The Santa Barbara Harbor Commission is set to revamp its slip waitlist policy, aiming to enhance fairness and accessibility for boaters. During a recent meeting on September 18, 2025, Harbor Operations Manager Nathan Aldridge presented the proposed changes, which have garnered support from both the Commission and the public.

The key revisions include making slips non-transferable, consolidating existing waitlists into a single list, and implementing an annual lottery for slip assignments. These changes are designed to prevent private profit from slips assigned at no cost and to ensure that the waitlist remains active and equitable.

Aldridge emphasized that the non-transferability of slips means they can only be used by the individual who receives them, eliminating the financial incentive to remain on the waitlist for profit. The consolidation of the master, submaster, and lottery lists into one will allow the general public to apply each year, promoting equal access to slip permits.

The annual lottery will select 20 applicants from the pool, with slips offered in order of ranking as they become available. This new system aims to refresh the waitlist annually, ensuring ongoing interest in slip usage.

Additionally, the policy will maintain designated commercial fishing slips, which will only be available to qualified commercial fishermen. If no qualified applicants are on the waitlist, a separate lottery will be held for these slips.

The Commission plans to forward these recommendations to the ordinance committee and city council for further review and approval, marking a significant step towards a more inclusive boating community in Santa Barbara.