Leni Schultz's Candidate Responses to Questions Posted by the Pacifica Tribune

By Leni Schultz

1)Explain why the Harbor District is important to Pacifica and its voters and why you deserve a seat on the board. 2) What are two major issues facing the Harbor District and how do you plan to deal with them?

I have been a sailor, both racing and cruising for 20 years in Northern California waters, mostly the San Francisco Bay.

I am very familiar with boating and waterways. I am a past member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

1. Most Pacifica voters don't really understand why they are even asked to vote on the San Mateo Harbor District. Please explain why the Harbor District is important to Pacifica and its voters and why you deserve a seat on the board.

The Harbor District, a county asset, is important to Pacifica and its voters because both its facilities, Pillar Point on the coastside and Oyster Point Marina in South San Francisco are major commercial and recreational centers which have untapped potential for higher and better public usage, and unrealized opportunities for enjoyment.

I deserve a seat on the board because I have been following the decisions and actions of the commissioners for seven years. I have too often found it necessary to alert and mobilize community members to speak out when decisions could have been made which I felt would adversely affect the Coastside. I am well informed on the issues of both facilities as I attend meetings at both sides of the hill.

I am a member of the Oyster Point water transit Fact Finding Committee. In addition I believe I am excellent at making wise and profitable decisions which is a must for the district at this time.

2. One major issue is the future of Romeo Pier. It is a dilapidated wooden pile pier which is of limited use to the district at this time. I do not favor spending 2 to 3 million dollars of taxpayers money to retrofit this structure, which is an option being seriously considered by the present commission. It would be a "Band-Aid approach" to the problem. I would like to see the present Romeo Pier replaced with a modern pier which would accommodate the existing wholesale fish buyer as well as provide space for additional revenue generating business.

Another major issue is the development of Harbor District owned lands in El Granada. The 6.3 acre Median Strip zoned Community Open Space could have a building covering 10 percent of the parcel. I would not allow any building on this pristine cherished property but would like to see it developed to a park for recreational use only. This must be kept open and not covered over as a parking lot or bus stop center as has been considered by the present commission. At this time the commission is considering a proposal by a developer to place a 6,000 square foot building on for commercial use.

I am not opposed to the development of the "Post Office lot" for commercial use. A large room on the second story of that building could be used as an office or meeting space which the district is in need of as well as rented out when not in use by the District. The view of the open space green and the ocean across the way would make it attractive for rental.

I would adhere to the Master Plan by including the public in every step of the planning process of the development of these lands as is mandated in the Master Plan. Public participation is presently restricted to comment at the public comment section of the regular meetings. I feel the commission, for this reason, is in violation of their own Master Plan.