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The City of Berkeley remains unique in California in its berth fee waiver program for water-oriented nonprofits needing slips to host community service and recreational outreach activities. Its history stretches back to the 1936 yacht harbor development, when Berkeley gave the Sea Scouts, the nautical branch of Boy Scouts of America (BSA), two free berths at the marina for three boats after the local BSA permitted Berkeley to quarry rock from its Camp Herms property in El Cerrito to build the marina and breakwater. Formalized by city resolutions in 1945 and 1969, the program was extended starting in the seventies to other nonprofits that can show “beneficial public use” of monetary value greatly exceeding the value of the berth. In 1998, based on concerns of BSA’s position on religious and sexual orientation in general, the City discontinued free berthing for the Sea Scouts, which then moved its vessels to other marinas with paid slips (losing their coed and girls programs in the process). Today, amid the marina’s 1000 slips, there are currently four nonprofits occupying ten slips:
Pegasus Project: Founded in 1994 by Australian Peter Hayes who also co-founded the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability and the “No Child Left Ashore” vision, using Hayes' 51’ wooden ketch for youth outings from K-Dock.
Blue Water Foundation: founded in 1992 to provide at-risk and under-represented youth an opportunity to sail, using "slip K."
Berkeley Racing Canoe Center: Encourages competitive dragon boat racing and recreational paddling for all ages and abilities, using two inside slips on M-dock.
Cal Sailing Club: Provides low-cost sailing education and year-round water access, using six 25' slips on J dock.
In April 2020, these fee waiver organizations provided community service of $354,500 in return for berths valued at $40,863, an 88% return on investment. Together, they bring hundreds out on the water who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Whenever the chance arises, please give a word of support for these programs to your Councilmember. Parks Department staff have not been maintaining the annual reporting process to the PRW Commission and city council, as they are mandated to do, and BWCC is in the process of finding out why. Please contact us at bwccoalition@gmail.com if you have any information to share.
Links
Case law recounting "rocks for docks" deal and Sea Scout marina berthing history:
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-supreme-court/1000538.html
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-court-of-appeal/1072716.html
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