Crescent City Harbor Roundup, Dec. 3, 2024

Harbor Commissioners learned about a grant the district is pursuing that will help revitalize the former Fashion Blacksmith boatyard. | Photo by Gavin Van Alstine

Among the items discussed at the Dec. 3, 2024 Crescent City Harbor District meeting:

New Board Business: A new set of Harbor Commissioners chose Gerhard Weber as their Board president last week and went with Annie Nehmer, one of three newcomers to the Harbor District, as its secretary.

Commissioners also volunteered for a plethora of ad-hoc committees focused on personnel, infrastructure, legal affairs and policies and procedures, special events, community outreach and the Harbor District website. According to Interim Harbormaster Mike Rademaker, while each committee dives deep into its focus area, any changes would come before the full Board.

Dan Schmidt, another new commissioner, proposed creating more committees that can improve the relationship between the Harbor District and commercial fishing fleet. He said the harbor should also attend meetings of the California Coastal Commission, California Department of Fish and Wildlife as well as the Crescent City Council, Del Norte County Board of Supervisors and, potentially, Del Norte Unified School District.

Nehmer pointed out that she and Commissioner Rick Shepherd, who are commercial fishermen themselves, regularly communicate with the fishing fleet.

Commissioner John Evans, who, along with Schmidt, volunteered for the proposed government relations committee said his intent was to focus on local governments.

Grant updates: In addition to using a $20 million EPA Climate Change Grant to secure a long-term source of ice for the fishing fleet, if awarded, the Crescent City Harbor District is proposing a complete revitalization of its boatyard.

Coming on the heels of Fashion Blacksmith’s departure earlier this year, $13 million of the $20 million grant would pay for dredging, new equipment, including travel lifts, as well as boat haul-out improvements, said Mike Bahr, CEO of Community System Solutions, which manages the port’s grants.

Other proposed uses for that EPA grant, include using $500,000 to hire new staff to spearhead the various construction projects at the harbor, Bahr said.

CSS’s contract with the Harbor District ended in September, though it continues to pursue grant opportunities and manage the port’s existing grants, Bahr said.

Over the past year, CSS has held several community meetings focused on the Citizens Dock rebuild.

Harbor Investment Update: Rademaker continues to work with a real estate development firm based in Orange County to potentially revitalize the Harbor District’s RV parks. He said he has also been in communication with a company based in Medford.

Rademaker said he hoped to have a proposal before the Harbor District Board by its Dec. 17 meeting, but said he felt some of the potential investors were low-balling the district.

“One proposal was $15,000 for the RV parks per month, which to me is a non-starter unless you guys feel differently, considering Redwood Harbor Village has a $1 million view on the water,” Rademaker told commissioners on Dec. 3. “I don’t think we’re that desperate.”

Rademaker said he’s also working to restructure Harbor District staff in an effort to control costs. He mentioned Alex Lemus, whose company Renewable Energy Capital built a solar panel installation at the Harbor District and who had leased Redwood Harbor Village and Bayside RV parks with the intention of making them more attractive to tourists. The Harbor District and Lemus parted ways in October 2023 after he agreed to terminate the leases on both RV parks.

On Dec. 3, Rademaker said he wanted to make sure that the Harbor District didn’t wind up in a similar situation. Harbor District staff are also continuing to work with Steve Opp, of Commercial Real Estate Development Enterprises, to find other potential investors.

Rademaker said he hoped to provide more concrete details to commissioners in the near future.