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Poll: Could A Ferry Help Make Marina Viable?

Boat owners, live aboards heard city outline plans to turn harbor into a marsh as part of a huge commercial development.

 

With city decision makers all but convinced that San Leandro's boat harbor will soon be no more, it was time to discuss their plans with those who house their boats in the marina. 

On Tuesday evening a meeting was held at the Marina Inn during which officials laid out plans visualized in the above graphic.

On April 2, the council will consider a new agreement giving Cal-Coast, the proposed developer, exclusive rights to proceed with securing approvals for the plan, according to a city web page.

Tuesday night's meeting revolved around a presentation by City Business Development Manager Cynthia Battenberg and Public Works Director Michael Bakaldin to boat owners and marina residents who oppose the plan. 

Councilman Jim Prola was on hand as was City Manager Chris Zapata, who kept a low profile. 

The marina plan includes office space, multiple restaurants, a banquet facility, a conference facility, a library/community facility and multi-family and single family homes.

But not a boat harbor, as the city has determined that this is no longer financially viable.

At the heart of the conflict is the dredging of the harbor and the 2 mile long channel conecting the harbor to the bay's deep waters.

The city puts that cost at $1.5 milion per year. In the past federal subsidies helped cover the costs for the Army Corps of Engineers to remove the silt and transplant it elsewhere. After removal the city was still on the hook for the $2.2 million it cost to dispose of the silt according to Bakaldin. 

But some still hope that the marina could be part of San Leandro's future, and not just a thing of the past. 

Boat owner Walter Buettner said he has spoken with officials in charge of Bay Area ferry service. They think the San Leandro Marina would be a good location for a ferry in the event of an emergency that shut the San Mateo and/or Dumbarton Bridges.

Buettner said such a ferry service would bring in funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Homeland Security and CalTrans that could be used to bankroll the required dredging. The ferry would also connect San Leandro to high-tech communities on the Peninsula during regular commute times. 

Battenberg said that idea had been explored 3 years ago, but said she would be willing to, "Circle back to that."

Boat owner and "Live aboard" marina resident Babbette Desjardins cited the 2013 America's Cup sailing competition on San Francisco Bay as a potential source of revenue. 

"These are short term opportunities," Desajrdins said. "Why are we not exploring that."

Under the current plan the harbor could be shut as soon as 2014. After grumbles from those in attendance Battenberg said that would be the quickest timeline as far as the developer is concerned. 

That is not a best case scenario for Lloyd Levine who lives with his wife and three children aboard, "Luke 5:3" in the marina. The name is a reference to Biblical scripture where Jesus boarded a boat and taught just off shore. Levine made his feelings known on dry land Tuesday.

Levine lives and works right in the Marina. He operates General Marine & Services, a boat maintenance company that services boats while in the water. Not only would his home be forced to leave under the proposed plan, but his customers would also be dispatched with the shutting of the harbor.  

Shirley King also lives on the marina. Her 50' 1976 Tully, "Magic" has called the harbor home for only 8 weeks. Before that King took up residence in Alameda. 

"Just look at it" King said when asked why she enjoys living aboard the vessel. "The birds, the peace, the water, sunset."

King hopes to see San Leandrans vote on the future of the marina before she finds herself enjoying the sunset from a different vanatage point.

"We would like to see it go to a vote before the people." King said. 

For now the city appears set on moving forward with the process that will see the current marina filled in with islands that will play host to plant life native to the area and attract local wildlife.

Meanwhile, those who love the marina and harbor as-is appear determined to continue looking into every avenue and option to keep the harbor open before giving in to what the city apparently sees as the best option. 

(To get San Leandro Patch delivered by email click here.)


Chris Crow March 21, 2012 at 04:59 pm
I heard from someone that the silt issue is directly related to the drainage issue of San Leandro Creek. Sounded like if we fixed the drainage issue the silt accumulation could go away completely. Anyone have any inforamtion about that?
Hector Velasco March 21, 2012 at 05:07 pm
I'm digging the ferry idea. They should proceed with that.
Leah Hall March 21, 2012 at 05:14 pm
Interesting article.
Yes, let's explore the ferry option. I'd also like to learn more about the design team's rationale for proposing a public library at this location. It seems a bit remote from a public transportation perspective and I'm unclear what the advantages would be for library patrons? Isn't the recently built Manor Library fairly close by? My guess is that if we did a current needs assessment we might find that another type of facility is more appropriate at this location. For example, recreational use seems to keep coming up in the news. Has the design team considered a water front recreation facility, something along the lines of a boat house for kayaks and related water and nature/environment themed activity?
Thomas Jesus March 21, 2012 at 05:24 pm
And I lived in the area of the Marina and San Leandro creek from1955 till 1984, the creek was cleaned and dredged in an on going basis. Never had a silt problem in the Marina. Lived it loved it and without it what does San Leandro have????
Thomas Jesus March 21, 2012 at 05:27 pm
Those ideas passed with the original designers of the Marina, but it still has those potentials.
Tom Abate (Editor) March 21, 2012 at 05:47 pm
What I do not understand and would have to ask city staff is whether the fill in of the boat harbor is necessary as some sort of environmental mitigation. Is there some reason why the boat harbor and the rest of the plan are mutually exclusive. Or is it purely a matter of the dredging cost. If cost is the only issue, and a ferry were possible, then San Leandro could link with the ferry in development in Redwood City, offering a link between the tech side of the Bay and soon-to-be-lit San Leandro. The Redwood City ferry web page envisions an East Bay Link:
http://www.redwoodcityport.com/p7iq/html/FerryStatus.html
Fran March 21, 2012 at 05:49 pm
Even if the federal government said tomorrow they would foot the entire bill for the dredging as well as disposal, it would still be a non-starter. If there was the will do it, it could have been done. It's prime real estate, that developer wants it. It's 101. Interestingly enough no one ever brings up a price the developer will be paying for it. My concern is the residents of San Leandro will be stuck with a lot of costs for what could become a major boondoggle.
Leah Hall March 21, 2012 at 05:57 pm
Nice!
This is exactly the type of thing San Leandro needs to be shooting for. Very much in-line with the forward thinking leadership supporting Lit San Leandro! Thanks, Tom!
Gregg Daly March 21, 2012 at 06:56 pm
Upper level issues: Does San Leandro want to be a bedroom community for San Francisco or its own city where people live and work and build businesses? - HERE not somewhere else.
The Lit SanLeandro and the DarkFiber Project aren't about moving people in and out of the city - it is about building an entire future HERE. Even if SL became a net draw for jobs (new digital manufacturing and R&D connected to the LitSL system somewhere in the hopefully not-so-distant future) - would a ferry system be a viable business if the weighted traffic route was TO SL not FROM SL?? (BTW, part-time for emergencies is not viable - non-starter) Are cross-bay workers going to ferry commute to the future business hub SL or live directly in the East Bay? Where is our draw? How does that effect the long-term viability of the concept of a new ferry service? Not saying yes or no - but it appears to be a "save the marina at all costs" dive instead of a pragmatic look at where building businesses and/or infrastructure which provides the best Return on Investment for the city as a whole (municipal/schools, businesses and residents) Do we need a "bedroom community/commuter project" or an "infrastructure project"? I am leaning towards the latter.
Leah Hall March 21, 2012 at 07:25 pm
Hmm....a bedroom community? Sounds pretty good to me. Better than an in-the-toilet community. Jusk kidding Gregg, you ask spot on questions. I believe something to keep in mind is that it probably isn't either or.
Good urban/transportation interconnectivity ideally works in many directions. NPR just did a great story this week on the high and underappreciated cost of travel expenses for the middle class. The status quo model of driving ever farther out for affordable living will only continue to shrink as energy costs increase.
Thomas Jesus March 21, 2012 at 07:44 pm
When the Marina was started it was the envy of many other communities in the area. Sounds to me as always , someoe has a new vision, not the right vision for a city like San Leandro
Fran March 21, 2012 at 08:36 pm
The best return on investment for the city probably would be a casino :) There's not going to be a ferry, it;s just another distraction.
Leah Hall March 21, 2012 at 08:41 pm
Duly noted, the Jaded One. :)
Fran March 21, 2012 at 08:56 pm
I prefer pragmatic but that will work :)
Charles Kane March 21, 2012 at 10:32 pm
San Leandro Creek runs behind the Adams Biggie tractand ends up in San Leandro bay by the Oakland Airport North Field. The waterway that empties into the bay near the Marina is part of the Alameda County zone nine flood control.
David March 22, 2012 at 10:21 am
One of many issues with a ferry would be even if the Feds (i.e. you, through your federal income taxes) paid for the initial dredging, would they continue to pay for operational costs? My bet is no, and therefore, SL would be on the hook (or the county) for $$$ in annual operating costs.
Audrey J. Hefner March 22, 2012 at 07:57 pm
The ferry idea would be great. For the Library leave Mulford branch open oftener and we will not need another in this area. Scrap the raised bus from Oakland to San Leandro. Money could be put to a better use. Audrey Hefner

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