Sausalito Issues in 2017

In 2017 I ran on the platform that we need sensible solutions for Sausalito – practical, common-sense approaches that work for the whole community. These were the issues at the forefront of our minds that fall.

Ferry landing

• As a ferry commuter and resident who enjoys using the ferry for family outings to San Francisco, I strongly believe that the ferry is a critical part of Sausalito’s unique character, an essential public transportation option and a potentially life-saving resource in an emergency.

• It is past time to upgrade our deteriorating ferry landing to make it safer, to comply with federal law to accommodate disabled riders, and to improve the experience for residents and visitors alike.  

• Since 2012, the Golden Gate Bridge District has proposed several iterations.  As I made clear when I considered the District’s concept as a Planning Commissioner in 2015, the early proposals were far too large.  In 2016, I recommended a significantly reduced version as long as there was appropriate construction mitigation for neighboring uses, including the Inn Above Tide and the Yacht Club, the belvedere affecting the Yacht Club (a widened seating area)  was removed, and the City and the District continue to work on land side improvements.  

• The public process has improved the project.  After years of public hearings and resident input, months of litigation and extensive review by the City’s consultants, the current proposal is even smaller.  

• I urged the City Council to move forward expeditiously and to approve the new ferry landing with appropriate conditions, which they did unanimously on October 10, 2017.   

Quality of Life and Infrastructure   

• Local government’s primary function is to sustain the quality of life in the community by providing basic services such as public safety, roads, infrastructure, parks and planning.

• In the past few years, the City has begun to reinvest in local infrastructure after many years of neglect.

• I have strongly supported that investment the following ways:

• • With other local parents, seniors, and community members, I campaigned for Measure F in 2015 to maintain and improve our parks.

• • I supported Measure O in 2014 – a half-cent sales tax to fund investment in infrastructure, including roads and sewers.

• It is critical that our investment in infrastructure be financially prudent and completely transparent. The City Council must vigilantly safeguard public funds used for these important efforts, and provide the community with clear information about upcoming infrastructure improvement projects.  

General Plan Update and Marinship

• The City has formed the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) charged with updating the City’s 1995 General Plan.  The General Plan Update provides the opportunity to reexamine the plan and make updates to reflect the opportunities and challenges that have emerged.
• The City should use this opportunity to re-examine its policies on a number of important issues such as uses and infrastructure planning in the Marinship, transportation planning and infrastructure, community and economic development, and more.

Short Term Rentals (Airbnb, VRBO)  

• Currently, Sausalito bans short-term rentals entirely.  This means that in-home rentals through sites such as Airbnb, VRBO, etc. for periods of less than 30 days are illegal and the City can impose fines.  

• The ban is not working.  Short-term rentals are happening all over town and the City does not have the resources to stop them.  The resulting commercial use in residential zones produces adverse effects ranging from loss of permanent housing to negative impacts on neighbors such as noise, improper trash disposal, parking shortages, etc.  We need a solution that is workable.

• Not all short-term rentals have negative community impacts but, in fact, have community benefits.  Many residents have attested to how important they are to their lives. For example, some have pointed out that periodically renting a room in their home supplements social security or other modest income, allowing them to stay in Sausalito when they would otherwise be forced out.

• These practical considerations are why, in my role as a member of the City’s Short Term Rental Task Force, I joined Councilmember Jill Hoffman in recommending a middle path between a total ban and unregulated short-term rentals (since both extremes tend to produce similar negative results).

• We proposed a limited pilot program (one or two years) that would allow certain short-term rentals that are generally do not produce the negative impacts associated with the practice.  Let’s implement that program and then assess the results:

• • Only permanent residents could “host” (someone who lives in the home for 180 days per year or more);

• • Hosts must register and pay a fee to the City for a permit to pay for enforcement;

• • The total number of days a host can rent will be limited (e.g. 60 days);

• • Neighbor concerns must be addressed.  All hosts must provide a 24-hour number to the City so that complaints can be addressed immediately;

• • Like hotels, short-term rental hosts would pay or collect a Transit Occupancy Tax for the benefit of the City of Sausalito.  

Tourist Bike Congestion  

• Tourist rental cyclists come to Sausalito in large numbers every day and many residents have rightly expressed concerns about safety, road congestion, and congestion around downtown and the ferry landing.  The issue is real and must be taken seriously by our City Council.

• In partnership with community members and private entities, the City has developed programs a variety of tools.  These strategies must be more vigorously employed, managed and enforced:

• • An existing ordinance prohibiting bicycle riding and parking on City sidewalks;

• • A bicycle parking and ambassador program that, properly deployed, can help reduce congestion and safety risks.

• • A bicycle return program that some, but not all, bike rental programs participate in.

• We need to explore additional solutions that have a reasonable chance of success
  • A permitting process that might allow the City to require bicycle rental companies to bear their fair share of the cost to the community to mitigate negative impacts;
  • Mechanisms to incentivize bicycle rental companies to better educate riders on courteous ridership, parking rules and options, and return options other than the ferry;
  • Legal changes that could allow ferries to charge fees for rental bicycles, but not individually owned commuter bicycles.

Anchor-out Community

• Individuals have been living on Richardson Bay in anchored vessels since the 1840s. The “anchor out” community remained small, but has grown significantly in the recent past — from an estimated 98 vessels anchored in Richardson Bay in 2008 to over 200 vessels in 2015.

• I am in favor of exploring ways to preserve an anchor-out community while managing their impacts on the Bay, our live-aboard and houseboat communities, and our public services.

• In 2017, Sausalito left the Richardson Bay Regional Authority because Sausalito was contributing a large amount of money each year but the Council believed that the RBRA was not actively managing the situation.

• I generally support the current plan adopted by the City Council, and especially support its first two steps: to reduce marine debris and to address members of the community who are a danger to themselves or others.  Once these first two steps are taken, I believe another evaluation of the issue, with full public input, is needed prior to taking further steps to remove inhabited boats.

• We should also look at long-term solutions of an established mooring field. While any such solution will require environmental review, it would have environmental benefits and lead to stability and a source of permit revenue.  

Sea Level Rise  

• Sea level rise is an issue in Marin County. It is already impacting us, as reflected by more frequent and severe flooding in low-lying areas. This adversely affects roadways, drainage and utilities, among other City-managed resources, and these impacts will only increase over time.  

• I support Marin County’s planning efforts to meet these challenges both along the Coast and Bay.  

• As a Sausalito City Councilmember, I would continue to actively partner with the County to develop solutions to plan for and protect against the impacts of sea level rise.

• We must grapple with these issues now in order to develop appropriate solutions to inevitable change, to preserve our jobs and tax base.  

Pension Reform

• It is extremely important that local governments keep a vigilant eye on employee pensions, other employee benefits and increasing unfunded liabilities.  These costs are affecting the ability of many public agencies to provide basic services.

• The good news is that the City has taken steps recommended by the Marin County Grand Jury to bring its obligations into line with financial prudence and, as a result, compares well against other California agencies.

• But good progress does not mean we should be complacent.  As a City Council member, I will remain vigilant and continue to work with other Council Members and the City’s strong financial team to explore additional solutions to ensure our pension benefits are consistent with sound financial stewardship.

Susan Cleveland-Knowles – On the Record

An Open Letter from Susan Cleveland-Knowles to Sausalito Residents

Dear Friends and Neighbors: