_{Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz}

Among the items discussed at the Crescent City Harbor District meeting Wednesday:

Community survey: Crescent City Harbor officials are seeking the community’s feedback on plans for future development at the port in the form of an online survey.

The survey comes after the Board of Commissioners contracted with Commercial Real Estate Development Enterprise, or CREDE to assess market interest and analyze financial performance for development options at the harbor. It asks the public to weigh in on community needs, the future of Bayside and Redwood Harbor Village RV parks as well as how the proposed development plans at the harbor would impact its character. To access the survey, visit www.ccharbor.com/community-survey.

Former Coast Guard building: Layoffs and other disruptions at the federal level are delaying the transfer of the former U.S. Coast Guard building near Whaler Island to the Crescent City Harbor District, according to Harbormaster Mike Rademaker. However, he said he’s allowing staff with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and a deputy with the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office marine patrol division to use space in that building as a courtesy.

When the U.S. Coast Guard left, the building fell under the jurisdiction of the U.S. General Services Administration. According to Rademaker, in 2022 GSA officials said the process to turn the building over to the Harbor District would take about two years.

“When I talked to them a couple weeks ago, their staff, there were a lot of layoffs, obviously, and things are kind of in disarray,” he said. “But I would like to see that progress quickly. I’ll be continuing to reach out to them.”

Rademaker said that while the Harbor District can share use of the building to other agencies, it can’t charge rent until it actually owns the building.

Rademaker said he and Commissioner John Evans had discussed use of the building with the Del Norte County sheriff and the undersheriff and are working on formalizing an agreement.

Ocean Gold takes over hoist lease: Ocean Gold Seafoods is gearing up for the pink shrimp season, potentially bringing several hundred thousand dollars of new revenue to the Crescent City Harbor, Rademaker told commissioners.

In February, the Westport, Washington-based company took over hoists Global Quality Foods operated on Citizens Dock. At a Harbor District meeting Feb. 7, Ocean Gold’s director of operations, Aaron Dierks, said the company had also entered into an informal agreement with Pacific Seafood to lease equipment at the Crescent City ice plant.

On Tuesday, Rademaker said Ocean Gold put new equipment into the ice plant and is confident it will be operational. Ocean Gold is also working on trucking and is confident they will be able to bring shrimp into the harbor when the season starts April 1.