Page 14 - Sonoma County Gazette September 2019

Meredith Pier
a Community Hazard
Attend the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Meeting
September 10, 2019
Agenda with timing posted 72 hours prior to meeting at sonomacounty.ca.gov/Home/
By Ed Cohen, Bodega Bay resident
Next to the pink and white striped, Patrick’s of Bodega Bay on Highway 1
stands the Old Cannery Building also referred to as Meredith Pier. It juts out more than 100 feet over the bay showcasing its former glory; and it’s falling apart.
Concerned about protecting our waters and the safety of those who might try to access it, I contacted Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins in August 2018. Amie Windsor, Field Representative
to Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, responded, “The County owns the building and is aware of the condition. I still haven’t learned if we are doing anything about it, but I can tell you we know about it.”
We are not sure how long the building has been owned by the county. One document references the portion over the water that comprises 90% and pier being owned by Sonoma County since 1951 when the County was granted all the sovereign tide and submerged lands in Bodega Harbor. A news article from 1983 indicates the building was owned by Sonoma County as far back as 1971. What we do know is that the county has ownership of the building today and it is there responsibility to do something about it.
In December 2018, I wrote for an update and received this response “Staff have connected with Regional Parks, Risk Management, and County Counsel to discuss options for addressing the conditions of the property. We have taken steps to prevent access.”
Clearly they were misinformed. It’s August 2019 and people can access the building and pier from the parking lot and the water. There’s fresh graffiti painted inside the building where it’s most deteriorated.
The cost to demolish the building is estimated at $2.6M. Why so much? The materials used to construct this building or the contents inside the building are hazardous. They potentially contain creosote, lead-based paint, and possibly even asbestos.
In January 2019, I wrote Supervisor Hopkins, “With the recent rains, winds and waves, this building has become even more ruined. As you can see in the pictures the building is now falling apart causing a hazard for the bay and for the safety of people who might go near it.”
PIER cont’d on page 15
14 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 9/19