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https://n2v.almanacnews.com/square/print/2015/12/01/an-open-letter-to-the-commissioners----south-city-is-dumping-the-harbor-district-while-courting-the-county

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An Open Letter To The Commissioners -- South City Is Dumping The Harbor District While Courting The County

Original post made by John Charles Ullom, another community, on Dec 1, 2015

Hello Commissioners,

I hope this email finds you well.

I have discovered three things that I feel it’s important you know:

1) Oyster Point Marina/Park is a Superfund Site owned by the City of South San Francisco. Barrels of industrial waste solvents, paint, fuel, and sludge are buried under the land that makes up Oyster Point Marina/Park. The landfill is subsiding and toxic industrial waste sludge is sinking into SF Bay as the sea is rising. Industrial waste and garbage was dumped on Bay Mud for thirty years. No liner was ever installed at the landfill site.

You may have noticed that the Harbormaster’s Office, the Bay Trail, and some of the parking areas are flooded and inaccessible during high tide events. This flooding is caused by landfill subsidence that requires a levee system and installation of a new landfill cap. These are very costly projects.

Here is a link to a report that documents the history of Oyster Point Landfill: — Web Link

2) The City of South San Francisco is actively working to terminate the Oyster Point Marina/Park JPA on terms South City considers favorable. The City Council and City Manager are lobbying Supervisors Pine, Slocum, and Groom to dissolve the Harbor District.

Here’s a link to the Special Meeting audio where South City Manager Mike Futrell and the City Council discuss the “Horrible Liability of the Oyster Point Landfill,” early termination of the JPA, and dissolution of the Harbor District: — Web Link

3) South City knows that the Harbor District subsidizes Oyster Point Marina with two million dollars per year of Harbor District funds. In perpetuity South City plans to request two million per year in countywide property tax to terminate the JPA.

Two audio recordings of the Sept. 16, 2015 South City Special Meeting are published on YouTube:
South San Francisco City Council Special Meeting discussion regarding the Oyster Point Landfill-Marina-Park: — Web Link Report on the Oyster Point Landfill-Marina-Park: — Web Link

The JPA between South City and the Harbor District is simply an agreement that specifies that the Harbor District manages operations Oyster Point Marina. South City owns the Oyster Point Landfill/Park. Read the JPA to learn about the termination process and the terms of disengagement: — Web Link

Thank you for considering my concerns. If you have any questions or require more details, please contact me at your convenience.

John Ullom

Comments

Posted by newness
a resident of Menlo Park: South of Seminary/Vintage Oaks
on Dec 1, 2015 at 2:33 pm

What's our new appointee say?

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Posted by Michael G. Stogner
a resident of another community
on Dec 1, 2015 at 4:54 pm

John Thank You for this excellent report, For those of you who don't know it John Ullom was responsible for San Mateo County Harbor District receiving one $53,000 refund recently.

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Posted by Ron Peter to pay Paul
a resident of another community
on Dec 1, 2015 at 6:21 pm

The elected members of the Harbor District provide a voice for thousands of fisherman. This board should be focused on supposing the needs of the fishing industry in Half Moon Bay.

If we allow the Sound San Francisco City Council to disband this district and raid their coffers to pay for a new cap on their landfill, every other city in the county with a dump in the baylands should benefit as well. Will Menlo Park receive revenue from the former district to help pay for their landfill maintenance?

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Posted by Rick
a resident of Menlo Park: Fair Oaks
on Dec 1, 2015 at 9:01 pm

The City of South San Francisco is only looking out for themselves. They could care less about the hardworking fishermen at Pillar Point Harbor. The South City Council want's to maximize development while tapping into countywide property tax to subsidize the cost of their toxic landfill.

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Posted by Amerigo
a resident of another community
on Dec 1, 2015 at 9:24 pm

South City Councilmember Karyl Matsumoto is the ringleader in a scheme to get countywide proper tax funds to pay for cleaning up the toxic Oyster Point Landfill.

Oyster Point Marina/Landfill is owned by the City of South San Francisco. The Harbor District should terminate the JPA with South City and walk away from the Oyster Point Landfill mess as soon as possible.

Karyl Matsumoto put the screws to Harbor Commissioners Robert Bernard and Pietro Parravano and insisted they appoint Virginia Kiraly to replace marine biologist Nicole David.

Virginia Kiraly is a stooge for South City Councilmember Karyl Matsumoto.

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Posted by Mike
a resident of another community
on Dec 1, 2015 at 11:13 pm

It's my understanding that the City of South San Francisco is in violation of the Clean Water Act because of chronic flooding at Oyster Point Marina. Apparently it's not safe for landfill caps to be underwater during high tide events.

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Posted by realist
a resident of another community
on Dec 2, 2015 at 10:21 am

Virginia Chang Kiraly is no longer on the MPFPD Board, despite what she claims and having led one of the Board meetings after assuming the position of SMCHD Commissioner. MPFPD Director and SMCHD Commissioner are incompatible offices: MPFPD and SMCHD have overlapping spheres of influence, both contend for grants for water search and rescue, both could potentially buy land or perform emminent domain in their overlapping spheres of influence, both have boats staff and equipment for bay rescue. All it takes is the slightest potential for any slight governance conflict to invalid the previous office held.

Where's Chang Kiraly's credibility as a new SMCHD Commissioner after this blunder? Where's the money and the legal justification for spending it on any of the SSF CC crazy ideas for turning Oyster Point Marina in to Saint Francis Yacht Club South? The rest of the SMCHD Commissioners aren't this dumb and the SMC BOS sure aren't either.

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