The San Mateo County Harbor District is 84 years young and was given a new lease on life in 2014 with the release of a civil grand jury report, among others, that detailed a number of ways in which the district could improve. The district embraced that challenge, studied the reports and made the changes. Today, the district is stronger than ever and, with dedication, focus and transparency, stands ready to serve the county for another 84 years in keeping with our mission, “to assure the public is provided with clean, safe, well-managed and environmentally pleasant marinas.”
The district remembers the past, has studied the past, and has learned. The issues addressed in the 2014 civil grand jury report are now ingrained in our culture, which recognizes that this year is better than last, and next year will be better than this. Change does not happen overnight nor without leadership and commitment, and I can state without reservation that your district team is committed to providing the highest level of service to the public it serves.
To that end, today the district is debt free, with an unqualified opinion from our auditor (that’s considered good in accountant speak) and increased transparency in our financial reporting (see our ‘OpenGov’ reporting on our website, smharbor.com).
Today, the district has contracts in place for removal of the Romeo Pier ($2.3 million), for sealing and restriping more than 1.6 acres of parking lot ($156,000) and for electrical repairs on the docks ($485,000).
Today, the district has contracts in place for design of repairs to the fishing pier and for the replacement of one of the commercial docks, the first in a series.
Today, the district is in final permitting for improvements to the West Trail and for sidewalk improvements by the restaurants.
Today, the district pays the Resource Conservation District to work on water quality, consistent with our Clean Marinas certification.
And, today, the long-awaited Surfer’s Beach project has almost $1 million in dedicated funding just awaiting final regulatory approvals. This is but a small part of what the district is doing today, but this is what second chances look like.
But the fundamental question posed is existential: Why the Harbor District? Why, in fact, any special district? Let me turn that around and ask a rhetorical question: How connected do you feel to the federal government? To the state? The county?
If I were to guess, I would say that the sense of connection to government increases the more local your government. Special districts, like the Harbor District, are truly where “the rubber meets the road” in local government. Governed by people the voters elect, these districts address specific needs like roads, parks, water, sewer, mosquito abatement, street lighting, or harbors and marinas, in a uniquely local and responsive manner.
Your Harbor District is based here on the Coastside, and is intimately connected to the community. The staff and commissioners are accessible and responsive. The district is aware of the needs of the fishermen, volleyball players, recreational boaters, surfers, distressed mariners, dog walkers and many other interest groups, and listens to the concerns and needs of the Coastside. Your Harbor District staff has decades of combined experience in managing harbors and marinas. We are the experts in maritime matters locally, and we are better trained and more experienced than any other public agency to run the publicly owned Pillar Point Harbor and Oyster Point Marina.
Last week’s editorial, headlined “Harbor District runs out of second chances,” made no mention of our role as your marine first responders, of public facilities and trails, of fishing and recreation, of boats lit up at the holidays, of fresh crab. What is important is where the district is today — and where it will be tomorrow.
The Harbor District is an essential and integral part of the Coastside, and of San Mateo County generally. We are proud to serve the public and intend to continue to do so as the tide continues to ebb and flow.
November 22, 2017
Half Moon Bay Review
By Steve McGrath, general manager of the San Mateo County Harbor District
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