Sausalito seeks business to revive run-down dock
Sausalito will soon be looking for an entrepreneur to upgrade a deteriorating bulkhead on the waterfront.
The structure is a rundown dock and several decrepit slips in shallow water near the Turney Street dock, the city’s only public access to Richardson Bay.
At its meeting on Jan. 6, the City Council instructed city planners to draft a short-term request for proposals to remodel the bulkhead.
“There is real interest in a pilot project,” said Vice Mayor Melissa Blaustein. “I’m just wondering, is there a reason why we are attaching the overarching larger RFP to the pilot project?”
The city’s consultants, Anchor QEA, are designing upgrades for the Turney Street dock and neighboring bulkhead. Officials hope to find a business willing to upgrade the bulkhead by summer. The preliminary improvements would be integrated into the overall project.
“This RFP represents what I call an innovative approach,” said Brandon Phipps, planning director and assistant city manager. “A public-private partnership where the selected party would fund the design, construction and operation of improvements while the city retains ownership and generates lease revenue.”
Phipps said the project has three phases. The first phase is placing a business at the bulkhead. The second phase is incorporating the improvements into the overall redesign of the dock area.
“Phase three is a long-term business operation that aligns with the city’s vision for maritime character, public access and environmental stewardship,” he said.
To move ahead, Phipps said the council needs to pass a resolution declaring the shoreline property would only be used for a public purpose and decide on the duration of initial and long-term leases. The council “should more clearly articulate what the city expects in return, both financially and in terms of public benefit.”
Councilmember Jill Hoffman asked Phipps whether the owner of a neighboring marina has given up on long-discussed plans to remodel the bulkhead. He has, Phipps said.
During the public comment period, local business interests praised the efforts to renovate the dock complex.
“This is a great project,” said Curtis Havel, Clipper Yacht Club harbormaster and Sausalito Sustainable Waterfront Association member. “This is a huge opportunity to spark that sense of business and commerce along the city’s waterfront.”
“It’s going to be a difficult thing to do, but we could be bringing in people from all over the Bay Area into Sausalito,” said Adrian Brinton. “It’ll be a long process, but I’m super excited this is getting started.”
“I’d like to see us move forward with the RFP, at least for the pilot,” said Blaustein, opening the council discussion. She hoped the more limited RFP could be issued soon so a new business could open up this summer. “Any new business that wants to be on the waterfront doesn’t want to miss the peak season.”
Councilmember Joan Cox, a lawyer who specializes in government operations, took the lead on answering Phipps’ technical questions. She endorsed city planners drafting the resolution, and suggested drafting an RFP for this summer and a longer-term one.
Councilmember Ian Sobieski said including fewer demands in the pilot’s RFP would make the site more attractive to entrepreneurs.
“If we overly buttonhole it, then we might eliminate respondents,” he said.
Mayor Steven Woodside said any RFP should acknowledge and preserve the city’s property rights on land and under water.
“I prefer to see the RFP say no interference with the existing rights of way,” he said. “Because someone is going to argue, hey, I should be able to hop out on the docks and jump across and get through that way, etc. I know there’s sensitivity to the docks themselves.”
“I think we’re all on the same page,” Phipps said. “This has been excellent.”