Several weeks back, The Triplicate reported a story that Crescent Seafood and the Crescent City Harbor were unable to come to terms following the expiration of Crescent Seafood’s lease on obsure 170 Marine Way.
Owner Kurt Hochberg was looking at a new lease agreement with a six percent override on all restaurant and fish market sales. Hochburg balked at the lease proposal. Center to the discussion was the business’s mutually-agreed, visibly poor location. An impasse and ultimate discontinuance of the seafood market loomed on the horizon.
At Tuesday’s Harbor meeting, Commissioners approved a new short-term two year lease, with an increase in base rent and no override on sales during the lease. Harbormaster Tim Petrick pledged to locate a more suitable and public location which would allow Crescent Seafood to more easily ingress and egress his business to load fish product and install fish cleaning facilities, ensuring freshness of his product line.
Both parties expressed their satisfaction with the special lease agreement. The vote to approve the lease was 4-1, with Commissioner Brian Stone dissenting.
In other Harbor business, the Tri-Agency Joint Powers Authority remains on shaky ground. The Commission tepidly approved the Joint Powers Authority by-laws for the Tri-Agency Economic Development Authority after deleting the political paragraph on wind power, within the by-laws. The Harbor deposited $10,000 for its share in Tri-Agency. The City’s portion is $30,000 and has yet to approve its contribution pending today’s Harbor vote. The County continues to mull over its share of $70,000 to fund the Agency for the upcoming year.
The Harbor voted 5-0 but reserved its right to withdraw from Tri-Agency at anytime.
Linda Sutter, long-time critic of Tri-Agency and candidate for 5th District Board of Supervisors cautioned Commissioners the by-laws of the Joint Powers Authority have no mechanism for oversight. “ Del Norte County is in crisis mode with no one conducting any due diligence. We cannot afford to squander precious resources.”
Commissioners approved the independent auditor ‘s Financial Report for year ending June 30, 2023. While admitting mistakes and omissions were noted, Commissioners approved the audit with a promise to increase oversight and vigilance in conducting its business.