To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Bert Whitaker, 707-565-2041; Robert Gonzalez, 707-565-6032
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth District
Title:
Title
10:45 A.M. Fee Hearing - Marina Fee Package FY26-27
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Supervisors authorizing fee adjustment for various fees supporting marina operations and services
B) Review and approve new fees including General Parking, Daily Rate; General Parking, Hourly Rate; Self Contained Camping, Waterfront; Self-Contained Camping, Non-Waterfront; and Emergency Pump Out, Dewatering Additional Labor, Per Hour.
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Regional Parks manages 60 parks, trails, beaches, and other facilities which include three marinas. Fee revenue collected by the marinas is critical to operate and maintain those facilities.
In previous years, the Department provided separate fee schedules for each of the three marinas, as each was functioning as a separate independent enterprise fund. In December 2025, the Board of Supervisors amended Chapter 20, VIII, of the Sonoma County Code updating Sonoma Marinas related to marina governance and operations which allows for the consolidation of fees proposed today.
This year, the Department recommends increasing existing fees and proposing new fees based on programming needs. Details on current and proposed rates are included in the Fee Package Adjustment document and Resolution accompanying this report.
Discussion:
Changes to current fees and rates
The proposed fee increases reflect the reasonable costs to maintain the marinas for public use and partially recover costs for the services provided. The Department attempts to keep increases minimal, with most fees recommended to increase by 3%. One fee is recommended at a higher percentage increase, and information on that fee is provided justification section below.
Regional Parks proposes to increase and adjust the following fees 3% for FY2026-27:
- Cold storage
- Electricity to permanent berth holders, per month
- Ice, per ton
- Fuel, diesel, up to 200 gallons
- Fuel, diesel, 201-1000 gallons
- Fuel, diesel, 1001-2000 gallons
- Unleaded, per gallon
- Authorized live aboard
- Authorized live aboard, additional person, monthly fee
- Berthing, Permanent, Spud Point, per foot, per month
- Berthing, Transient, Spud Point, 90 feet and over
- Berthing, Transient, Spud Point, 61-90 feet
- Berthing, Transient, Spud Point, 60 feet
- Berthing, Transient, Spud Point, 50 feet
- Berthing, Transient, Spud Point, 40 feet
- Berthing, Transient, Spud Point, 30 feet and under
- Berthing, Permanent, Masons, new docks up to 30’
- Berthing, Permanent, Masons, other docks up to 30’
- Dock Use, boats of 31 passengers or more, per month, annual contract
- Dock Use, boats of 31 passengers or more, month to month
- Dock Use, boats of 31 passengers or more, per week
- Dock Use, boats of 7-30 passengers, per month, annual contract
- Dock Use, boats of 7-30 passengers, month to month
- Dock Use, boats of 7-30 passengers, per week
- Dock Use, boats of 6 or fewer passengers, per month, annual contract
- Dock Use, boats of 6 or fewer passengers, month to month
- Dock Use, boats of 6 or fewer passengers, per week
- Berthing, Sports Fishing
- Electricity, berthing at Sports Fishing
Justification for changes to current fees
The proposed fee increases reflect the reasonable costs of maintaining the parks for public use and partially recovering costs for the services provided.
Returned check fee
This is the only fee exceeding a 3% increase. The fee has not been increased since 2011. It is recommended to increase from $35 to $40 to help defray the cost of bank processing and administrative time in collections and processing. This increase represents a 14% increase.
New Proposed Fees
General Parking: Hourly Rate $3.00 / Daily Rate, $10.00
Spud Point Marina operates as a working waterfront with high parking turnover and limited supply, serving commercial fishing activity, short-term marina users, and visitors accessing coastal services. Unlike inland regional parks that primarily support all-day recreational use, parking demand at Spud Point is characterized by frequent short stays and congestion during peak periods. Establishing a $3 hourly and $10 daily parking maximum aligns parking availability with actual use patterns, supports equitable access, and reduces long-duration parking in high-demand areas. The proposed rate structure is consistent with coastal parking norms throughout the state allowing visitors to choose an hourly option of $3.00 for brief visits and encouraging all-day users to purchase a daily permit or utilize other less congested parking areas for longer term visits.
Self-Contained Camping: Waterfront / Non-Waterfront
Year-round self-contained (dry, no-hookup) RV camping fees for the Sonoma County Marinas at $70 per night for waterfront sites and $60 per night for non-waterfront sites are being proposed. These fees are based on prevailing local market conditions for marina-adjacent RV camping along the Sonoma Coast, where comparable private marina and RV facilities command premium rates due to coastal location, harbor access, and high visitor demand. The adopted structure reflects the established market baseline for dry RV camping, with a reasonable waterfront premium for sites offering direct harbor views and enhanced visitor experience, and supports consistent pricing, cost recovery, and long-term operational sustainability across marina facilities managed by Sonoma County Regional Parks.
Emergency Pump Out, Dewatering Additional Labor, Per Hour
There is currently an $80 fee to provide emergency pump out services for dewatering a sinking vessel. This fee is sufficient if the owner is available and can reach their vessel in less than one hour. If the owner is not able to respond within one hour to address the situation with their vessel or there is an immediate need to save the vessel from submersion, marina staff shall continue to monitor the vessel and provide additional pump out services until the owner is available to secure repairs. A new $60 per hour fee is being recommended to help with the additional monitoring and pump services.
Summary of Expected Results
Fees are being added or increased to offset the costs of providing services and to generate revenues that support ongoing maintenance and deferred maintenance at the enterprise fund Bodega Bay Marinas operated by Regional Parks.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
March 25, 2025 - Board of Supervisors adopted Marina Fee Adjustments
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$230,086.43 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
$ 230,086.43 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
$230,086.43 |
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
|
$230,086.43 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Fees reflect the reasonable cost of operating the marinas and the services they provide. Where possible, the Department has recommended a 3% increase to the fees shown in this report, unless other factors necessitated a higher rate. While partial cost recovery is the key driver necessitating increases to park fees, Regional Parks seeks to ensure that its fees are not prohibitive to users even at the expense of cost recovery.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Fee Resolution
Regional Parks Fee Package Adjustment PDF
PowerPoint Slides
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Regional Parks Fee Package Adjustment EXCEL
PowerPoint