Alameda Marina’s Boatyard
On Monday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m., the City of Alameda will continue to discuss the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a boatyard operator at the new Alameda Marina.
Nancy Hird, a member of Save Alameda’s Working Waterfront (SAWW), said the RFQ “did not adequately identify that an operator was needed, instead it was written as though they are looking for a sub-developer.” Alameda Marina disagrees, and points to the document, which says in its overview: “The Alameda Marina Master Plan calls for a RFQ/RFP [Reqest For Proposal] process to identify a boatyard operator. It is anticipated the individual and/or joint-venture respondents to this RFQ will have extensive experience in operating either a boatyard, dockyard, or other marine services facility.”
Becca Perata from Alameda Marina said that they “[believe] firmly that the RFQ/RFP follows Council direction. It was reviewed and commented on by City staff. And it absolutely requests operators. The language is intentionally broad to attract a range of potential operators and to encourage creative thinking in how to approach the opportunity.”
Hird went on to say SAWW is “looking for any potential operators who may have received the RFQ/RFP and who have decided not to proceed because the tone of the document, requirements requested or confusion made operating a boatyard at Alameda Marina unattractive. If you know of anyone, please ask that person to call Nancy Hird at 510-523-0825 before Monday evening.”
For anyone who wants to join the conversation, the meeting will be at Alameda City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue, Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, Alameda, on Monday at 7 p.m.
I look at these proposals and see (a) the developer doesn’t appear to know squat about running a boat yard and sadly (b) neither does the city of Alameda.
This is supposed to be a boat yard offering not only dockage but services. In the developer’s illustration there are boats (some of them fairly large) on the hard. But there is NO Travelift shown! How do the illustrated boats get in and out of the water? Yes, there is a crane — but in 40 years of boat ownership I have yet to see a crane that can lift other than very light boats out of the water. Certainly not 30 ft plus boats!