Harbor Commission backs revised slip waitlist policy: single list, non-transferable slips, annual lottery

The Harbor Commission on Sept. 18 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council consider a revised Waterfront slip waitlist policy that consolidates the master, submaster and lottery lists into a single annual waitlist, prohibits transfer of slips obtained from the waitlist, and holds a yearly lottery to rank 20 applicants.

Harbor Operations Manager Nathan Aldridge said the proposal aims to improve fairness and accessibility and aligns with the City’s Local Coastal Program and guidance from the California State Lands Commission. “Consolidating the lists and making slips non-transferable removes the financial benefit of holding a waitlist slot for future profit,” Aldridge said, describing the proposal to allow the public to apply annually and for the Harbor Commission to hold a yearly drawing.

Under the draft, existing waitlist members would be offered a place on the first year’s new consolidated list and could reapply in subsequent years. Slips that were designated for commercial fishing would remain reserved for qualified commercial fishermen and would be assigned according to their rank; if no eligible commercial fishermen are on the list a single commercial-fishing slip lottery would be held.

Aldridge told commissioners the State Lands Commission had reviewed the proposal and was supportive. Staff said fiscal impacts are expected to be minimal — transfers from waitlist slips accounted for less than 1% of overall slip transfers historically — and that any future budget effects would be managed through the regular budget process.

Commissioner Stedman moved and Commissioner Nelson seconded the recommendation to forward the draft to the Ordinance Committee and City Council; the motion passed unanimously with Commissioners McCray and Cohen absent.