_{Thumbnail image: Crescent City Harbor commissioners chose a preferred option for Citizens Dock back in 2024. | Image courtesy of the Crescent City Harbor District.}

Among the items discussed at Wednesday’s Crescent City Harbor District meeting.

2026 MARAD Grant: Harbor commissioners agreed to contribute 20%, or $2.8 million, toward the construction costs associated with the second Citizens Dock reconstruction phase.

Associated with a $11.25 million U.S. Maritime Administration Port Infrastructure Development Program grant, the Board unanimously approved a resolution agreeing to the match. The federal agency has increased the amount of funding small ports can apply for, Bahr said, but it means that the required contribution is larger.

“Previously, as pointed out in this resolution, MARAD has allowed the harbor to seek grants, non federal grants for that match,” he said. “In this resolution it says you will look at going after other grant funds to help with this match.”

Bahr suggested that revenue from Measure C — the transient occupancy tax measure voters approved in 2018 — since it could be used for maintenance. However, Commissioner Annie Nehmer pointed out Harbor District needed to complete a facilities plan before those dollars could be used.

Bahr suggested removing the reference to tax revenue. He also brought up a suggestion from Commissioner Gerhard Weber who said the resolution should be changed to state that funding for the match would be available in the future.

The second phase of Citizens Dock is expected to cost $14 million “in today’s costs,” Bahr said. Construction is not expected to start for another two to three years, he said.

The Community System Solutions CEO also spoke to a public comment regarding a potential match waiver for small agencies. Bahr said that while the match could be reduced to about 10% of the project cost, the grant award would be smaller.

Citizens Dock/Seawall Workshop: Now that the Harbor District is moving into the construction phase, commissioners have scheduled a workshop focusing on the first phase of the Citizens Dock reconstruction as well as the rehabilitation of the seawall.

Moffatt & Nichol will be available to discuss how similar projects impacted operations in small harbors as well as the scope of work, timelines and schedules as well as requests for proposals needed to hire the project team.

Commissioners have scheduled the workshop for 1 p.m. March 10.

Harbor Facilities Plan: Also on the agenda for the March 10 workshop is a discussion on completing the Harbor Facilities Plan.

The Crescent City Harbor District has about $400,000 available in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program dollars available through CalOES and FEMA, Bahr said. Those funds can only be used for planning and environmental compliance, not for construction nor for cleanup of the former Fashion Blacksmith boatyard, he said.

On Wednesday, Bahr also told Commissioner John Evans that setting funding aside “in case something comes up” during the construction phase of the Citizens Dock and seawall projects was permissible only if it was used for any studies that were needed.

However, Nehmer pointed out that the Crescent City Harbor District still has to complete a “tsunami playbook.” She also suggested conducting a vulnerability assessment of Harbor District infrastructure, particularly its electronic systems. 

Evans suggested combining those two tasks into the Harbor’s facility plan and using the $400,000 to potentially hire a third-party to complete it. 

Harbormaster Mike Rademaker said he’d have information on potential costs as well as project priorities at the workshop.

Fee Schedule Ordinance: Harbor commissioners made minor changes to an ordinance that sets the 2025-26 fee schedule. They asked staff to bring the completed ordinance, with the amended fee schedule to their next meeting with a request from Nehmer that the fee schedule be reviewed annually.

Nehmer asked that the ordinance appear on the consent calendar at the Harbor District’s next meeting. 

Changes commissioners discussed at its Wednesday meeting include changing the “burden rate” for using personnel and labor from $180 per hour to $100 per person per hour. According to Sandy Moreno, CCHD’s fiscal officer, this means if someone needed to use two people, they would be charged $200 per hour.

Commissioners also discussed the key fobs to the docks on the marina. According to Moreno, the most recent rate was $42. Evans proposed keeping it at $42.