Keep SC harbor hand launches free!

There will be a harbor meeting on Tuesday 11/27/12 as well, and I'm sure this issue will get attention there.

I plan on going to this meeting. 

You can attend the Port Commission meeting on Tuesday, November 27th and let the Commission know you would like them to repeal this fee.  The meeting begins at 7:00 PM and public comment “oral communication” is the first item on the agenda – so be there promptly at 7:00 if you wish to comment.  The meetings take place in the Harbor Public Meeting Room located at 365 A Lake Avenue on the east side of the harbor.

Anyone else?  Perhaps we can grab a pizza before or a beer afterwards.  Or both!

-Allen

Thanks all!

The fee program doesn't seem thought out to me. Is the fee on top of the regular day use parking fee?
Say a regular harbor user has a parking permit for the year. Are they exempt from the additional $10 fee or not?
If a user doesn't have a vehicle (and the fee specifies on the sign that it is "per vehicle") and rolls their kayak to the ramp, they don't need to pay?

Seems like if they were really serious about this they would have to install a manned kiosk or at least an "iron ranger" type thing to collect fees without making users drive all around the harbor just to pay.
  the whole thing makes no real sense.

Thanks Sean,
These are valid questions. Launch fees for PBers include parking, so if they enforce a kayak launch fee, it should include a daily parking pass, just as they do with car top launches at the main ramp. Most of us are in the water at o'dark-thirty, so there's plenty of main launch area parking. If I have to pay to launch, you can be sure I'll be launching at the main ramp, and parking right there, using the wash down area and clogging the area. Currently, if you launch a PB before normal hours, the Harbor Patrol will tag your vehicle and you just pay when you return.
I can't see how they would enforce the fees at A/FF dock, or anywhere else within the harbor for that matter. There are many many places to launch away from the docks.  Not feasible or cost efficient to provide an officer to spend time making sure we're paying up.
And what about the folks who already pay to store their kayaks at the harbor. It's approx. $300 per year, and includes a parking pass. Will they be subjected to the launch fee also?
Petition signed, and I'll be at the harbor meeting.

Instead of paying 10 dollars plus parking I'm gonna take that money and organize a group to kick out any commissioner who votes for it. I think they tend to listen to that more. Then Signed petitions. Let them know that we will be waiting for them at the next election. I've ran plenty of elections before and will happily donate my time.

     Where do I find the petition?

     Where do I find the petition?

Try this link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/santa-cruz-port-commission-save-santa-cruz-harbor-access

Signed and posted on my fb.

signed the petition, fired off an email to everyone that they asked to send it to.

To whom it may concern,

Santa Cruz city doesn't allow launching a kayak off a beach and kayakers only have the harbor for safe launches.  The municipal wharf launch is functionally useless due to a combo of design flaws and marine mammals.  The dock is literally covered with either the mammals or their feces.  If the harbor charges a launch fee, then only those who can afford $10 can access the water legally.  That is fine for those who may be visiting and only go out once.  But what of the retiree or citizen that paddles for exercise on a regular basis?  This cost would ensure that the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary is a "rich only" playground.  Please maintain the current free access for non motorized craft.

Sincerely

     Where do I find the petition?

Try this link:

http://www.change.org/petitions/santa-cruz-port-commission-save-santa-cruz-harbor-access

Everyone please get the word out to sign the online petition to help keep access free.
Thanks Mike

Done signed and shared!!!!!!!

Signed a couple more times, by clearing my browser cache and going back to the link. 

signed the petition, fired off an email to everyone that they asked to send it to.

To whom it may concern,

Santa Cruz city doesn't allow launching a kayak off a beach and kayakers only have the harbor for safe launches.  The municipal wharf launch is functionally useless due to a combo of design flaws and marine mammals.  The dock is literally covered with either the mammals or their feces.  If the harbor charges a launch fee, then only those who can afford $10 can access the water legally.  That is fine for those who may be visiting and only go out once.  But what of the retiree or citizen that paddles for exercise on a regular basis?  This cost would ensure that the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary is a "rich only" playground.  Please maintain the current free access for non motorized craft.

Sincerely

 Well written Eugene, I don't know how the rules are here in California but I'm hearing everyone is saying its illegal to launch from the beach. I know in Hawaii it's a law to have Free and clear public access to the ocean since the ocean is not any persons property. Since taking away a free launch in SC harbor to legally launch our kayaks we would have no other option but to pay the fee. Seems like monopoly to me.

signed the petition, fired off an email to everyone that they asked to send it to.

To whom it may concern,

Santa Cruz city doesn't allow launching a kayak off a beach and kayakers only have the harbor for safe launches.  The municipal wharf launch is functionally useless due to a combo of design flaws and marine mammals.  The dock is literally covered with either the mammals or their feces.  If the harbor charges a launch fee, then only those who can afford $10 can access the water legally.  That is fine for those who may be visiting and only go out once.  But what of the retiree or citizen that paddles for exercise on a regular basis?  This cost would ensure that the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary is a "rich only" playground.  Please maintain the current free access for non motorized craft.

Sincerely

 Well written Eugene, I don't know how the rules are here in California but I'm hearing everyone is saying its illegal to launch from the beach. I know in Hawaii it's a law to have Free and clear public access to the ocean since the ocean is not any persons property. Since taking away a free launch in SC harbor to legally launch our kayaks we would have no other option but to pay the fee. Seems like monopoly to me.

I believe the rules state that you cannot launch any kayak/SUPs ect from any (Santa Cruz)"city beach".  This includes most of the beaches within city limits including Twin Lakes, Cowels, Natural Bridges ect.  You can launch from the Capitola Wharf and the Aptos beaches though they(Aptos) can be pretty gnarly. 

So I went went to floating dock today to see this handwritten sign for myself.  The harbor fee collector guy was there so I took the opportunity to speak with him.  He was a friendly and informative guy and we had a pleasant conversation.  He explained that the fee will apply to parking in the harbor parking lot and or using the BOAT RAMP.  The fee will nullify the need to pay the parking meters.  Nobody will be present to collect fees until 10am, but you can pay upon return to your vehicle.  If there was a parking ticket on your car, they would trade it for your $10 fee.  This applies to parking in the harbor and/or using the BOAT RAMP.  If you park in the neighborhood and carry your boat to the FLOATING DOCK, you would not be expected to pay the fee.   

I was happy to hear this information but I am not considering it factual until I see it in writing (and not a cardboard poster board).  Take this with a grain of salt and don't assume its completely legit just because I said it. 

Who part of your fee will pay (Nice sunny Monday afternoon.):

1000 ways to solve this problem ......  Pay them in pennies.  Not rolled!

Love it!  legal tender lol.

I can't make out that picture.  is it a guy sitting in a lawnchair?  Also could be wheelchair, I can't really tell.

Where can we get more info about the hearing on the 27th?