More Boat Slips Boarded Up at Pete's Harbor

Many current and former tenants of Pete's Harbor, as well as non-tenant supporters, were angered last week when several boat slips in the outer harbor of Pete's Harbor were boarded up and access to them blocked, leaving boats traveling through the area no means of docking in an emergency.

However, regardless of the fact that it means boats cannot dock in an emergency, these tenants and supporters of Pete's Harbor say they are also angered because the staff and owners were specifically ordered by the State Lands Commission (SLC) not to conduct any repairs, remodels or changes to the outer harbor without their prior permission - yet this is the second such instance in which work has been completed anyway.

This past Friday, March 22, large wooden boards and beams were erected at one end of the outer harbor, blocking off access by foot and by boat to emergency boat slips. Photos of this work are included with this article.

"The folks remaining at the harbor have expressed concerns for the safety hazards that large wooden boards jutting out over the end of the docks pose," said tenant supporters in a statement. "They expressed that it is not uncommon for boats passing by to bump into the end of the dock when strong winds are blowing, particularly boats that are with the local sailing school. Having these large boards hang over presents a danger to these boaters, and one of the large boards is also blocking access to a cleat that one of a tenant's smaller boats is tied to."

The City of Redwood City confirmed earlier this week that it did not know Pete's Harbor staff was planning to conduct this work and that "they would have appreciated" being consulted.

In letters obtained through public records requests, staff members of the SLC order Paula Uccelli, her attorney Ted Hannig and any members of the Pete's Harbor staff that they must submit written requests to the SLC and obtain permission before any such work be done, or before anything that significantly impacts tenants be conducted.

"Prior to the commencement of any work at the site, Commission staff requests Pete's Harbor submit a work plan providing a project description of the work to be completed for staff to review. The project description should include a scope of work including all significant construction or other work; any required regulatory regulations; itemized repairs including estimations of costs; an exhibit showing which docks shall be affected; repair schedule; and a description of any impacts to tenants resulting from repair activities," read a letter from Grace Kato, public lands manager for the SLC to Ted Hannig on Feb. 26.

As of March 28, the SLC confirmed it has received no work plans or requests from Pete's Harbor.

It appears the impetus for the letter sent by Kato to Ted Hannig was the incident that took place at the harbor on Feb. 22, when crews showed up in the outer harbor early that morning with power tools and began removing cleats from the outer harbor, though a handful of tenants were still living there on their boats. Arguments broke out between a remaining tenant, Chris Murphy, and the crews, resulting in the police being called out to the harbor.

Tenants and supporters notified the SLC of the incident, apparently prompting the SLC to send two letter sto Ted Hannig.

Shelli Haaf, an attorney for the SLC, said in the other letter, dated Feb. 22, "Hi Ted. This message is sent to follow our conversation of this afternoon in which you confirmed reports that work was performed on the docks today including in the small lease area (PRC 6857).

"Said work was performed without prior notice or consent from the State. In fact, PRC 6857 at paragraph 4(c)(2) specifically prohibits the alteration or removal of improvements on the lease premises absent of prior written consent of the Lessor."

The letter continued, "Please be advised that SLC staff considers this a serious matter, and I am hoping that your expression of understanding that any further repair work and/or work undertaken to address any identified encroachments extending beyond the lease areas will not be unliterally undertaken by your client and/or her agents or contractors prior to providing the requested information and/or obtaining the required approvals."

Following the sending of those letters, staff from the SLC actually traveled all the way from Sacramento to Pete's Harbor last Thursday, March 21, to survey the property and discuss in further detail the terms of the lease.

Despite that visit, the very next day, on Friday, March 22, the large orange boards were erected on the docks in the outer harbor, blocking access to boat slips.

Several tenants and Pete's Harbor supporters say they don't believe the work being done at Pete's Harbor is "repairs" at all.

"Ms. Uccelli has been careful to say that she has closed the outer harbor for repairs, but it's our belief that she is saying this because, to declare that she has closed the marina outright may be interpreted as a breach of her lease," said James Lee, a friend of many tenants.

Outside of the disagreements between Pete's Harbor staff and the SLC over repair work, the futue of Pete's Harbor remains at a standstill.

An appeal of the Redwood City Planning Commission's approval of the Pauls Corporation's proposed development cannot be heard until the SLC announces its intention for the outer harbor leases - in other words, whether they will allow the lease to be transferred from Paula Uccelli to Pauls Corporation, and whether they will allow the development to be built as-is.

That discussion cannot take place until the SLC's next regular meeting, which will likely take place around mid-April. Therefore, the City has postponed the hearing of the appeal against the proposed development at Pete's Harbor until May.

Copies of the two letters from the State Lands Commission to the Ted Hannig Law Firm on behalf of Pete's Harbor are included in the photos section of this article as a downloadable PDF document.

What do you think of what's going on between Pete's Harbor and the state? Tell us in the comments below.

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