Discussion at the Richardson’s Bay Regional Agency (RBRA) meeting on Thursday Sept 15 centered around the report of Rod Gould, the consultant hired to make suggestions on how the RBRA should move forward.
In a nutshell Gould said that the RBRA should not break up, and that jurisdictions accomplish more for less money if they stay together.
However, he said that the RBRA cannot accomplish what it is tasked to do with the funds and staff they now have. He said the priorities should be: removal of marine debris, more emphasis on registration and documentation of the boats now in the anchorage, removal of the unattended moorings and floats, and removal of businesses operating on the water illegally.
Sausalito still believes that they are paying more than their share of the costs. The harbormaster’s report included a list of 17 boats removed from the waters since June at a cost of $12,111. The anchor-out spokesmen pointed out that two of those boats were brought in by them so there was only disposal cost to the RBRA. Harbormaster Bill Price also indicated the RBRA has received grants, from Vallejo and San Mateo harbor districts to be used for removal of boats, that should cover most of the costs for the rest of this year.
So, over the weekend we took our Boston Whaler out to take a look. The situation has definitely improved. There were boats running the gamut from this beauty to this not so beautiful, and everything in between. We’re better off than we were a year ago, but there is still work to be done.