Jessica Cejnar Andrews / Thursday, April 7, 2022 @ 3:25 p.m.
CCHD To Discuss RV Park Leases At Special Meeting
Previously:
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Crescent City Harbor officials will finally hold a public discussion Friday concerning the lease agreements needed for developer Alex Lemus, CEO of Renewable Energy Capital, to move forward with a project to revitalize the port’s two RV parks.
The discussion comes after months of private negotiations and delays, driven in part by concern from the parks’ current residents who are worried they will be asked to leave their homes.
However, both Lemus and Harbor District commissioners have promised not to break ground on construction until transition plans for each resident of Bayside RV Park and Redwood Harbor Village RV Park have been created and both parties have signed off on them.
The proposed lease agreements will have an initial term of 25 years with the option for REC to extend the term for up to three periods of five years each.
REC will pay a monthly rent of $33,333 for Bayside RV Park and $35,000 a month for Redwood Harbor Village, according to the proposed resolutions tied with the agreements. Any park improvements or changes that cost more than $10,000 must be approved by the Crescent City Harbor District, according to the resolution.
The lease agreements are scheduled to be discussed during a special meeting at 2 p.m. Friday. Crescent City Harbormaster Tim Petrick is expected to continue negotiating with Lemus at a closed session meeting at 1 p.m.
Lemus became acquainted with the Crescent City Harbor in 2016 and was instrumental in the construction of its photovoltaic solar system.
In late 2020, after the solar panels began generating electricity, Lemus answered a request for proposals from the Harbor District, whose officials were looking for ideas that could generate revenue, support commercial fishing and recreational uses and “enhance harbor character.”
On Aug. 3, 2021, Lemus unveiled plans to upgrade the landscaping and infrastructure at Bayside RV Park and to purchase Airstream travel trailers and cabins in an effort to make the parks attractive to overnight visitors.
“The idea was we would use the RV parks by improving them to help finance all the infrastructure that doesn’t generate revenue without exposing the taxpayers,” Lemus told the Outpost and KFUG Community News in a Feb. 14, 2022 interview. “You need cash flow or you need a balance sheet and a credit rating; unfortunately the Crescent City Harbor District doesn’t have any of those. So you got to make do with what you have. My idea was let’s improve the RV parks so we can generate more revenue and then you can leverage that.”
Lemus also proposes installing electric vehicle charging stations at the old Spotty’s Car Wash near Fisherman’s Restaurant, installing more solar panels on top of the car wash building and building a co-op near the Harbor District office to allow local fishermen to sell their catch.
A rough idea of the projects planned for the Crescent City Harbor can be viewed at NorCalfishmarket.com.
Documents:
• Harbor District Special Agenda
• Bayside Ground Lease Resolution
• Redwood Harbor Village Ground Lease Resolution
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