To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Robert Gonzalez, 707-565-6032
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Consolidated Fee Hearing - Regional Parks Marinas Fee Package FY 2025-2026
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Supervisors authorizing fee adjustments for various fees supporting marina operations and services.
B) Review and approval of new fees for work boat towing services and permanent berthing at Mason’s Marina.
C) Review and approval of the removal of obsolete fees for retail fish sales.
D) Review and approval of description changes to existing fees imposing no change to existing fee rates including work boat towing.
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County manages 60 parks, trails, beaches, and other facilities, including three marinas, covering 18,078 acres. The marinas operated by Regional Parks are all located around Bodega Bay. They include Spud Point Marina, Mason’s Marina, and the Sports Fishing Center. These three marinas operate as enterprise funds, and revenues taken in are intended to cover the costs of operating the marinas. Fee revenue collected by the marinas is thus critical in their operations and maintenance of those facilities. For the past two years, due to the economic conditions and the delay of annual fishing seasons, the Department did not recommend fee increases.
This year, Regional Parks has completed a review of the marina’s current approved fees. The Department recommends increasing most of the approved fees by 4% to adjust for increases to labor and supply costs and to offset for no increases over the last two years. For fees exceeding 4%, a justification is provided in this summary.
The annual review of fees provided an opportunity to recommend removal of obsolete fees and request description changes for a few of the Marina’s existing fees to help streamline operations. Details are included in the summary and Fee Package Adjustment document accompanying this report.
Discussion:
Changes to Current Fees and Rates
Regional Parks propose increases and changes to the following fees for FY 25-26.
Spud Point Marina changes:
- Trailer storage
- Impoundment/Lien Process
- Ice
- Fuel margins - diesel, up to 200 gallons
- Fuel margins - diesel, 201-1000 gallons
- Fuel margins - diesel, 1001-2000 gallons
- Credit check
- Wait List fee
- Berthing, permanent
- Berthing, transient, 90 ft and over
- Berthing, transient, 61-90 ft
- Berthing, transient, 60 ft
- Berthing, transient, 50 ft
- Berthing, transient, 40 ft
- Berthing, transient, 30 ft and under
- Daily fish sales permit, weekly
- Daily fish sales permit, monthly
- Special Events Parking
- Authorized live aboard rate
- Work boat towing, labor rate
Mason’s Marina changes:
- Transient berth rate
- Mason’s Marina storage, campers and trucks
- Mason’s Marina storage, motorhomes
- Cold storage
- Berthing, permanent, new docks
Sport Fishing Center changes:
- Dock use fee, 31 passengers or more, annual contract
- Dock use fee, 31 passengers or more, month to month
- Dock use fee, 31 passengers or more, per week
- Dock use fee, 7-30 passengers, per month, annual contract
- Dock use fee, 7-30 passengers per month, month to month
- Dock use fee, 7-30 passengers, per week
- Dock use fee, 6 or fewer passengers, per month, annual contract
- Dock use fee, 6 or fewer passengers per month, month to month
- Dock use fee, 6 or fewer passengers, per week
- Dock use fee, Rock Fishing adjustment, 31 passengers or more, annual contract
- Dock use fee, Rock Fishing adjustment, 31 passengers or more, month to month
- Dock use fee, Rock Fishing adjustment, 31 passengers or more, per week
- Dock use fee, Rock Fishing adjustment, 7-30 passengers, per month, annual contract
- Dock use fee, Rock Fishing adjustment, 7-30 passengers per month, month to month
- Dock use fee, Rock Fishing adjustment, 7-30 passengers, per week
- Dock use fee, Rock Fishing adjustment, 6 or fewer passengers, per month, annual contract
- Dock use fee, Rock Fishing adjustment, 6 or fewer passengers per month, month to month
- Dock use fee, Rock Fishing adjustment, 6 or fewer passengers, per week
- Berthing
- Berthing, electricity
Increase to proposed fees
The Department is recommending a 4% increase to most of the fees noted on the Fee Package Adjustment. Please note for the fees outlined below that exceed 4%, many have not been adjusted in recent years and/or involve a considerable amount of staff time to complete.
- Trailer Storage , Spud Point 5%
This fee has not been adjusted since 2019 and is consistent with other storage fees being charged in the area.
- Impoundment/Lien Process, all 150%
This fee has not been adjusted since 2016. The process of filing eviction, lien filing, contact and discussions with the owner and ongoing review and discussion with counsel is a significant draw on staff time and resources.
- Credit Check, all 25%
This fee has not been adjusted since 2008 and is requested due to staff time involved with processing and the cost of the credit check vendor price increasing.
- Wait List, all 40%
This fee has not been adjusted since 2008 and is requested due to staff time involved with maintaining and contacting the public currently on a 2-yr wait list, primarily for small slips, for permanent berthing at our marinas.
- Electricity, Sports Fishing 20%
The fee at this location has not been adjusted since 2009 and is requested to offset the increasing utility cost by the provider.
New Fees
Spud Point Marina currently provides work boat services at $175 an hour. That rate covers the cost of the boat used but not labor. The Department is proposing that an additional fee for labor be implemented based on approved labor rates determined annually for various job classifications.
Mason’s Marina replaced three sections of docks with new metal docks that provide for electrical hook ups. A “New Dock” fee for permanent berthing is being requested for these premium docks.
Deletion of Fees
The following fees at Spud Point Marina are obsolete and requested to be deleted.
- Daily fish sales permit, weekly
- Daily fish sales permit, monthly
- Special events parking
Other Fee Changes
The Department currently offers two separate live-aboard rates for single occupants, distinguishing between commercial and non-commercial boaters. To streamline pricing, the Department proposes consolidating these rates into a single rate of $200.
Mason’s Marina has a separate flat rate approved for Transient Berth rates and differs from the rates established at Spud Point Marina, which was established based on the size of the vessel. The Department proposes utilizing the established rates from Spud Point to offer consistency between the marinas.
Summary of Expected Results
Fees being proposed in this report are only being added to cover ongoing increases or cost of providing staff services. While cost recovery is the key driver necessitating increase, Regional Parks seeks to ensure that its fees are not prohibitive to users even at the expense of cost recovery.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
March 21, 2023 - Board of Supervisors adopted Regional Park Fee Adjustments
March 26, 2024 - Board of Supervisors adopted Regional Park Fee Adjustments
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$15,629 |
|
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
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$15,629 |
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|
Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
|
|
|
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Fees/Other |
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$15,629 |
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|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
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$15,629 |
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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 4% increase to the fees shown in this report, unless other factors such as utility costs 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.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
The proposed new fees will not impact current staffing levels.
Attachments:
Fee Resolution
Regional Parks Fee Package Adjustment PDF
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Regional Parks Fee Package Adjustment EXCEL