Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2004-2005

Santa Cruz County Port District Boat Slip Waiting List

Published: March 12, 2005 6 pages
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Findings 10 findings

F1
As of March 12, 2005, there were 1,183 entries on the waiting list. The list is divided into separate queues based on the size and type of slip desired. On the date we took a snapshot of the waiting list the size of each queue was as follows: Queue Name Description Count AA371 New 37’ and 40’ slips 14 L.HAR.24 24’ slips in the lower harbor 37 L.HAR.30 30’ slips in the lower harbor 108 L.HAR.40 40’ slips in the lower harbor 134 L.HAR.50 50’ slips in the lower harbor 27 L.HAR.60 60’ slips in the lower harbor 14 MULTIHUL Multi-hull slips 7 STANDBY Standby List 519 U.HAR.20 20’ slips in the upper harbor 19 U.HAR.25 25’ slips in the upper harbor 71 U.HAR.30 30’ slips in the upper harbor 116 U.HAR.35 35’ slips in the upper harbor 46 U.HAR.40 40’ slips in the upper harbor 48 WIDE45UH 45’ slips for wide boats in the 10 upper harbor Y.C.DRY Yacht Club dry dock space 13 Total 1,183
F2
The policies, ordinances and procedures that govern the existence and operation of the boat slip waiting list are not documented in a single location. Documents other than the Port District pamphlet, “Waiting List Procedures,” contain information and procedures relevant to the operation of the slip waiting list. These include the documents listed in the Sources section of this report. Recently the Port Commission created the new waiting list category AA-37. This is a category for new slips currently under construction. When completed, there will be two 37’ slips and two 40’ slips. These new slips will rent for 1.7 times the regular slip rate; the additional cost is to pay for the construction.
F3
The Port Commission can pre-empt the waiting list and assign a slip to someone not on the waiting list. This is done only after public discussion at an open Port Commission meeting using normal voting procedures. Discussion and actions are recorded in the meeting minutes. This procedure is for special situations and is rarely used.
F4
The Port District publishes part of the waiting list on its web site, http://www.santacruzharbor.org/. Only the names of the top ten applicants in each queue are published on the Harbor web site.
F5
The Standby Queue is unique: • “A Standby List has been created for those individuals who know they will not be able to accept a berth in the near future.”2 In other words, people who are offered a slip but cannot accept it at that time remain in the queue. • In practice, the Standby Queue is a general purpose list for people who don’t know what size slip they will require. Those in the Standby Queue can change to another list when their requirements are known. • Slip holders may also be in the Standby Queue to wait for a different slip. Slip holders retain their seniority date in the Standby Queue even after being given a slip. • Any individual or entity can remain on the waiting list in any queue indefinitely, as long as the annual fee of $85 is paid.
F6
Once a slip becomes available and is offered to someone on the waiting list, that person must be able to enter into a legal contract. However, there is no age requirement for individuals to submit an application and remain on the waiting list. Even school-age children can be on the list in anticipation of getting a slip.
F7
The Port District uses a commercial software package, “Marina Manager,” from Timeless Technologies in Prince Edward Island, Canada. This software manages the data associated with the waiting list.3 The software tracks slip holders and visitors, dues and fees paid and owing, emergency contact information, emergency medical information, employees and volunteers. It does not specifically track waiting lists.
F8
To support berthing requirements for commercial fishermen, the Port Commission authorized a Fishery Allocation Program. This program allows for certain slips (near the commercial wholesale fishery complex) to be held by commercial fishermen based on their gross annual fish catch. These slips are awarded on a competitive basis, with the highest catch getting highest priority for the slip. All commercial fishermen in these slips are audited by the Harbormaster each year to determine if they are meeting their minimum-catch criteria. The minimum criteria to hold a slip is $200 per foot of vessel length, thus a 30’ vessel must have a minimum catch of $6,000/year to maintain the slip. The commission reviewed this program at a public meeting approximately one year ago. 2 “Waiting List Procedures,” Santa Cruz County Port District publication. Information about the software is available on the internet at: http://www.marina-management- software.com/index.htm.
F9
Inside-tie spaces are on the inside portion of the dock, along the shoreline, in the north/upper harbor. They are not part of the regular paid waiting list process. Because each vessel has unique requirements (length, beam and draft), these spaces are allocated on a case-by-case basis. They rent for the regular rate based on the vessel length. To apply for an inside-tie space, applicants give their name, vessel length, beam (width) and draft (depth) to the Senior Deputy Harbormaster in charge of space administration in the north/upper harbor. He reviews spaces when they become available and assigns an appropriate space.
F10
Individuals on the waiting list complete and sign a form. They are given the waiting list date (seniority date) based on the date payment is received in the harbor office. Conclusions

Recommendations 5