Humboldt Bay Harbor District Approves Fee Increases, Outlines Future Plans

The Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation & Conservation District (Humboldt Bay Harbor District) Board of Commissioners held their regular meeting on August 14th, 2025, approving several key items and outlining their agenda for the coming months. While the video recording of the meeting suffered from poor quality, several significant decisions and plans emerged.

The meeting, conducted remotely via video conference and attended by Commissioners Cooman, Newman, Benson, and Dale, along with several staff members, covered a range of topics. The consent calendar was approved unanimously, though details were not available due to video limitations. The Executive Director gave a report on recent activities including site tours of the Heavy Lift Marine Terminal and Nordic Aqua Farms.

Commissioner Benson shared a report that included the sad news of the recent passing of friend and colleague, David Limburg, in a motorcycle accident. Other commissioners also gave reports on their various activities.

One of the most significant actions taken was the adoption of Resolution No. 2025-07, amending the fee schedule for Harbor District properties and operations. This resolution, effective October 1st, 2025, introduces a new $100 per staff hour fee for cruise ships, a $5 per slip per month trash surcharge, and an increase in annual fish sales permits from $100 to $300. The rationale behind these increases was not explicitly detailed in the available meeting transcript.

Looking ahead, the Harbor District has a busy schedule planned for its upcoming meetings. September will focus on the Green Terminal, energy, utilities, and sustainability initiatives. Octobers agenda includes updates on CEQA, NEPA, and permits; community/tribal engagement; the Aquaculture Committee; and further discussions on CEQA, NEPA, and permits. November will delve into the Baywide Master Plan, and December will address impacts and mitigation. The next board meeting will include a discussion of the CEQA/NEPA permits and the draft environmental impact report for the Redwood Marine Terminal project, expected to be finalized by the end of 2026. The board will also continue its monthly meetings with RDBA and Vineyard.

While no public comments were recorded in the available portion of the meeting video, the Humboldt Bay Harbor District encourages community involvement. For more information on upcoming meetings and how to participate, visit [https://humboldtbay.org/](https://humboldtbay.org/).