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Title:
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Staff recommends that the Harbor District Board of Directors adopt a resolution amending the Oceanside Harbor District's Master Fee Resolution to add electricity and water charges to slip rental rates for all slips in the Oceanside Harbor effective January 1, 2026.
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DATE: September 17, 2025
TO: President and Directors of the Harbor District Board
FROM: Public Works Department
TITLE: RESOLUTION AMENDING THE OCEANSIDE HARBOR DISTRICT'S MASTER FEE RESOLUTION TO ADD ELECTRICITY AND WATER CHARGES TO SLIP RENTAL RATES
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the Harbor District Board of Directors adopt a resolution amending the Oceanside Harbor District's Master Fee Resolution to add electricity and water charges to slip rental rates for all slips in the Oceanside Harbor effective January 1, 2026.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On December 6, 2023, the Harbor District Board of Directors approved a financial program to pay for the needed maintenance projects at the Harbor. This program was comprised of three components: 1) metering water and electricity at slips; 2) a temporary cap on rent the Harbor pays to the City; and 3) an increase in slip rental fees. This item relates only to the water and electrical utility component.
Currently, slip renters are not charged for water or electricity usage as part of their slip/berthing fee while the Harbor District pays for those utilities. Metering and charging for these two costs are part of the Harbor District Board-directed efforts to fund various maintenance projects by generating approximately $4.9 million over 15 years. In March 2024, the Harbor contracted with Richard Brady and Associates for the preparation of a bid package for the Utility Metering component of the funding plan. As part of the bid package preparation, it was determined that the cost estimate for installing individual meters at each slip would total between $4.4 to $6.73 million, which would include the installation of power pedestals (with meters), and the purchase of software to wirelessly transmit data gained from the meters used for billing purposes. The original cost estimate for installation of meters was approximately $900,000. This lower estimate was preliminary and did not account for all the upgrades that are needed to bring the existing electrical equipment (e.g., switchgear, wiring, ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) breakers, etc.) in the Harbor up to current electrical codes.
Because of this increased estimate, the proposed individual metering costs would have completely offset the planned cost savings to the Harbor from this change to the berthing fee structure. Accordingly, staff now recommends foregoing the installation of individual meters and instead implementing a flat rate charge for all the slips which will yield the projected and needed $4.9 million in savings to the Harbor District. The Harbor District could also begin collecting these costs two years sooner than under the metering option. This practice of collecting a flat utility charge is also commonly used by marinas in San Diego County and the Dana Point Harbor.
The smallest slips, equipped with water and electricity in the Harbor's marina, are 26 feet in length; the largest is 81 feet long. There are numerous slip sizes in between 26 feet and 81 feet in length. All sizes are included in the tables below, which contain all proposed utility charges. Additionally, there are three factors that typically influence electricity and water usage: vessel size; whether the boat requires 30 or 50-amp electrical service; and whether the Slip Renter(s) lives aboard. Due to these factors, the proposed charges for electricity range from $13, for a non-live aboard, 30-amp, 26-foot-long slip, to $88 per month, for a live aboard, 50 amp slip over 49 feet. The proposed charges for water range from $9 for a non-Live Aboard, 26-foot slip, to $35 per month, for a Live Aboard slip over 49 feet. See Tables 1 through 4 for all proposed rates.
Proposed Slip Fee Charges for Utility Usage
Table 1. Proposed Base Amounts (30 Amp, Non-Live Aboard)
Slip Size
Recreational
Electric
Water
Elec+Water
26'
$13
$9
$22
34'
$19
$12
$31
43'
$24
$15
$39
51'
$39
$21
$60
Commercial
Electric
Water
Elec+Water
25'
$13
$9
$22
33'
$19
$12
$31
Other
Electric
Water
Elec+Water
Up to 25'
$13
$9
$22
25'-42'
$19
$12
$31
43'-49'
$24
$15
$39
Over 49'
$39
$21
$60
Table 2. Proposed Surcharge-50 Amp (Live Aboard/Non-Live Aboard)
Slip Size
Recreational
Surcharge 50A
Proposed Total Incl. Water
Quantity in Category
26'
$10
$32 |10 10|34'
$15
$46 |10 10|43'
$20
$59
15
51'
$32
$92 |1010|Commercial
25'
$10
$32 |10 10|33'
$15
$46 |1010|Other
Up to 25'
$10
$32 |10 10|25'-42'
$15
$46 |1010|43'-49'
$20
$59 |1010|Over 49'
$32
$92 |1010|
Table 3. Proposed Live Aboard Totals: Base + Surcharge (30 Amp Electric/Water)
Slip Size
Live Aboard Electric Surcharge
Live Aboard Water Surcharge
Proposed Total (Base + 30 Amp+Elec+Water)
Quantity in Category
Recreational
26'
$5
$4
$31
24
34'
$11
$9
$51
36
43'
$14
$11
$64
10
51'
$17
$14
$91 |10 10|
Commercial
25'
$5
$4
$31 |10 10|33'
$11
$9
$51 |10 10|Other
Up to 25'
$5
$4
$31 |10 10|25'-42'
$11
$9
$51 |1010|43'-49'
$14
$11
$64 |1010|Over 49'
$17
$14
$91 |1010|
Table 4. Proposed Live Aboard Totals: Base + Surcharges (50 Amp Electric/Water)
Slip Size
Live Aboard Electric Surcharge
Live Aboard Water Surcharge
50 A Surcharge LA/Non-LA
Proposed Total (Base + 50 Amp+Elec+Water)
Quantity in Category
Recreational
26'
$5
$4
$10
$41 |10 10|34'
$11
$9
$15
$66 |10 10|43'
$14
$11
$20
$84 |1010|51'
$17
$14
$32
$123 |1010|Commercial
25'
$5
$4
$10
$41 |10 10|33'
$11
$9
$15
$66 |10 10|Other
Up to 25'
$5
$4
$10
$41 |10 10|25'-42'
$11
$9
$15
$66 |10 10|43'-49'
$14
$11
$20
$84 |10 10|Over 49'
$17
$14
$32
$123 |1010|
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed charges yield approximately $4.9 million over the next 15 years.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Harbor and Beaches Advisory Committee (HBAC) reviewed the proposed utility rate charges at their meeting on April 21, 2025, and unanimously voted to recommend that the Harbor Board of Directors to approve these rates.
CITY ATTORNEY'S ANALYSIS
Pursuant to Oceanside City Code section 29A.8, the Harbor Board shall set terms, conditions and rates for berthing by resolution. The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
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Prepared by: Joe Ravitch, Harbor Division Manager
Reviewed by: Hamid Bahadori, Public Works Director
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Resolution