Vindication Imminent for Save Pete’s Harbor, But Struggle Continues

After more than seven months, Save Pete's Harbor (SPH), the group working to preserve the state-owned submerged lands in the Smith Slough portion of Pete's Harbor as a commercial marina open to the boating public, can finally celebrate after learning that Redwood City staff will be recommending that the city council vote on Monday, May 6, to send the proposed development at Pete's Harbor back to the drawing board. SPH feels vindicated by the fact that the staff recommendations virtually mirror the position our organization put forth in a widely read Patch op-ed two weeks ago.

We are also proud to have overcome what most people thought were insurmountable odds: a planning commission and city council whose members have been friends with and received contributions from the landlord; a professional PR firm hired to attack SPH and its allies; theft, defamatory attacks, and a calculated spread of mistruths; and a well-heeled and well-connected developer who has expressed his desire to develop the entire Redwood City waterfront regardless of the negative impact to the boating public of California and the community's public access rights to the bay.

However, because the city council may only be sending the project back to the planning commission and not rejecting the proposal outright, the struggle continues to preserve the state-owned outer harbor as a viable commercial marina open to the boating public. We also have no guarantee that the city council, with their close ties to the landlord, will follow staff recommendations.

For this reason, SPH is asking that the public turn out to support our cause at the city council meeting at 7 PM. Every supporter will be another pair of eyes on the council. SPH is also accepting much-needed donations to pay for our ongoing legal fees via Paypal and Rally. SPH is applying for 501(c)(3) status and expects to be approved, so all donations will be tax deductible.

We at SPH would like to thank our attorney Brett Jolley of Herum Crabtree, as well as Redwood City staff, for all their hard work. We would also like to thank all the community groups and members who contributed letters, research, and support, and spoke out at so many community meetings.

Our struggle continues, but we are heartened to see the first signs of progress. We look forward to working with the City of Redwood City and the Pauls Corporation on a plan that will be good for recreational boaters and Redwood City. SPH's only interest in meeting with these parties is to discuss the preservation of a viable commercial marina for the public. As implied in our mission statement and by the very nature of our organization, SPH has no interest in acquiring the smaller "consent" lease (Lease PRC 6857) of state-owned submerged lands for ourselves, nor are we looking to pursue any sort of profitable venture through our advocacy.

Our goal has been consistent from the beginning, and we truly appreciate the City of Redwood City taking the time to hear our concerns over the last seven months. As Chair Alan Gordon of the State Lands Commission stated at the commission's meeting on December 5, 2012, it seems there is room for a compromise solution that truly incorporates public input and benefits the wider community. We hope and expect that the city council does the right thing and follows staff recommendations to these ends.

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SPH invites the public to the Monday evening city council meeting at 1017 Middlefield Road in Redwood City, at 7 PM.