Support our Harbor Commissioners

My name is Mike McHenry, I'm a 71 year old fisherman at Pillar Point Harbor. I'm also a fish buyer, and leaseholder on Johnson Pier.

I started fishing at the harbor before the breakwater and the pier were built. As time marched on, Johnson Pier was constructed and it was first run by the County, then it went to the Harbor District.

In those early years fishermen had a great relationship with Harbor District Staff and the Harbor Commission. Our Harbormasters were all seafaring people who knew the ocean like the back of their hands. They saved many lives and the fishermen assisted them when needed.

About 20 years the District changed when a Commissioner who also served as the Treasurer of the Half Moon Bay Fishermen's Marketing Association embezzled over $100,000 from our association's bank account. At the time fishermen were disgusted with the Harbor Commission and they stopped showing up for board meetings. As a result the Commissioners got bolder and bolder, with no checks and balances in place. Our association melted away to nothing and the dark side of the harbor leadership emerged. 

Three years ago, out of the blue, the highest fish unloading fees on the West Coast, from San Diego to Seattle, were levied on Pillar Point Harbor Commercial Fishing businesses. In 2012 the Commissioners and the General Manager admitted the fees were high but refused to adjust them to be competitive with the rates in Moss Landing and San Francisco. These high fees paid by fishermen are ultimately passed on to the consumer, and have resulted in driving business away from San Mateo County to other neighboring ports.

After Harbor Commissioners hurt our local fishing businesses I began to attend board meetings and contest the fees. In 2013 I observed newly elected Commissioner Sabrina Brennan being ridiculed by the old boys club on the board because she dared to ask questions.

I immediately formed a bond with Commissioner Brennan because of her integrity, and because she asked for fiscal responsibility and transparency. Our newly formed fishermen's association, The Half Moon Bay Seafood Marketing Association, also sided with Sabrina, and needless to say this upset previous board members.

Then came the illegal installation of a new hoist on Johnson Pier for the fish buying business Three Captains, with dock space included. A total of three fish-buying businesses are located on Johnson Pier, and we all pay the same rent. However the new hoist location and dock space was never offered to the other two fish-buyers. It was clear to local fishermen that Three Captains was receiving preferential treatment by the Harbormaster and General Manager. To allow more room for Three Captains new hoist, we were told to move our bait lockers and bin storage from the end of the pier. The cost to the Harbor District was $175,000.  

The new Fishermen's Association and others asked Sabrina to look into this, which she did. At the time the old board and General Manager Peter Grenell would not even answer our questions. I also started checking into who paid what and I noticed that Three Captains' fee payment schedule was in disarray and appeared to be short a considerable sum of money. It was odd that the fish buyer with the new hoist location appeared to be short paying fees.

In early 2013 the General Manager Peter Grenell slyly buried a sentence into all three fish-buyers' 42 page lease agreements, under the Use and Limitations section. The leases allowed the installation of a new hoist at the Harbormasters discretion, strangely Three Captains knew all about it, but the other two buyers were unaware of the new provision because the changes were never redlined in the draft leases.

When I started reading my new lease more carefully I noticed that the General Manager had left out all the perimeters that designate the areas we operate within. This change was also not redlined in the draft lease agreements. The new leases changed 35 years of operations on Johnson Pier without any redlines in the draft agreements. Every fish unloading station on the West Coast of the US has well-designated perimeters except Pillar Point Harbor. And now Three Captains is suing the Harbor District over the new hoist.

Those of us who felt burned, decided to campaign to unseat the board in the November 2014 election. We succeeded in electing Commissioners Mattusch and David. Thankfully Commissioners Jim Tucker and Will Holsinger, both notorious for voting to end videotaping and public access broadcasts of board meetings, were swept out. 

After many high-fives the new board was seated. As expected it didn't take long before they realized what a mess was left behind. Not surprisingly longtime General Manager Peter Grenell bailed out just before the new Commissioners were seated. After 17 years of mismanagement he retired and left the sinking ship before his corrupt business practices were fully discovered, and his girl Friday, the human resources lady, resigned.

Berth holders and fishermen are excited about our new board. We feel that dissolution at this time is foolish.

Supervisor Don Horsley's recent public statements in support of an appointed board are ludicrous. It appears some poor losers are putting pressure on the Board of Supervisor. Politically appointed representatives who lack wildlife credentials are the reason why the State Fish and Wildlife Commission is nearly defunct. Why would we want somebody from Hillsborough to represent a harbor?  

With an appointed board we would wind up with the same old Commissioners who were voted out. We haven't forgotten who gave the deceitful past General Manager a raise last year in a 4-1 vote before he retired.

Yesterday I asked San Mateo County LAFCo Commissioners to give this board a chance. 

One more election and the new board will be a well oiled-machine. If the voters had not spoken we would still be grounded on the dark side.

Commissioners Brennan, Mattusch, David and Bernardo are the solution, not the problem at the Harbor District.

If you have any questions please give me a call at (650) 703-5498.

Respectfully, 

Michael D. McHenry — Half Moon Bay, CA

• Merva W  (60-foot fishing vessel built in 1971)
• Pillar Point Seafood
• Half Moon Bay Seafood Marketing Association

Harbor District has new Code of Ethics

On July 15, 2015 the board approved the San Mateo County Harbor District Code of Ethics & Values. The code was adapted from the City of Santa Clara policy by Commissioner Brennan and approved by the board in a unanimous 5-0 vote.

San Mateo County Harbor District Code of Ethics & Values

The Harbor District's Code of Ethics & Values, adopted by the Harbor Commission of 2015, is designed to provide clear, positive statements of ethical behavior reflecting the core values of the community. The Code includes practical strategies for addressing ethical questions and a useful framework for decision-making and handling the day-to-day operations of the municipality. 

The current Code of Ethics & Values was developed in 1999 by the City of Santa Clara by a Committee composed of three elected officials, nine City commissioners, two community members, the City Manager and the City Attorney. The Committee took a fresh approach by working with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University to create a new Code of Ethics & Values that would better reflect the issues and concerns of today's complex and diverse society. 

Goals of the Code of Ethics & Values

• To make San Mateo County a better place to live, work and play
• To make the Harbor District a stronger public agency, built on mutual respect and trust
• To promote and maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct among all involved in local government - elected officials, District staff, volunteers, and members of the District’s committees

The Code of Ethics & Values is a touchstone for members of board of commissioners and committees in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities. 

Preamble

The proper operation of democratic government requires that decision-makers be independent, impartial, and accountable to the people they serve. The San Mateo County Harbor District has adopted this Code of Ethics & Values to promote and maintain the highest standards of personal and professional conduct in the District's government. All elected and appointed officials, District employees, volunteers, and others who participate in the District's government are required to subscribe to this Code, understand how it applies to their specific responsibilities, and practice its eight core values in their work. Because we seek public confidence in the District's services and public trust of its decision-makers, our decisions and our work must meet the most demanding ethical standards and demonstrate the highest levels of achievement in following this code. 

As a Representative of the San Mateo County Harbor District, I will be ethical. In practice, this value looks like: 

• I am trustworthy, acting with the utmost integrity and moral courage. 
• I am truthful, do what I say I will do, and am dependable. 
• I make impartial decisions, free of bribes, unlawful gifts, narrow political interests, and financial and other personal interests that impair my independence of judgment or action. 
• I am fair, distributing benefits and burdens according to consistent and equitable criteria. 
• I extend equal opportunities and due process to all parties in matters under consideration. If I engage in unilateral meetings and discussions, I do so without making voting decisions. 
• I show respect for persons, confidences, and information designated as "confidential." 
• I use my title(s) only when conducting official District business, for information purposes, or as an indication of background and expertise, carefully considering whether I am exceeding or appearing to exceed my authority.

As a Representative of the San Mateo County Harbor District, I will be professional. In practice, this value looks like:

• I apply my knowledge and expertise to my assigned activities and to the interpersonal relationships that are part of my job in a consistent, confident, competent, and productive manner. 
• I approach my job and work-related relationships with a positive attitude. 
• I keep my professional knowledge and skills current and growing. 

As a Representative of the San Mateo County Harbor District, I will be service-oriented. In practice, this value looks like: 

• I provide friendly, receptive, courteous service to everyone. 
•  I am attuned to, and care about, the needs and issues of citizens, public officials, and city workers. 
• In my interactions with constituents, I am interested, engaged, and responsive.

As a Representative of the San Mateo County Harbor District, I will be fiscally responsible. In practice, this value looks like: 

• I make decisions after prudent consideration of their financial impact, taking into account the long-term financial needs of the District, especially its financial stability. 
• I demonstrate concern for the proper use of District assets (e.g., personnel, time, property, equipment, funds) and follow established procedures. 
• I make good financial decisions that seek to preserve programs and services for District residents. 

As a Representative of the San Mateo County Harbor District, I will be organized. In practice, this value looks like: 

• I act in an efficient manner, making decisions and recommendations based upon research and facts, taking into consideration short and long-term goals. 
• I follow through in a responsible way, keeping others informed, and responding in a timely fashion. 
• I am respectful of established District processes and guidelines. 

As a Representative of the San Mateo County Harbor District, I will be communicative. In practice, this value looks like: 

• I convey the District's care for and commitment to its citizens. 
• I communicate in various ways that I am approachable, open-minded and willing to participate in dialog. 
•  I engage in effective two-way communication, by listening carefully, asking questions, and determining an appropriate response, which adds value to conversations. 

As a Representative of the San Mateo County Harbor District, I will be collaborative. In practice, this value looks like: 

• I act in a cooperative manner with groups and other individuals, working together in a spirit of tolerance and understanding. 
• I work towards consensus building and gain value from diverse opinions. 
• I accomplish the goals and responsibilities of my individual position, while respecting my role as a member of a team. 
• I consider the broader regional and statewide implications of the District's decisions and issues. 

As a Representative of the San Mateo County Harbor District, I will be progressive. In practice, this value looks like: 

• I exhibit a proactive, innovative approach to setting goals and conducting the District's business. 
• I display a style that maintains consistent standards, but is also sensitive to the need for compromise, "thinking outside the box," and improving existing paradigms when necessary. 
• I promote intelligent and thoughtful innovation in order to forward the District's policy agenda and District's services. 

The Santa Clara Code of Ethics & Values was adapted/modified for SMCHD on July 7, 2015 by Harbor Commissioner Sabrina Brennan for consideration by the Board of Commissioners at the July 15, 2015 Regular Harbor Commission meeting.

Today, love won

The Supreme Court ruled this morning that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage.

As the first out lesbian Harbor Commissioner in San Mateo County it is with great joy that I share this story with you.

1969 was my birth year and the beginning of the Gay Liberation Movement. The Stonewall riots took place June 28, 1969 in Greenwich Village. In April, 1993 I was twenty-three years old and a photography student at the Atlanta College of Art. That year I made a road trip to Washington, DC to take part in the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. My friends and I drove all night through a heavy rainstorm to make it in time for the lesbian march, affectionately referred to as the Dyke March. It was scheduled for the night before the main march. This tradition continues today, the Dyke March is held the day before the San Francisco Pride Parade, and in many other cities.  In DC thousands of women turned out from all over the Southeast and East Coast and took over the streets around the Capitol. I remember running though the crowd in a pair of old combat boots and carrying a camera while women around me chanted, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Jesse Helms has got to go.”

The next day a mass wedding took place at noon on the mall. The AIDS Memorial Quilt covered almost every blade of grass, from the Washington Monument to the Capitol. Chants that day included: “Act Up! Fight Back! Fight AIDS!” and “We’re here. We’re queer. We’re not going away.” It was estimated that one million LGBTQ people were in DC for the March on Washington. The mood was optimistic and at age twenty-three I believed marriage equality might be around the corner.  

Later that day I took the train to visit my relatives in Bowie, Maryland.  My mother’s youngest brother and his two sons met me at the train station. Uncle Coerte worked as an astrophysicist at NASA and the first question he asked was, “Why are you in town? This is a terrible time to visit, the gays have taken over, and traffic is a mess. The special interest groups are ruining things.”  

I realized the side-trip to visit my relatives might have been a mistake. I did not visit my uncle again until the summer of 2008 while on a business trip to Annapolis. This time I met Coerte, aunt Wendy and cousin Eric at my hotel and we had dinner at a restaurant overlooking the harbor. It was awkward at first. I think they might have felt uneasy about missing my wedding to Aimee Luthringer the summer before in British Columbia. After a round of drinks we were in good spirits and discussing the upcoming presidential election. I was happy that they were supporting Obama and my cousin Eric asked, “At what age did you know you were gay?”

It has been a long, steep path to equality with many setbacks along the way. On Tuesday, May 26, 2009, I took the day off work to photograph San Francisco’s reaction to the California Supreme Court decision on Prop 8. 

We've fought hard for the US Supreme Court victory today. The nationwide right to same-sex marriage is a game changer in the red states.

Great job by justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Ginsburg, Breyer and majority opinion by Kennedy!

Thank you for your continued support.

Harbor District adopts Lead Agency status on sand replenishment at Surfer's Beach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Citizens for Sabrina Brennan, a citizens' group recently formed to support Commissioner Brennan of the San Mateo County Harbor District, is pleased to announce that the District's Board of Commissioners voted during their meeting last night to adopt Lead Agency status in the sand replenishment effort at Surfer's Beach in Pillar Point Harbor. Commissioner Brennan made the motion to adopt Lead Agency status and the board voted unanimously in favor of the motion.

Surfer's Beach is a stretch of coastline under the jurisdiction of the Harbor District where the beach is being quickly erased by erosion, jeopardizing a public resource and putting a portion of Highway 1 at serious risk. Sand that would normally deposit on and replenish the beach has been blocked for years by the breakwaters of the harbor.

Citizens for Sabrina Brennan would like to commend and recognize Commissioner Brennan for her sustained leadership role on this issue: Ms. Brennan began advocating for this issue with the San Mateo County Harbor District years ago and established the District's Beach Replenishment Committee during her recent tenure as Board President.

Under Brennan's leadership as President, the Harbor District reached out to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC). [see attached letters] In the letter to NOAA, the Harbor District expressed its desire to participate in sediment management plans that could supply sand for beach replenishment, while in the letter to the BCDC the Harbor District expressed concerns over the approval of continued sand mining operations in the San Francisco Bay, which would adversely affect coastal San Mateo County beaches if sand was mined at a rate faster than replenishment.

James Lee, a Redwood City resident with Citizens for Sabrina Brennan, said, "As someone born and raised in San Mateo County who has been visiting Pillar Point Harbor regularly all my life, I've been alarmed by the rate of erosion at Surfer's Beach over the years. I'm glad that action is being taken to reverse the damage, starting with tonight's vote. And as a friend and supporter of Commissioner Brennan it's thrilling to see her years of advocacy on this issue culminate with the Harbor District adopting Lead Agency status on sand replenishment at Surfer's Beach. Last night's vote is a clear vindication of her tireless work and leadership skills."

The Commission also gave direction to staff on a social media plan for the district, another area in which Commissioner Brennan had taken the lead. Ms. Brennan received repeated and targeted criticism from former commissioners who had tried to make an issue out of the fact that district staff had posted her social media information on the Harbor District website. Citizens for Sabrina Brennan is pleased to see that attitudes have shifted at the Harbor District and we find this shift to be yet another confirmation of Ms. Brennan's role as the Harbor District's lead modernizer and public advocate.