director, or the Parks Director’s designee, to accept $77,000 in grant funding from the California Division of Boating and Waterways’ Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange program to dispose of abandoned and/or derelict vessels at the Coyote Point Marina; and
B) Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) in the amount of $77,000 from unanticipated revenue to corresponding appropriations in services and supplies.
body
BACKGROUND:
The Coyote Point Marina (“Marina”) is a County-owned public marina that is located in the Coyote Point Recreation Area and operated by the San Mateo County Parks Department. It offers 545 wet slips for private boats, 38 dry storage spaces for boat trailers, a launch ramp, a full-service fuel dock, and a waste pump out station. The fee schedule for facilities and services at the Marina is market rate and was last updated on May 5, 2020 by Board Resolution No. 077410.
As operator of the Marina, the Department has been working to resolve on-going concerns regarding abandoned vessels. To address, in part, these concerns, the Department applied for a grant from the California Division of Boating and Waterways’ Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (“SAVE”) program. The SAVE program has two objectives: 1) the abatement of abandoned vessels (“Abatement Program”) and 2) the prevention of vessels being abandoned (“Prevention Program”).
The Abatement Program provides funding for the removal, storage, and disposal of abandoned, wrecked, or dismantled vessels, as well as any other partially submerged objects that pose a substantial hazard to navigable waterways.
The Prevention Program provides an easy and free alternative for boat owners who desire to surrender unwanted vessels. This program aims to eliminate the expensive, difficult, and time consuming adjudication and removal process that abandoned vessels often require.
DISCUSSION:
As a result of the current economic conditions, the Department anticipates that a number of Marina tenants will surrender their vessels to Marina custody. The Department estimates that over the next two years, ten to twenty vessels will either be abandoned or surrendered. With an estimated disposal cost of $3,500 to $5,000 per vessel, the Department requested $77,000 in grant funding from the SAVE grant program to dispose of such vessels.
As required by the SAVE program guidelines, grant funds must be used by the expiration of the respective grant cycle, which concludes September 30, 2022. The Department will also need to provide a ten percent local match for all SAVE funds received.
As the Department has calculated a total need of $84,700 in disposal costs, it will receive $77,000 in grant funding and provide a local match of $7,700. The Marina is an enterprise fund, and therefore, the local match will be provided by the Coyote Point Marina Enterprise Fund.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolutions related to this matter as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the $77,000 SAVE grant will begin upon execution of an agreement with the California Division of Boating and Waterways, and will expire on September 30, 2022. Approval of the Appropriation Transfer Request will appropriate funds in the amount of $77,000, which would allow funds to be transferred from the California Division of Boating and Waterways to the Coyote Point Marina. The Marina operates as an enterprise fund, therefore there is no impact to the General Fund.