Marina fee increase and resident credit draw sharp public opposition; ordinance continued to Dec. 4

The Recreation and Park Department on Sept. 4 presented a fee ordinance that would phase in rate increases at the Marina Small Craft Harbor to cover operating costs and eliminate a roughly $723,000 general‑fund transfer assumed in the budget. The department said the increase phases to roughly a 31.4% revenue uplift by FY 2026 through two annual adjustments and then CPI escalation thereafter; the recommendation followed a January BLA analysis showing the Marina Fund has historically required general‑fund support.

RPD Finance Manager Michelle Delmage said the harbor currently operates at about 88% occupancy in the West Marina and that recent storm damage and ongoing dredging needs have left the fund with capital and maintenance obligations. "This proposal will ensure the marina operates as a true enterprise and eliminates all subsidies," she said.

Public comment was vehement and extensive. Harbor Association vice president Risley Sams urged the city to use PG&E settlement funds and to renegotiate debt rather than raise berth fees, saying boaters also contribute via property and possessory-interest taxes. Several small-boat owners warned that a steep increase would push working‑class and recreational small-boat users out of the harbor. "We're normal people ... We're not CEOs," one boat owner said, noting many slips belong to modest-income residents.

The commission accepted an amendment circulated by Vice Chair Rafael Mendelmann to make rates progressive by slip size and to add a 15% credit to berthing fees for vessels whose primary owner is a San Francisco resident. The amendment was adopted on a roll call vote (two ayes; Member Melgar absent). Following public testimony and additional questions about East Harbor remediation and the project timeline, the committee voted to continue the ordinance to Dec. 4 so staff can provide updated engineering plans, a re-noticed fee schedule and additional financial analysis.

Speakers and boat-owner groups requested more detail on dredging timelines, the number of slips impacted by planned East Harbor remediation and verification of the harbor’s slip inventory (a public commenter said BLA and RPD counts differ by 30 slips). RPD acknowledged that East Harbor construction will temporarily displace some slip holders and said it expects to secure a temporary certificate of occupancy for building environs and to move some residents in starting Feb. 2025 for a phased occupancy of the Kelsey project (note: separate Kelsey item on today’s agenda). The committee’s motion to continue the item to Dec. 4 passed with two votes in the affirmative and Member Melgar absent.