Grand Jury: Harbor District Rising Price of Dysfunction

San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury has issued a new report on the Harbor District, recommending that the County Board of Supervisors initiate the independent study, promised in 2014, of possible scenarios for dissolution of the Harbor District so that they may make an informed decision regarding the District’s future. 

The Grand Jury and the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) have repeatedly -- most recently July 2015 -- recommended dissolution of the County-wide Harbor District, which owns Pillar Point Harbor and operates Oyster Point Marina under a joint powers agreement with South San Francisco.  Possible scenarios to be examined include naming the County to absorb the governing responsibilities of the District, with or without returning Oyster Point Marina to South San Francisco. The Grand Jury recommends that the study be initiated by end Sept 2016 and completed within six months.

UPDATE 9/20/16: County response to the Grand Jury report is to delay initiation of a fiscal analysis until after the close of FY 2017-18, at which time a determination may be made regarding any further analysis or action that may be warranted.