Why I'm running for Harbor Commissioner
It's time to make the Harbor District a people-friendly place
I'm running for San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner because I believe the Harbor District needs to do more to help Pillar Point Harbor and Oyster Point Marina thrive. And in order to thrive, I believe it's especially important to improve the facilities at both marinas which serve visitors and the public generally. An increase in public traffic will help local restaurants and businesses strengthen their customer base. Pillar Point Harbor should be known as a premier site for buying fresh local seafood. The commercial fishing industry is an important part of the local economy.
The San Mateo County Harbor District operates two facilities, Oyster Point Marina in the City of South San Francisco and Pillar Point Harbor near Half Moon Bay in Princeton. Pillar Point is a working fishing harbor owned by the District. Oyster Point is a recreational boating marina leased by the District from the City of South San Francisco.
Today, I live in the town of Moss Beach near the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. My neighborhood is near Mavericks surf break and is a short bicycle ride from Pillar Point Harbor. I have been a homeowner in Moss Beach for over 10 years.
My parents Lee and Tom Fernandez live in Redwood Shores, my brother Jonah lives on a sailboat in San Diego and my sister Nyssa lives in Oakland. My mother grew up in Southern California and was one of the few women surfing during the late 1950s.
A ferry terminal at Oyster Point Marina is scheduled to open in 2012. Ferry service will transport commuters on weekdays and recreational users on weekends to Jack London Square in Oakland. Additional commuter and visitor traffic will provide economic growth opportunities for South San Francisco. Future ferry terminal routes will include The Port of Redwood City and the San Francisco Ferry Building.
As Commissioner I will work with local restaurant and business owners to broaden the economic base of the Harbor District. I will put my marketing and event planning skills to work promoting the Harbor as a great place to enjoy fresh seafood.
I will prioritize waterfront recreational access. Improving visitor-serving facilities will broaden recreational opportunities and public access. I support developing the California Coastal Trail through Pillar Point Harbor and improving the Bay Trail at Oyster Point Marina. Both trails should offer pedestrians and bicyclists a waterfront experience while meeting ADA standards.
Many members of the public have expressed the need for a public-restroom facility at Pillar Point Harbor near Surfers Beach. Meeting this need would be clear evidence that the Harbor District cares about the comfort and convenience of its visitors, and this could be achieved through a management agreement with County Parks.
The Draft Project Management Plan being developed by the Army Corps of Engineers to address Surfers Beach erosion is scheduled for release in 2010. I strongly support plans for a demonstration project to determine the best strategy for slowing the rate of erosion at Surfers Beach and look forward to reading the draft plan.
I will work hard to balance the Harbor District's budget as soon as possible. As Harbor Commissioner I will review and evaluate management salaries and Commission benefits.
I'm committed to improving water quality at Pillar Point Harbor and Oyster Point Marina. San Mateo County Beachwater Contamination Results are the second worst in the state. In 2009 Pillar Point was ranked number two and Oyster Point was ranked number five in terms of beach closure/advisory days due to beachwater contamination.
I will prioritize Harbor Patrol Search and Rescue services. Fast emergency response time is an important service provided by the Harbor District. The Pillar Point Harbor Search and Rescue team partner with Cal Fire and the Coast Guard to provide fast response times to emergencies. This important service has saved numerous lives. Recreational boating, beachgoers and the commercial fishing industry all benefit from maintaining a high level of service.
In the event of a major earthquake Oyster Point Marina Ferry Service will help transport people who currently use either BART or Bay Area bridges.
I would be honored to have your vote on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Sabrina Brennan
for San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner
Candidates for Harbor District float new ideas
To read the full article please visit the Daily Journal website.
September 20, 2010
Brennan credits her love of her Moss Beach area home with growing up on the Gulf of Mexico. After moving from San Francisco, she became involved with county issues like the Charter Review Committee and joined the Midcoast Community Council because the unincorporated area had no cities. She planned to run for the commission in two years, but after learning of one open seat, pulled together the paperwork in a day. That enthusiasm and energy is what she’ll bring to the position, she said.
Brennan thinks she’s been automatically labeled as no-growth but said it’s a wrong assumption. An example is Pillar Point — she’s not against a new administrative building but first wants to see a wider plan that possibly renovates the entire area and provides cohesion rather than a Frankenstein-like approach to facilities. Visitors gravitate to newer buildings while harbor business is overlooked because it hasn’t kept up with the views and services tourists expect, she said.
She is also quite in favor of a restaurant at Oyster Point to serve the commuters and other businesses like Genentech.
Plans for both may be conceptual but Brennan said
it’s time to step it up because “the terminal is coming soon.”She wants to pull good planning ideas from San Francisco and embrace suggestions for transit and planning.
Aside from new opportunities, Brennan also wants to revisit those already existing like fishing and see how to keep it afloat.
“This area has changed and the fishing industry has changed and something has to be done to keep it viable,” she said.
While Brennan is certain she’s the best fit for the commission, she believes all the candidates have the district’s best interests at heart.
“Whoever wins will be a good thing,” she said.
Endorsements for Harbor Commissioner
This week I received the endorsment of the San Mateo County Democratic Party.
Last week I was honored to receive an endorsement from the National Women's Political Caucus and the Sierra Club.
Individual endorsements include:
Diane Howard, past Mayor of Redwood City and Water Transit Advocate
Dr. Steven Howard, Redwood City Water Transit Advocate
Dave Pine, Board President, San Mateo Union High School District
Richard W. Holober, San Mateo County Community College Trustee
Gina Papan, Mayor and City Councilwoman of Millbrae
Duncan Maclean, President, Half Moon Bay Fishermen's Marketing Association
Steve Truso, 29 years of Commercial Fishing from wild fisheries, El Granada
Roy Salume, past member of the San Mateo County Grand Jury
Deborah Ruddock, Legislative Affairs Coordinator at State Coastal Conservancy
Chris Mickelsen, President, Coastside County Water District
Lee and Tom Fernandez, Redwood Shores