Restore Public Confidence

By Lisa Fernandez

Compliance with all laws, Eliminate current practice of censoring public comments at public Board meetings; Open public meetings to all by televising the meetings; Obey Brown Act

We must eliminate the benefits for the Commissioners. Currently, the Harbor Commissioners enjoy health insurance, life insurance, retirement benefits, in addition to other benefits above their $600.00 salary per month. The Harbors and Navigation Code states that commissioners shall not exceed the sum of $600 per month or $7,200 per year. The San Mateo County Harbor Commissioners are one of the highest paid commissioners in the State of California. The cost of benefits for these commissioners is approximately twice their annual salary. These benefits should be for the full time employees, not part-time Commissioners. The Harbor District currently pays approximately $42,000 annually for benefits to RETIRED commissioners, a practice that should cease.

The Federal law exempts Veterans from paying commercial activity fees. This current commission requires our nation's veterans to pay all fees of the Harbor District. Several times, this issue has been raised at commission meeting and each and every time, the Harbor Commissioners reject the veteran's request. The Harbor District must be in compliance with the law.

In 1999, the Harbor District was found in violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act by the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. It was alleged that various Commissioners were secretly poled in an effort to predetermine the outcome of an Election of Harbor Officers. As a result of a DA's investigation, the District was ordered to "cure and correct" the violation. The Commission chose to accomplish this by redoing the "bogus" election at the next Board Meeting, but the results were exactly the same, nothing had in fact been changed. This is just one of the Brown Act violations.

2) MAKE THIS AGENCY A PUBLIC AGENCY

Negative comments are edited out of the minutes for the Board Meetings. I have spoken at two Board Meetings and was not mentioned in the Minutes. This happens quite often. No public agency should censure its own minutes. That defies the entire concept of what a public agency is. Silencing public criticism is no way to improve this agency. Let the minutes reflect the actual meeting.

The meetings must be televised. We have offered to help the Commission get these televised. They have repeatedly denied this request. If elected, as much as I hate the thought of being on local TV twice a month, I feel this is necessary. The public trust must be restored and this is the only way to assure that. It will be kept on videotape, and not just recorded, edited, and then destroyed after a month, as is the current practice.

I would like to see a place for public comments on the SMCHD website. I would also like to see a suggestion box at both harbors. The commissioners need to get public feedback, even if it is critical. It is the only way we can assess how we are doing and if perhaps we have overlooked something. A lot of people are uncomfortable with public speaking. They need to have an option to let us know their opinions.

Our employees at both harbors are fantastic. They deserve to work in an atmosphere free of intimidation. As a former employee myself, there is a desperate need for professionalism at this workplace. To say it is sorely lacking is an understatement. The problem is not with the employees (whom I have supported for every grievance that has been filed). Unfortunately, the current Board has denied all of these grievances. I propose that an employee from each harbor represent employee issues to the board. Currently, the general manager is also the personnel officer. This doesn't work.

3) ALLOW THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PUBLIC EVENTS AT OUR HARBOR TO PRESENT THEIR IDEAS BEFORE THE HARBOR COMMISSION.

On at least one instance, a vendor who wanted a well-organized public event held at Pillar Point Harbor was turned away before even being allowed to present his request to the commission for approval. Luckily, one commissioner (Lundie) heard about this and had it put before the commission. Now the event is a yearly event at the Harbor.

Please join me in trying to stop this fiscal decimation of the district. The projects that are currently being implemented are, in my opinion, unsound. The amount of money being spent on these projects will deplete our cash flow that we won't be able to survive past two more years, especially if the new pier is built. Take back your harbor. Support Lisa Fernandez, Jon Linder, and Leni Schultz as the Harbor Change team.