The June meeting took place in San Francisco at the Ferry Building. The Staff Reports supporting the Commission’s actions and the Executive Officers Report with updates on an array of activities containing more in-depth information are on the Commission’s website.
Summary
- Authorized 42 leases for the use of public lands and resources, 19 of which included public access provisions.
- Authorized three lease amendments, four lease assignments, four bond or rent revisions, and one sublease endorsement.
- Authorized two non-exclusive geological survey permits.
- Authorized two offshore geophysical survey permits.
- Authorized staff to remove and dispose of 22 abandoned vessels in the Delta.
Port of San Francisco
Port staff updated the Commission about the seven and a half miles of waterfront it manages and the status of projects the Port and Commission have worked together on over the years. Updates involved the Mission Rock Development Project, investments to strengthen the Port’s maritime portfolio, public access and open space, equity, land use and development, and a resiliency project collaboration with the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Port highlighted Crane Cove Park, which opened in 2021, and China Basin Park, a fascinating and beautiful park that opened last month. A third park, part of the Mission Rock project, is expected to open later this year. All of these new parks are the result of collaborative work with the Commission.
City of Martinez
The Commission approved a Trust Lands Use Plan for the City of Martinez waterfront and marina. The Plan offers a vision and roadmap to redevelop the City’s waterfront, transform it into a regional destination, and make critical repairs to the deteriorating marina. Commission staff looks forward to continuing to work with the City as it implements the Plan and manages its public trust lands.
Benchmark Rental Rates
The Commission approved updated benchmarks for the Napa River and Corte Madera Creek. Benchmarks establish uniform rental rates in geographic regions with large concentrations of similar facilities and assure that the people of California are compensated for the use and occupation of state-owned land. The benchmarks the Commission approved, called category two rental rates, apply to non-water dependent uses such as protective structures, cantilevered decks, and sundecks. Category one rates, which were not part of today’s action, apply to water-dependent uses such as docks, piers, and buoys. The Commission typically updates its benchmark rental rates every five years.
Public Trust Guiding Principles for a Resilient San Francisco Bay
The Commission authorized its Executive Officer to retain a consultant to support the development of public trust guiding principles for resiliency in the San Francisco Bay. The Commission is partnering with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission to develop these principles. A grant from the Ocean Protection Council will fund the consultant’s work.
Legislation
The Commission adopted a support position on legislation by Representative Garamendi to create a federal abandoned and derelict vessel removal program. The Commission also adopted a support position on the following bills: AB 2196 (Connolly) to facilitate beaver relocation, SB 1053 (Blakespear) / AB 2236 (Bauer Kahan) to address the plastic pollution crisis, AB 2197 (Addis) to continue California’s successful Protect our Coast and Oceans Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, and SB 1425 (Gonzalez) to help California meet its liability obligations when the oil and gas operations offshore Long Beach end.
Future Meetings and Ways to Stay Informed
The Commission’s next meeting will be on August 15 on the Central Coast. You can sign up on our website for future meeting updates or follow us on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. You can watch a webcast of the June meeting and past meetings on Cal-Span.