[Bboa-members] Waterfront committee Meeting, tonight! Discussing %5 fee hike

[Tom & Lori Jeremiason]

Although I have moved I still watch the list and received emails. I wanted
to address a couple of things....

I was one of the people pushing to have the BYC look at a long term lease
for the O Dock.

In my opinion after some research I believe the Club in its present
configuration could not handle the undertaking for several reasons.

   - The City has deferred maintenance so long on the present docks that
   there is a significant risk to anyone attempting a long term lease on the
   Property.
   - I also do not believe at the present membership of 300 that the
   BYC could fill the O Dock much less the O and N docks, which would put the
   Club in competition with the City or whoever is running the marina to fill
   those empty slips.
   - Finally, there is the privatization talk. Anyone wanting to bid on
   the Berkeley Marina is not going to want to give up almost 20% of the slips
   to another party.

As far as the other items the one I have a unique insight on is
privatization.

I berthed boats in the Berkeley Marina from 1997 to 2006. Nine months of
that as a legal live aboard. I have since moved to Marina Village in Alameda
which is managed by a private contractor.

During that time fee increases came fast and furious, with promises of
repairs and new docks.

With the proposed 5% fee increase for June the Berkeley Marina will have
higher rates than Marina Village, which at present is only $12 per month
more than my rates were at Berkeley for an equivalent slip.

For the extra $12 I have a free ice machine, 3 washers/driers at my dock and
extremely clean restrooms. Maintenance personnel walk the dock and actually
fix things without being asked (ie: loose cleats).

Marina Village is about the same size as Berkeley, but seems to manage it's
budget a little tighter. They also realise that without the Marina the
building leases are not worth as much (Views of boats!).

I would strongly urge the BBOA to demand a comparison of other marinas and
amenities. I think you will find that the Berkeley Marina is charging prime
rates and in general has less amenities than most marinas (ie: Laundries,
free ice, clean restrooms).

Tom Jeremiason


On 3/14/07, Zach Nobel <zach at nobel.org> wrote:
>
>
> ANyone going to the marina meeting tonight at 7pm?
>
> They're planning to discuss the 5year forecast of marina , as well as %5
> fee hike. I encourage folks to attend & inquire what benefits will the fee
> hike provide.
>
> FYI,
>
> Zach
>
> --
> _________________________________________________________________________
> Zachariah Nobel                 email: Zach at Nobel.org
> Grand Poohbah of the Nobel.org domain
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