Robert Bernardo

California Maritime Infrastructure Bank/Authority

At the July 16, 2014 Harbor District meeting Commissioner Brennan made a motions to place the "Bank" on a future agenda.

  • Commissioner Brennan's motion requested an informational report on the California Maritime Infrastructure Bank/Authority.  Watch the meeting video: 1:04:55
  • Robert Bernardo amends the motion, and specified that only a "brief, one paragraph" report regarding the bank/authority be included on a future agenda.  Watch the meeting video: 1:06:31
  • The amended motion passed 3/2.  Jim Tucker was absent and Will Holsinger abstained from voting.

Grand Jury Report on Special District Websites

San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report: 

Transparency of Independent Special Districts’ Websites →


San Mateo County Harbor District 2013/2014 website costs:

  • 2013:  $14,230.45
  • 2014 (1st quarter only):  $2,610.40

Invoices from Web Market Consulting →

SMC Harbor District website →

Harbor District Meeting: Nov. 20, 2013

Agenda Item 6: Commercial Activity Permits for non-lessee fish buyers

The following questions were asked at the Nov. 20, 2013 Harbor District meeting regarding the Commercial Activity Permits For Non-Lessee Fish Buyers policy approved by the board of Harbor Commissioners in 2012.  

How this relates to current business at the harbor in real terms:

  1. How are these "buyers" defined? Do fishermen who are berth holders count? Are they exempt as suggested by memo from Commissioner Hollsinger? Are these companies with multiple trucks? Single people with a private vehicle? Anyone with a Fish & Game book? Is there a threshold for volume? A permit if you buy one time? 100 lbs or more? only semis full?
  2. How are buyers identified? Assuming that a definition is determined, how are buyers identified? How is a truck owned by Three Captains or Morning Star and a truck owned by a non-lessee buyer differentiated? What about unmarked vehicles?  Is this for private vehicles? Semi trucks? When one buyer has multiple trucks how is that handled? What about fish walking off of the pier on a hand truck or driving off on a fork lift etc? Does that count?
  3. How will fees be assessed? Assuming buyers can be identified (which is a big leap) how will the quantity/volume purchased be reported and verified? How will the buyers pay fees? Who will calculate the fees due? Is there a minimum volume? Are "buyers" supposed to pay for purchasing 100 lbs? Stop by the office and pay $1.00? Will they receive a bill in the mail? Is it the leaseholder at the end of Johnson Pier's job to invoice their non-lessee partners?
  4. How will this be enforced? Assuming buyers can be identified and volume can be verified (which is hard to fathom) how will this be enforced? Is there a penalty if the three leaseholders allow people to buy fish without a permit? Is there going to be additional harbor staff hired to inspect and enforce? Is there going to be a gate at the end of the pier, video camera at each hoist? Is every vehicle leaving the pier going to be inspected? What happens if someone is unaware of the system? What if someone knows about the system, but doesn't have 30 days notice to get a permit? Will harbor staff impound the truck full of fish? 
  5. Will this hurt commercial fishermen and small buyers?  Who will pay for the enforcement? The fishermenWill the District start enforcement with "non-lessee" buyers with large scale businesses that have partnered officially or unofficially with existing leaseholders, and installed equipment on Johnson Pier? When CAP permits be required for non-lessee fish buyers?  When will non-lessee fish buyers be required to pay fees include in the policy approved by Harbor Commissioners in 2012?

GM's Compensation Increase: Sept. 18, 2013

Agenda Item 11: District General Manager's Compensation Increase

Recommendation:

Approve a 2.5% pay raise for the General Manager, commencing with the pay period starting Sept. 27, 2013

Background:

During the Sept. 4, 2013 Harbor District meeting, Treasurer Jim Tucker moved to place an item on the Commission's Sept. 18, 2013 meeting agenda regarding the General Manager's compensation. He called for a 2.5% increase in the General Manager's pay. Parravano seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0 to place the item on the agenda.

At the Sept. 18th 2013 Harbor District Meeting Commissioner Brennan voted NO to a 2.5% pay raise for the General Manager for the following reason:

"I don't support a raise for the General Manager because I have reasons to be concerned about his ability to do his job. 

He has demonstrated a history of bias against women and this continues to this day. Currently I have a pending complaint involving bias against women and an investigation is in progress."

Harbor District Meeting: Aug 20, 2013

Agenda Item 4

Evaluation of Possible Alternatives to Current Audio/Visual Recordings of Harbor Commission Meetings

Commissioner Brennan's comments: 

As an elected representative, serving a four-year term on the San Mateo County Board of Harbor Commissioners, it’s my goal to improve transparency, accountability and inclusiveness at every opportunity.

The Harbor Districts is a countywide special district. Over 50% of the Harbor Districts revenue comes from property tax.  The Board has an obligation to provide San Mateo County citizens with governance that is truly transparent, effective and accountable.

In recent decades, civil society and governments around the world have made great advances in increasing transparency at both the local and national levels. Yet there is still a need for greater and more meaningful participation and accountability, particularly when it comes to how public resources are allocated.

As good stewards of Oyster Point Marina and Pillar Point Harbor we should always strive to increase transparency and access to government data and public information.

Please support Transparency and Accountability by voting NO on terminating videotaping and voting NO on terminating public access television broadcasting on Pacific Coast TV. 

 

Fishing Fees—Harbor District Meeting: Aug. 7, 2013

Agenda Item 5

Review of Fish Buying Lease, Fish Buying Fees and Fee Enforcement

Commissioner Brennan's comments: 

During the July 17th 2013 Harbor District meeting in South San Francisco the board reviewed and discussed current Fish Buying Fees, Fish Offloading Fees, Fee Enforcement and Fish Buying Activity Permits.

The General Manager made it clear at the July meeting that the fish buying fees and fish offloading fees required in the leases held by Morningstar, Pillar Point Seafood and Three Captains don’t reflect market conditions of Northern California commercial fishing ports.

All three Harbor District leases currently require fish buyers pay $10.00 per ton for wet-fish, $.01 per pound for finfish and shellfish, and five percent (5%) for all retail fish sold on-top of $.01 per pound. Additionally the leases require fish off-loaders pay $10.00 per ton for wet-fish and $.01 per pound for finfish and shellfish.  That means that if a leaseholder offloads fish and buys fish they would be required to pay a total of $20.00 per ton for wet-fish and $.02 per pound for shellfish and finfish.

Fishermen that sell finfish and shellfish/crab from fishing vessels at Pillar Point Harbor are not required to pay the District five percent (5%) for retail sales, and for this reason it’s inconsistent to require Morning Star Fisheries, Pillar Point Seafood and Three Captains to pay a 5% retail sales fee.

Based on data included in the General Managers July 10, 2013 Memo it’s apparent that other Northern California commercial fishing ports charge no fees or much lower fees for fish offloading and fish buying.

At the July 17th meeting it was noted that the wet-fish offloading fee included in the General Managers July 10, 2013 memo was incorrect.  The City of Monterey charges $1.74 per ton NOT $1.74 per lb. for squid offloading.  The General Manager should correct the misinformation included in his Memo, as he was aware of the correct fee on May 17, 2013 9:33 am via an email from staff.

After reviewing the fee data provided at the July 17 meeting it's clear that SMC Harbor District wetfish, shellfish and finfish fees are not competitive with other commercial fishing ports in the area.  

Fish Purchasing Fees and Fish Buying Fees trickle down to commercial fishermen.  When the Harbor District attempts to extract fees from commercial fishing businesses, without accurate data and sound reasons for comparatively high fees the District runs the risk of harming small business and weakening the local economy.   

The fees and fee enforcement included in the current leases are structured in a way that is counterproductive to the goals and priorities of the Harbor District.

The Coastal Commission adopted SMC Harbor District Appeal No. 133-79 that specified Condition (1B), "one-half of all slips for the exclusive use of active commercial fishing boats."  Local Coastal Program (LCP) section 12.5.A states, "commercial fishing and recreational boating are on an equal basis, and to accommodate those needs accordingly." This applies specifically to Pillar Point Harbor with regards to space and resources.

The Harbor District has a vested interest in the success of the commercial fishing fleet.  Requiring arbitrarily high fees for offloading and fish buying at Pillar Point Harbor isn't a sustainable approach to generating revenue and it's not in keeping with the goals and priorities of the Harbor District or the Midcoast LCP.  

Commissioner Brennan's Motion:

For these reasons I move to amend all three leases, discontinue all fees and raise the minimum base rent to $3000.00 per month, to be effective as of July 1, 2013. 

The motion failed for lack of a second. 

  • It should be noted that the Harbor District currently does not have a way audit or enforce the fish offloading and buying fees at Pillar Point Harbor. Johnson Pier does not have a scale, a gate, video cameras or a staff person dedicated to counting fish.
  • Read the Dec. 2014 Dornbusch Report

Harbor District Meeting SSF: June 19, 2013

Itemized invoices from - Aaronson, Dickerson, Cohn & Lanzone  (ADCL)

  • No fee is charged for providing ADCL invoices to District
  • Monthly invoices by task should be made available to the entire board on request
  • Brennan requested ADCL invoices

General Managers lack of response to board members requests for information

  • Results in running up ADCL fees

General Managers slow response to public records requests

  • Results in running up ADCL fees

President Tucker threatens to discontinue videotaping Harbor District meetings 

  • Transparency

General Managers slow response to Commercial Fish Buyers request for information regarding fish buying fees

  • It's been over 4 months since Mike Mc Henry first requested fish buying fee info from Commissioner Bernardo
  • To-date information has not been provided by General Manager

Board majorities confusion over committee meetings vs. special meetings

  • Commissioner Holsinger appears confused over committee meetings, who should attend and how committee meetings should be noticed. 
  • Commissioner Brennan comments on General Managers refusal to notice the Harbor District Marketing/Promotions committee meeting held on May 29, 2013.

Boards majority votes (3/2) not to adopt the Pillar Point Harbor Shoreline Erosion Committee as an official committee of the Harbor District

  • Committee will continue to meet as a citizens advisory group
  • Agendas and Reports will be posted on Commissioner Brennan's website
  • Meetings are open to all