Community Corner
POLL: Mavericks Surf Contest: Was $10,000 Increase in Permit Fee Appropriate?
Weigh in on this week's poll.
On Wednesday night, the San Mateo County Harbor Commission approved Mavericks Invitational, Inc.'s bid to run the 2011-2012 Mavericks surf contest.
The Harbor District's move to for an overall permit fee of $30,000 was a sticking point during the meeting.
Several Mavericks Invitational board members — Jeff Clark, Cassandra Clark, Ken Collins and Rocky Raynor — asked commissioners to reconsider.
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Harbor District officials said that the $30,000 fee was not unreasonable — especially considering that the surf contest is a for-profit contest which has an impact on the harbor, officials said. Officials added that activity on the Mavericks trail leading out to the beach and impacts on the harbor's regular businesses and users during the day of the contest also contributed to the reasons behind the fee increase.
Mavericks Invitational said the fee was raised by one-third compared to the cost just two months ago and that they anticipate that their contest plan will bring in revenue to the harbor through paid parking and patronage of local businesses which will have the rights to stream the competition's live broadcast.
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The commissioners voted 3-1 to charge the $30,000 fee, but with the stipulation that the fee costs could be lowered if Mavericks Invitational's financial situation warranted the adjustment at the end of the big wave surfing season.
Do you think that the Harbor District's move to increase the fees by $10,000 was appropriate?
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