Board approves Crescent City Harbor facilities plan tied to Measure C; some public calls to delay

The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the Crescent City Harbor District’s May 2026 harbor facilities plan, a document supervisors said is required to tie Measure C money to defined projects, costs and timelines.

Chair Joey Borges opened Item 28 and noted the harbor had previously presented an earlier version. A member of the public urged the board to table the item because, the speaker said, the Harbor District had not yet provided public notice within the district: "I wouldn't approve it until the public's been given an opportunity to review it," the commenter said during public comment.

Supervisor Starkey and other board members said the plan meets the accountability measures Measure C voters expected, including county oversight and auditor‑controller review. "When the voters approved Measure C, they wanted ... safeguards," Supervisor Starkey said, adding that the county auditor would oversee reimbursements and that funds would be reimbursed after documented improvements.

Supervisor Short moved to approve the facility plan; Supervisor Wilson seconded. The board then voted unanimously to approve the plan. Board members emphasized oversight mechanisms — invoices to the county, auditor‑controller review, and the need for the harbor to align projects with the plan before Measure C dollars are released.

The board did not change the plan text at the meeting and did not impose new conditions beyond the oversight and invoice processes described by staff and supervisors. No Harbor District representative provided substantive rebuttal to the public comment during the hearing.