Sonoma County Regional Parks and the Spud Point Marina, with Joe Rodota and Bob Black

Sonoma County. The chosen spot of all the earth as far as nature is concerned, according to the famed plant wizard Luther Burbank Diverse County, with 1,010,000 acres of land and 1574 miles of scenic roadways, the county is rightfully famed for its agriculture did a culture, industry

and recreation, as well as for the amazingly successful ethnic and economic mixture of its more than 340,000 residents on for the forward looking philosophy of its local governing bodies. Now we invite you to take a closer look at Sonoma County in the eighties with your host,

rich McGlinchy. How you doing, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Sonoma County in the 80. We're gonna be talking about the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department in general, but are specific. Subject today is going to be Spud Point Marina. This is a fairly new part of

our parks system. What Jule in our parks system, I might say. And Joe Redonda, who is on the right of your screen. We'll be telling us about how this came about, and Bob Black was electors, the left of the screen and Bob what is your official

title over their project director or read a supervisor marina supervisor. All right. Bob Black, Severina supervisor Spud Point Marina Jodo is head of the parks and recreation we used to call it. Now it's called Regional Parks Department until we both go back a long ways. A

few years. Richard, Nice to have your job is to be here about this. Bob. Nice to have you, Joe. Let's talk to you about Parks just a little bit before we get into the 1,000,000 itself. What new park areas have been open to the public and,

let's say, recent months, well rich. We have opened two major new facilities in Sonoma County just in the last few months. The one big one in Sonoma Valley is the Maxwell Regional Parks that was dedicated here. Avery, a short while ago, which is an 85 acre

facility in the heart of Sanoma City of Sonoma, and the other new park is a 20 acre community park out in the Roseland Bellevue area on her, an avenue called the Southwest Community Park for that part of the county. So we're really tickled that these parks

air finally been finished and now can be enjoyed by the public of the county. They've been a long time, and it works a long time coming and, uh, and finally reached fruition, huh? You have you opened those all recently? I know. And are they getting good

use already? A tremendous amount of use. Rich day. People are really enjoying them. Course, this is a summer season, and a lot of people are out used in the parks. All right, Um, what are some of the additional Parker is that you plan in the near

future, Joe? Well, you know, in the north part of the county, the Lark Field, Windsor area is probably the biggest growth area in our county right now. And we have several parks that are going to be coming online in that area. Recently, there's been ah, 800

acre park dedicated to the county called the Shiloh Ranch Regional Park that just north of Lark Field, that will be, ah, great asset to the people of that area. That will be kind of open space and writing and hiking type of park, but very convenient and

located to the population of about 800 acres. The other park that is about to come online in that in the Windsor area is a park to be known as the Foothills Regional Park. That will be, Ah, about an 85 acre park, and that is part of

that subdivision that is ongoing now in the east part of Windsor called the Foothills Home Development on these air dedicated parks, and we expect Teoh have those hopefully developed in the near future and added to our park system here in Sonoma County. We're still growing in

population, and fortunately, we were able to keep pace with more parks as the numbers of people increase well this summer. Part of the year, you know, always is great for recreation. Obviously, dropped parks get really heavily used during the summer. Well, rich. Our parks get used

heavily throughout the year. But of course, in the summertime they're just literally overrun, coupled with the fact that we've had tremendous weather and that son's been out. And, uh, we're just having a great a number of people come out to the parks in all sections of

the county, and this is typical, and, uh, you know, we like to see that because that's what we're here for. Joe, You've been, uh, with the County Sonoma for about 21 years now. I think it is. It might be more not, but I know you were

part director and Sandra family again and came up here about 21 years ago. When you first came up here. That was really practically nothing. Victor was one. What a beach. That? Yeah, there. Really? There wasn't any parks to speak of, the they had Doeren Beach. What

was affectionately known as Dorine spit on those days, and it was just a wide open, sandy beach area with a road down the middle of it. And that was the park system. And here we are today, Two decades later, we've got how many parks you know,

it's It's getting to be almost like 20 major regional parks now in that so that's one a year, almost the rich average. That's wonderful, because that's what the public thinks about looks for where they're going to locate in a community over. They're gonna bring up a

family is they like to see, you know, prepared recreational areas and a well run and your parks are, and they can go to and the whole family can enjoy. And I think we've got probably one of the all I find no, this from checking with some

of your compatriots. We have one of the best county parks system in the United States. I think we do way. We have a great area toe work with, you know, one we think, Joe. Recently the fees were increased by the Board of Supervisors. One are the

new fees. Well, just like everything else. Ah, Richard, everything goes up, but, uh, we had Teoh increase some of the fees to use the parks. The basic increases have been in the camping fees as well as some parks of day use fees. We've made some slight

increases in overnight camping, which is now $10 per night. But if you're a resident of the county, you get a $2 per night discount, so that means it's only $8 for a resident. And, uh, the day use in some parts is going up from $2 to

$3. John, let me stop you just for a minute. Because I am not Can't parks. I've been every one of many times, but camped out When somebody you say the fee is $8. What does that entitle the person to do? Well, uh, the fee is based

on a campsite per night. And if you come in with your unit, you pay $8 per night for each campsite. Look up. Anything they're not. We don't have AH, lot of individual hookups rich, but we do have facilities like, obviously, water and and showers in some

cases and restrooms and and the garbage collection over like rental to rent the space and be there. And what is that usually covered from window with Joe? Well, it's usually like a 24 hour period. Campers come in like mid afternoon, and that's good to the next

afternoon. Okay, the fees now we talked about that were raised. Are being raised, have been raised. Where does that money go? Well, fortunately, in a way, it all goes back to the park system. We have a budget system where all of our fees go back into

the budget to operate the parks. So when people go to the parks and they pay a fee, it goes to help maintain those facilities and the staff that's required and and help support our budget, which is not entirely supported by tax money. It's both the tax

money and the user fees, and we're about, I believe, about 60% self supporting. So of our total budget, then 40% comes from the general tax rules. The other 60% comes from the user of the facilities. Well, now you said that the new Shiloh Parks about 100

acres, I think Foothills about 85. How big is the Maxwell Park in Sonoma? In the community park for the actual for its Maxwell is 85 acres and the community park that I spoke of earlier is 20 acres. I think we have ah, right now over 6000

acres of parks in the county park system. That's terrific. It really is. And that's over 20 parks, isn't it? Yes. Besides that, we have something going to be talking about here in a moment. Certainly the second half of our program. And that's the sport point Marina,

and we'll be talking to you and to ball Black Joe. I wanted to ask you what they way. Do we still have Mt. Hood? Yes, heart every How biggest that, uh 1600 acres. It's closed right now, Rich because of the summer fire season. Yeah, right. But

we keep it open about nine months a year. Very heavily used. Popular park for that's a beautiful spot. Well, it's a at the pope, but we're talking about part of being alive between Santa Rosa Sonoma on the left of the highways you go towards the Newman

Russia What road you turn in los all of Los Alamos road this road and you go All right, go uphill and you come to the park. But, boy, once you get up there repays you well, for with a view that you can't the highest peak in

the cinema cause it you know, as you could see, the Bay Area can, on certain days from way on that that's a more of his plate. Uh, all right, let's let's start talking about split point. Marina. No, Uh, Bob Black is the Did you provide her

over there? And, uh, when was one point Marina first? Well, let me ask you this First. When was the first thought up? Well, rich, that goes back to the original thoughts. Came back in the early fifties. Really the fishermen out that area. And the people thought

that they needed the marina And who it started way back then. The rial precise planning of Spud point became a reality in 1976 hour. Um, it was when was it actually built? 1985 open in June of 1985 years. When you talk about a marina, what are

you talking about? Specifically, I'm and I'm sure most of our audience what a Marine is. But some people not be through. So what is Why is the marina built and what is it supposed to do? What is it used for? Well, uh, accommodate the local and

transit fishing fleets. Spud point Specifically, I'd say 80% of marinas built our recreational marinas for work sailboats. But point is, by legislation, um, 80% commercial and 20% recreational. It also includes any of the facilities that are within the Marine in there, Which are, if you'd like

to go into that, I could tell you. Yeah, uh, this was completed a new 1 85 number where they were working on that for quite some time before that would you and I went out, took pictures and fingers dedication to several years ago. Right? Uh, but

the marina is a beautiful unit out there. And how Maney one is a marina. This is what I'm trying to get to. What is the meaning of consistent? You know, there's a walkway and there's what you call it. Slips right slips, birds and little stalls. You

put the boat right. OK, there's 250 slips in the marina. They range from 80 feet to 30 feet and everything in between. There's a commercial fuel dock there. There's a flake ice machine that that puts a ton of ice on a boat every four minutes. It

makes a ton and 1/2 every hour Laundromat. Public showers giving birth hole there. Showers. Yeah, I know that that really? Then it becomes almost a little self contained community. It is not up to. The people live on their boots. Ah, very rarely the well, the trans,

the commercial fishermen there up and down the coast. And they just pull into the ports. But as Faras actually live ward, there's one per doc for security and commercial fishermen are allowed to live on their boats during the season. uh, you, Joe, I won't go back

to you from you said that was first planned. I don't about plan. Was that 76? Are we talking about? Fifties is where they first realized it was a need for such a right, and there was a lot of discussion back then. But it wasn't until 1976

that a real serious study was done, called a feasibility study, and that put it all together and said, You know, this is a viable need and it's a something that can be built and funded and paid for. And that 76 feasibility study was the thing that

really got it off the ground and moving in the direction that finally culminated, Of course, with the construction of it, which started in, I guess 84 took about three years to build, you know, from the inception, and I think it's one of the finest facilities. In

fact, it was quoted recently at the Board of Supervisors meeting by Zeke Grader, who is the executive director of the Fishermen's Association, as the best operated and well run facility in the California coast, if not the Pacific. So I thought that was quite a accolade. And

Bob and his crew do such an outstanding job. They have a great facility to work with. But they also do a great job in running that thing out there. That's why we were accorded, actually. Minute talk. Teoh him some more about this marina, find a little

bit more about it. Ladies and gentlemen, Joe McDonagh, Bob Black and I will talk more about Bud Point. Marina. Just a moment. First, these important messages. Hey, remember your lungs. I can understand why you forget them after all, is that song you gotta have? Heart? It

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C to double 013 Welcome back to this edition of cinema Count in the eighties were talking about the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department and the various parks we have in the county when we've got about 20 of them and they cover about 6000 acres and there

for you to use. Now we're talking about one of the newest jewels in that system. Are not to Spud Point Marina, and we're gonna be talking to Bob Black, who is running that for us over to County. Let's go back over a couple of things we

touched on just briefly before. What facilities does a spud Point marina offer the public? Now there's, ah, 250 bursts in the marina. Like I said, from 80 foot to 30 foot. There's a breakwater that allows public fishing access all the way around the marina. There's, um,

Laundromat for the fishermen to do their laundry. There's ah commercial Fuel Dock, which is open 24 hours, is a commercial Flake ice facility, which is open 24 hours. There's a ship's Chandler, he across the street and, uh, probably within a week, the spud point boatyard will

be opening up and they'll be hauling boats it didn't located in a beautiful spot on bail with Marine. I think the reader is a fascinating place to go, uh, that you mentioned before 200 something births right or smitten guests on, um, how did they pull? They're

more than four. We have way have about 330 people paying for 250 slips. Its I guess it's similar to overbooking with the airlines when a fisherman goes out on a trip. If he goes the organ, then we put somebody else's slip. We probably have 40 to

50 transient boats, and that's all we can accept me there. Side tie for deep on the an ties. We're probably have 50 boats, and they're more than the 250 slips that that ice making device out of the middle now do all all the fishing boats have

to get the ice toe, put their catch it, and that's that. The idea they ice up every time they go out or what? Uh, some of them go out for four days, five days so they have, Teoh said. You catch the fish you've got ice it

down. Bring the temperature down, or else you've got a handle your fish properly or else they they don't get the buyers won't buy him unless there a quality product. Now, how about the fueling refueling? Divisive. There? I've seen it, but I've never watched one of the

rigs being refueled. What they just pulling to the deal like that? They pull into the gas station well in a larger scale. A lot of there are boats that come in and take 4000 gallons of fuel at one time, and they'll take five tons of tons

of ice. They pull in. There's somebody that's there 24 hours. They call us on the radio, and we could either dispatch someone down there to take care of them or they're already down at the dock. They come in to take 4000 gallons. Well, the majority of

do not. But there's a larger drag boats. The 80 85 footers. They do take that amount 3980 more than I get when I go to care. It's not cocktail. All right, Bob? What revenue has the marina boy brought in? If he will during this, let's say,

the last fiscal year uh, we've brought in about a 1,000,001 $150,000. Gross, and I'd say about 800,000. Plus with the fuel $100,000 in ice and the birthing would have accounted for another 400,000 miscellaneous revenues thrown in. So it's done real well. We've We've exceeded our budget

revenue projections. Um, well, repeat those revenue generating facilities. What are they would have them cto the ice facility. That's about 400,000. 100,100. And then a fuel dock is about 400,000 right around there. And then the birthing is about 400 400,000 right around there, and the miscellaneous

revenues that account for the rest of it. Let me throw this over to you in regard to that. How does that mean you're doing with sport? Point of an economic standpoint, other than I mean, you know, the cost of building and all that sort of thing.

Put that aside. Is it paying its way? Yes. Rich, The the budget on the marina is set up on what they call it Enterprise fund, then means it has to pay its way and As Bob mentioned, we had a fantastic year, but we have a lot

of loans to pay off the built that marina, and we have to retire those loans as well as pay the operating cost as well as you know, put a reserve in for future maintenance. And we were able to do that all this year and are projections

is that that Marina is going to continue to be a success. It's a great facility. It's well used, and we think that we're gonna be ableto handle all of those obligations very well. That's tremendous. And Bob, you said it was about one point. What, Liam? About

1.1. All the figures aren't in yet, but that's really that's impressive job that really is tremendous. And it's such a marvelous facility in such a beautiful facility. It's a scenic spot. Did you mention the right now that what you mentioned revenue generating is is one point

one million is from the three sources primarily Okay. How many persons do you have over there? And what type of persons do you employ to run a marine? Well, right now we have a We have a the clerk type of three in the office for Titus

Tree Accountant. She does all the all the accounting for all the fees that were collected. The majority of those fees that air collected are manually collected, so it's quite an important way. Also have, ah, two full time what we call Marina attendance. And then we have

four seasonal workers that can work a certain number of hours a year. The type of people that we try and hired spot point or people that are familiar with boats. And, you know, leaning boats listing boats are that they can respond to them. They would know

what that what they are, how toe how many of the boats that are birth over the other 250 births. And you say there for over four. How many of them are local fishermen go out to fish regularly Local fishermen that I would say there very few

of them actually live in Bodega Bay. But well, why ministry live right around here, part of the state and fish out of there. Most of them are not. Yeah, yes, there's very few out of state, but I'd say that I'd say 80% of the berth holders

are within Sinama Marin. You said there were some boats that go out for several days and then you sometimes rent space in there. There was those big, pretty big trollers. The average commercial salmon trollers is what we're involved in right now would be about 40 seats.

40 feet, maybe six feet deep. Uh, the draft. Um okay, that Rina has been in existence for over three years now. What are future plans at county and you and everybody with their have in store for the future? Well, there's plans for, Ah, coffee shop. I'm

not sure Joe could probably inside a little better than I could. It's coffee shops. The boatyard is just starting to come online. There's some discussions about some other things. I think Joe would probably know how where they're at in this system. Run. I work to those

in a moment. One of the things I didn't mention that that you have is a facility out there is parking. You have. I don't. You probably don't have enough. You never do. But you do have quite a few parking spaces. How money? What would you say

that there's 218? Oh, really parking spaces for 244 bursts. Yeah, so normally has a crew of two. So it gets pretty tight out there. Yeah, that's so that question back to you. What he was just talking about, um and we were talking about the future plans

for we have about a minute and 1/2 left us. What are some of the future plans for? Well, one of our high property shop that's riches is a combination coffee shop and restaurant that we hope Teoh put into motion this coming year. Attn least the plans

for that and we really need that to generate additional revenue, but also as a service to the community as well as to the fishermen. And there's been some discussion about the party boat operations and maybe were we looking into expanding some facilities nearby that could accommodate

better at that location, party boat operations, and again, the revenue off that will help the marina. So with that, we'll have a full service marina that will offer every possible kind of convenience and service. Well, you're not gonna get much higher competence. And you got from

that estate authority who said you were the best one of the best of the best run. Not only in California, but on the West Coast. Joe, thank you for taking the time to come over and update us on the kind of regional parks. Thank you, Bob.

Nice to have you here. Ladies and gentlemen, way have been talking to Bob Black, who is the supervisor of the Spud Point Marina. Have we've been talking to a friend, Joe Dota, who is the director of regional parks in Sonoma County. And a few of the

things that we covered here, and I think that we might recap briefly for you are the fact that we now have approximately 20 parks in Sonoma County. They total over 6000 acres, and they're there for you to use. And this is really a far cry from

the situation When Joe Ricotta first came to settle County about 21 years ago, when we had one place called door and spit and that was the park system. And there are very few acres, and it wasn't really much for any of us to go out and

enjoy. Now we have parks gathered, putting let's throughout the county their magnificent parks I hope sincerely that you will take advantage of them. Visit them soon and if you get a chance to buy only his visits. But point Marina, my name is Richman. Plenty. The program

of Sonoma County in the eighties. I'll be back with you next week with another member of county government, family or related A. Until then tonight, good luck and good health to each and every one of you.