(SACRAMENTO, CA) The State Legislature passed a bill authored by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to resolve a decades-long problem between the state and Sonoma County regarding Spud Point Marina.

Assembly Bill (AB) 958 passed with a 74-0 concurrence vote on amendments to the bill taken in the Senate. It passed the Senate on August 30th with a 39-0 vote. It now goes to the Governor for his signature or veto.

“This bill will give the county more flexibility in managing Spud Point Marina,” said Evans. “More importantly, by helping resolve the marina’s financial troubles, it will enhance the county’s ability to repay money owed to the state.”

AB 958 authorizes Sonoma County to increase berthing fees and other charges at the marina to generate the revenue needed to repay the loans to the state Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW). It also prohibits the county from raising rates above the highest berthing rates in the market area.

“The decline of our commercial salmon and crab fisheries dramatically reduced the income the marina was able to produce to pay back the debt,” added Evans. “In recent years, the near closure of the ocean salmon fishing season played a significant role.”

In 1980, Sonoma County officials proposed building the 244-berth Spud Point Marina in Bodega Bay, at a cost of $12 million. The County received $5.9 million in loans from DBW. Sonoma County guaranteed the repayment of the loans with marina revenues. When the anticipated federal grants did not materialize to assist in the construction, Sonoma County's debt rose. Sonoma County completed the Spud Point Marina in 1985, and started repaying the state loan in 1988. Sonoma County fell behind in 1991, and has not made full payments since 1992. In January of this year, the county finalized an agreement with DBW to restructure this debt. AB 958 will work in partnership with this agreement.

AB 958 is sponsored by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and supported by DBW.

Further information about AB 958 is available online at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.