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Harbor board approves dock repairs, wetland restoration, accepts audit and adopts preliminary budget
Summary
At its regular meeting the Humboldt Bay Harbor board approved a Fairhaven dock repair permit, conditionally approved a Long Pond wetland restoration project, accepted a clean audit, and adopted a preliminary FY2025–26 budget while flagging cash‑flow concerns.
The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District on Wednesday approved several administrative actions, including a dock‑repair permit at Fairhaven, a US Fish and Wildlife Service tidal‑wetland restoration at Long Pond with an added monitoring condition, acceptance of the district audit for fiscal 2023–24, and adoption of a preliminary FY2025–26 budget.
Sequoia Investments — Fairhaven Terminal dock: The board adopted resolution 2025‑02 and approved a permit allowing maintenance replacement of up to approximately 48 damaged piles (about 6% of 408 deck piles) at the Fairhaven Terminal dock. Staff said work will be staged from a barge, use vibratory installation and removal methods, remain outside mapped eelgrass (more than 5 meters away) and employ BMPs to minimize turbidity and capture debris. The motion passed unanimously on a roll‑call vote (commissioners recorded as aye).
Long Pond tidal wetland enhancement: The board approved resolution 2025‑03, granting a permit and CEQA exemption for the US Fish and Wildlife Service to remove and replace a failing tide gate and to proceed with a phased restoration that converts roughly 2.8 acres of upland back to brackish and salt marsh. The project includes a cofferdam for in‑water work and placement of large woody debris to improve habitat. After questions about monitoring, the board added a condition requiring that monitoring reports be provided to the harbor district; the resolution passed unanimously.
2023–24 audit accepted: The district’s external auditor reported an unmodified (clean) opinion with no findings or compliance issues for the 2023–24 fiscal year; the board accepted the audit. The auditor also highlighted accounting entries affecting the statements: dredging costs capitalized as a fixed asset (about $3.6M) and a one‑time bad‑debt write‑off near $300,000.
Preliminary FY2025–26 budget adopted: Staff presented a preliminary budget that estimates roughly $10.24 million in income and reported estimated expenses in the $9.0–$9.5 million range, leaving a modest net position but raising concerns over cash flow and required principal debt reduction (about $544,000). The board adopted the preliminary budget and directed staff to work with the Budget Advisory Committee and commissioners to refine capital priorities, examine revenue options (leasing campaigns, fee adjustments, grant partners) and revisit cash‑flow and debt scenarios prior to final adoption.
Votes at a glance: Consent calendar (minutes and financial reports) — approved; Sequoia Fairhaven dock (Resolution 2025‑02) — approved (unanimous roll call); Long Pond tidal wetland (Resolution 2025‑03) — approved with added monitoring condition (unanimous); Acceptance of 2023–24 audit — approved; Preliminary FY2025–26 budget — adopted (voice vote).
What this means: Sequoia’s dock repairs and the Long Pond restoration are now authorized to proceed under the stated permit conditions and timing (Fairhaven pile work window July 1–Oct 15 over a five‑year scheduling window; Long Pond phase 1 planned this year with restoration in 2026–27). The district also accepted a clean audit and moved to a preliminary budget that staff said will require close follow‑up on cash flow and grant timing before final adoption.
