Harbor District commission has six candidates

But fishing, ferries, beaches and water quality? Those aren’t concerns that come up in too many other local races but are key for those seeking a spot on the commission.

The district, which formed in 1933, runs both Pillar Point Harbor in Princeton and Oyster Point Marina/Park in South San Francisco. While under the same management umbrella, the two harbors are quite different. Pillar Point is a hub for commercial fishermen and tourist-drawing events like the Maverick’s surf competition while Oyster Point just became home to a new high-speed ferry service catering in large part to the city’s biotech hub.

The November race is an even mix of incumbents seeking a return to office and newcomers hoping for the chance to join. Pietro Parravano, Leo Padreddii and Will Holsinger already sit on the board while Sabrina Brennan, Neil Merrilees and Brandon Kwon are fighting to knock one of the incumbents out of the running. Kwon did not respond to inquiries but the others participated in in-house interviews with the Daily Journal staff about what they’ve done, what they hope to do and why they are the best man — or in Brennan’s case, woman — for the job.

Parravano, who has spent about half his life in commercial fishing, said he has acted as a bridge between the industry and the residents, working on fishing programs for schools and even nabbing a presidential nod for his work with oceans. Fishermen and farmers have connections as sustainable food providers, he said, adding his hopes for a local community college curriculum to teach new generations about fishing, policy and marketing. He said he helped put salmon fishermen and academics together to collect data — an example, he said, of what he can continue bringing to the district if re-elected.

He helped start a recycling program for fishing gear and wants to continue fostering the harbor as a source of seafood and accessibility to recreation, charter and commercial boats.

"It’s like a gateway,” he said.

Padreddii, the current vice president, wants another turn on the commission for what he believes will be his last term. Padreddii has no altogether new ideas for the future of the district or its harbors but said he can provide stability and the opportunity to continue building on the solid job he’s done since joining in 1997.

"Right now, both harbors are doing well and I want to keep it that way,” Padreddii said,

The South San Francisco resident counts more than 30 years of public service, including four years on the South San Francisco City Council when it planned and developed Oyster Point.

Padreddii would like to see ferry service expand to Redwood City and a restaurant at Oyster Point to keep travelers from heading to Jack London Square instead.

The district during his term got on "its best financial footing ever,” Padreddii said, and his goal for both harbors in 10 years is to make them "the best it’s ever been.”

Brennan, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat in 2010, also wants to make the harbors the best they can be but questions the current board’s push for a visitor center in the face of a $10 million debt and thinks the water quality must be addressed. Her earlier loss did not dampen Brennan’s enthusiasm for the district; she regularly attends board meetings and thinks a seat is the best way to advocate for her coastal community.

"I’m really passionate about it and I would like to win,” she said.

Like nearly all the other candidates, Brennan is excited about the ferry service but said there is room for improvement. A Wi-Fi-enabled cafe for riders awaiting the ferry is one idea. Another is providing public transportation for those getting off the ferry; right now, riders need cars or company-provided shuttles to reach their destination.

"That’s something that needs to be addressed,” Brennan said.

A billboard near the exit might be a good reminder to motorists of another travel option, thereby boosting ridership, she said.

Over at Pillar Point, Brennan envisions more partnerships between fishermen and companies such as Google whose chef currently buys seafood from there directly for its restaurants and employees.

But the harbor can’t have great product without great water and Brennan said the quality is currently compromised by an ongoing fecal contamination problem at Pillar Point and pollution at Oyster Point.

Padreddii said the waste disposal problem is only linked to one or two boats and inspections of every boat is under way. Brennan countered that inspections have to be ongoing, not just once. She also said the dumping of fish water from squid needs a look. The practice may not be detrimental but, other areas, such as San Francisco, do not allow it, she said.

Holsinger is also concerned about the squid off-loading and said the district is looking at options like pumping it onto land or back into the holds of ships.

Brennan and Merrilees are both strong opponents of filling in Perched Beach, the area at Pillar Point that greets visitors with the bright visual of kayaks for rent. The beach is the site of events that draw visitors, like marathons, said Merrilees, adding that protecting the space is his main reason for running.

Merrilees wants more coastal beach access which is why he said Perched Beach is so important.

But Parravano said the beach was created by dredging for new docks even before his time and there are no concrete plans to fill it because the public said it didn’t want development there.

Both Brennan and Merrilees also question the suggestion of taking on $25 million in debt to build a visitor center and administration building when the district already spends $80,000 in rent for its South San Francisco offices.

"Why not look at Princeton? Rent something cheaper than they have now,” Brennan said.

Merrilees said he would work as hard as he can for the district to break even rather than subsidizing itself with tax dollars and doesn’t see that building "facilities that don’t quite pay for themselves” as an answer.

A visitor’s center is something the district wants to promote and educate the public about the environment and fishing industry, Holsinger said.

"This ties into the larger picture of the coastside experience attracting more people,” he said.

He said there is not currently a plan to spend $25 million on the center.

Parravano also likes the idea of a visitor center with outdoor exhibits, like an open-air walking tour.

Brennan has concerns that the district does not have a consistent event policy nor does it videotape meetings to promote transparency.

If elected, she would like the district to consider establishing bike rental stations at both harbors where visitors can slide a credit card and access a new way to explore trails in the area. She’d also like a strategic plan and greater support of the harbor patrol service.

Like Brennan, Holsinger also tried for the district board unsuccessfully before joining. He lost in 2004 but was appointed earlier this year to fill the vacancy created by the death of commissioner Sally Campbell. The job, he found, is "boatloads of fun.”

Holsinger is particularly keen on the harbors’ environmental quality, particularly as more people use the Oyster Point harbor because of the ferry service. But he envisions accommodating craft during America’s Cup and kayakers. The ferry service is "just one more constituency,” he said.

The ferry service is an opportunity to limit carbon footprints and leave road rage behind, he said.

"It’s a very comforting way to begin and end the day,” he said.

Offering a quite different perspective, Merrilees will be quite fine with Oyster Point reverting back to South San Francisco in 2028. While it is in the district’s management, though, Merrilees said the challenge is getting people to use it opposite of the commute direction. The boon to companies like Genentech which draws workers from the East Bay is a good thing but most commuters in San Mateo County are headed up to San Francisco or down to Silicon Valley, he said.

Merrilees called Pillar Point a bigger draw, an "incredible magnet” for the coastside of which the harbor could take better advantage by holding more events like regattas and marathons. In 10 years, there will be more restrictions on fishing, he said, so there needs to be "something in its back pocket” to fill the gap. A kiosk for fish sales up front is one possibility, making commercial fishing more interactive and boosting sales, he said.

He also wants the district to be more proactive in fixing problems, like in February when a broken sewage pump turned boats away from Pillar Point. The district’s answer was "we’ll see if we can get a grant,” he said.

"You get that fixed immediately,” he said adding a mobile pump like that used in Berkeley or backup equipment is another option.

Michelle Durand can be reached by email: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102.