[Bboa-members] A response to Dan Augustine

[Tom & Lori Jeremiason]

Brian is right, the City has a history of placing the burden of
their financial mis-management on the Berkeley Marina Berthers.

Over the last year I have seen the Marina spend:

   - $500k on a bathroom
   - Subsadize an inflated staff of 23, while the remainder of the City
   (including the rest of the Parks Dept.) has been cutting staff (as much as
   40%).
   - Spend money on festivals, including the 4th of July and the Kite
   Festival, which the promoters/concessionaires made money on. The City of
   course lost money on these activities due to clean up and overtime costs.

At the same time:

   - The marina infrastructure is falling apart. 88 cement docks need
   replacement (We are budgeted for 22 a year)
   - The remainder of the Marina bathrooms are in terrible condition
   - The Harbormaster does not run a 24 hr operation, which increases
   overtime costs when something breaks during the hours they are closed
   - The dock carts are falling apart on almost every dock
   - The fee structure for the Berkeley Marina is one of the mot
   complicated and highest in the Eastbay (We have higher fees the Brickyard
   cove, Marina Bay and Marina Village)
   - The Harbor entrance is so silted in that boats with 4 foot drafts
   are getting stuck at low tide
   - Security concerns have been discussed and options presented to teh
   Waterfront Commission and the Marina Management. Nothing has been done.

Some solutions:

   - Currently the Marina budget covers everything west of Marina Blvd.
   In order to see were the money is really going, split the budget into three
   areas:
      - Harbor
      - Parks
      - Recreation
   - Have the Parks Department start paying for the Parks activities
   programs instead of the Marina.
   - Consider a use fee for Park users (Parking fees). An idea would be
   $2 per car or an annual fee of $35. Berthers, businesses, employees and
   customers would park free using a parking sticker system and validations.
   - Force promoters to pay for the festivals in total, including clean
   up and full overtime costs associated with the activity.
   - Simplify the Marina fee schedule. Most marinas in the Bay area
   charge a simple upwind/down wind per foot charge, plus electrical.
   - If the Harbormasters office does not want to be open 24 hrs, then
   they should reduce their staff to level appropriate for a 9 hour schedule.
   - Reduce maintenance staff to levels comparable to other divisions
   within the Parks Department.

Tom Jeremiason




On 2/8/06, laura a watt <lawatt at california.com> wrote:
>
> I'd be happy to be more active, although I can't make tonight's
> meeting -- and up until now, I've never really gotten much of a sense
> of something to be active IN?  and I'm not actually a berkeley
> resident, but I'm happy to attend occasional meetings and sign things
> and make phone calls if needed...
>
> thanks,
> laura watt
>
>
>
> >Great!  We've started a discussion!
> >
> >There must be others lurking out there in cyberspace
> >eavesdropping on these notes without ever speaking up.
> >  Your thoughts and opinions are valid -we need to hear
> >them, you need to communicate therm and they have to
> >be expressed to the City of Berkeley.
> >
> >The BBOA is simply about being heard, and finding ways
> >to validate our positions with actual proof. It's
> >about taking responsibility for a beatiful place. It's
> >about demanding that those who make these decisions be
> >responsible and proactive. There are things we can all
> >do to help that are nonrefutable and WILL make a
> >difference. But we have to actually get it done. They
> >are simple things like noticing problems and writing
> >them down,  Writing letters to important people,
> >having petitions signed.  Believe it or not - 50
> >signatures can make a huge impression!
> >
> >Thanks for the follow up Brian!
> >
> >On another note - I resigned due to lack of
> >consistency in the leadership meetings and planning.
> >And it happened a few months ago. My reasons were
> >simple - lack of definite leadership, and
> >non-completion of organized tasks. Clear goals were
> >developed, and some strategies agreed upon; however
> >those who took on the responsibility to intiate these
> >strategies never did so, and the rest of us were left
> >out, not knowing what to do next. I understand this is
> >vague -but I don't like to point fingers as it will
> >solve nothing.
> >
> >As it is, I am not walking away from a commitment that
> >I made, rather it seems the commitment has walked away
> >from me. If others are willing to consider
> >reorganizing this into an effective proactive
> >organization then I would be happy and excited to take
> >part.  I know this is a lengthy explanation, but I
> >value my integrity and thought it important to explain
> >my frustrations. Especially since I know of others who
> >feel the same way.
> >
> >I am willing to take part, as are Brian and Zach.
> >Anyone else care to step out of the shadows and join a
> >good cause?
> >
> >
> >Thanks for reading!
> >
> >Dan Augustine
> >
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