HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 12-26 Adopting Harbor Director Title and Job Description - signed
01181.0004/762865.1
RESOLUTION NO. 12-26
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA,
APPROVING UPDATED HARBOR DIRECTOR WORKING TITLE
AND JOB DESCRIPTION
T H E C I T Y C O U N C I L
City of Morro Bay, California
WHEREAS, the Council desires to approve retitling the “Harbor Vitality Director” job title to
“Harbor Director” and adopt an updated job description for the position, which will continue to serve
as Director of the City’s Harbor Department.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City of Morro Bay as follows:
The unrepresented full-time classification of “Harbor Vitality Director” is hereby retitled to
“Harbor Director.” The classification will continue to be included within the City’s
Unrepresented Department Head Group and provided benefits pursuant to the then-current
City Council resolution establishing compensation and benefits for certain City department
head positions. The updated job description for this classification, attached hereto, is hereby
adopted.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Morro Bay at a regular meeting
thereof held on the 10th day of March 2026 by the following vote:
AYES: Wixom, Eckles, Edwards, Landrum, Luffee
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
______________________________
CARLA WIXOM, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
DANA SWANSON, City Clerk
Carla Wixom (Mar 11, 2026 13:25:32 PDT)
Carla Wixom
1
HARBOR DIRECTOR
DEFINITION
Under the administrative direction of the City Manager, the Harbor Director will plan, organize,
and direct harbor operations and economic development initiatives. This role involves overseeing
Harbor Department activities and functions such as property and lease management of
Embarcadero lease sites, providing administrative oversight of Harbor Patrol and harbor business
functions, addressing infrastructure needs, overseeing oceanfront-related federal, state, and
local initiatives, and fulfilling other related duties. The Harbor Director will leverage new
technologies and ideas to enhance service delivery, streamline operations, and increase revenue
while managing contracts, drafting reports, and conducting financial analyses. Effective
communication with diverse stakeholders, including the boating community, commercial fishing
community, environmental groups, developers, lessees, City Council members, the advisory
committee, employees, and the community is crucial.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Plans, manages, organizes, and directs the operations and business activities of the
Harbor Department.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and strategies to ensure efficient harbor
operations.
• Negotiates and manages complex real property leases, leads the property management
program, and negotiates long-term leases.
• Plans for the harbor's long-term needs, considering environmental, maritime,
maintenance, safety, commercial, and economic factors.
• Implements and plans for future public infrastructure and capital improvement projects
needed to ensure harbor vitality.
• Advises other City departments and consultants on lease compliance, maintenance, and
language.
• Administers and manages the annual Harbor operating budget; manages operations to
achieve goals within available financial resources.
• Consult with governmental agencies, other staff members, and the public; attend
meetings, make presentations, and recommend departmental-related activities to
appointed and elected officials.
• Prepares and manages grants, formal bid specifications, and proposal requests.
• Reviews and designs long-range plans to meet the harbor's needs, addressing
environmental, navigation, fishing, commerce, and other related coastal concerns.
• Ensures conformance with the City’s clean marina program and bay water quality efforts
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and coordinates and works with the National Estuary Program/Comprehensive
Conservation Management Plan.
• Reviews and analyzes legislation affecting the City or the harbor, determining impact and
recommending appropriate action.
• Assists and coordinates with other agencies, such as State Parks, the Army Corps of
Engineers, the National Estuary Program, the California Coastal Commission, and the
Marine Interest Group.
Examples of Economic and Real Estate Development Duties:
• Participates in economic development efforts for the City, focusing on the Embarcadero
and harbor areas.
• Performs City real estate transactions, including site characterization, appraisal, title
review, environmental and geotechnical investigations, relocation, purchase and sale
agreements, mitigation agreements, and site preparation.
• Prepares lease specifications and reviews applications for conditions for use of lease and
sub-lease sites and lease amendments.
• Ensures leaseholder compliance with lease terms, contract-related performance, and
delivery requirements and remedies non-compliance.
• Coordinates the City’s efforts to strengthen the economic vitality of the harbor and City.
• Identifies and pursues opportunities for business growth, tourism development, and
increased revenue generation. Implements initiatives that benefit the City.
• Analyzes the economic feasibility of potential projects and makes recommendations.
• Serves as liaison to various federal, state, and local public agencies, developers,
contractors, professionals, and property owners.
• Fosters relationships with citizens, business owners, lessees, and developers to promo te
economic vitality.
• Performs other duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
• Public policy and political processes, especially as it relates to federal, state, county, and
municipal governments.
• Commercial lease and contract negotiation, real estate management, and municipal
finance.
• Principles of economic or real estate development, city planning theory and practice.
• Environmental regulations, project management, and government operations.
• Principles and basic practices of harbor management, maritime law, and economic
development.
• Best practices in customer service, public relations, and community engagement.
Ability to:
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• Manage multiple complex projects and departmental operations efficiently.
• Negotiate and manage property agreements and economic development initiatives.
• Manage and perform financial analysis and economic studies of real property.
• Plan for future public infrastructure and capital improvement.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with governmental agencies,
businesses, and the public.
• Be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, with the ability to adapt nimbly and lead
others through complex situations.
• Work irregular hours for public meetings and events, including evenings.
Education and Experience:
• A bachelor's degree in business, law, public policy, public administration, economic
development, or a closely related field is required. A master's degree in a relevant field
is highly desirable; AND
• Six or more years of progressively responsible experience in harbor management,
economic development, real estate asset management, government operation s, or a
comparable field, with at least three years in a management capacity; OR
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Valid California driver’s license or ability to obtain it within 30 days of hire.
The Fine Print
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change
as the employer's needs and job requirements change. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various
types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if
the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job
successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
Work is performed mainly in office settings. Some outdoor work, such as kneeling, walking and riding in boats, is required to
inspect various land use developments, harbor assets and construction sites. Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate
computers and different pieces of office equipment. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear, sit, use hands to finger,
handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or
move up to 50 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
While performing the duties of this job, the employee works primarily in office settings, with occasional work in outside weather
conditions. The employee may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions or airborne particles. The noise level in the work
environment is usually quiet in the office and moderate to loud in the field.
Approved the Morro Bay City Council on March 10, 2026.
Reso 12-26 Adopting Harbor Director Title and
Job Description
Final Audit Report 2026-03-11
Created:2026-03-11
By:Heather Goodwin (hgoodwin@morrobayca.gov)
Status:Signed
Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAA4FnGq0o9jYti_loQc0ibdTOt7S8Ljz-w
"Reso 12-26 Adopting Harbor Director Title and Job Description"
History
Document created by Heather Goodwin (hgoodwin@morrobayca.gov)
2026-03-11 - 7:39:03 PM GMT
Document emailed to cwixom@morrobayca.gov for signature
2026-03-11 - 7:39:52 PM GMT
Email viewed by cwixom@morrobayca.gov
2026-03-11 - 8:24:55 PM GMT
Signer cwixom@morrobayca.gov entered name at signing as Carla Wixom
2026-03-11 - 8:25:30 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Carla Wixom (cwixom@morrobayca.gov)
Signature Date: 2026-03-11 - 8:25:32 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Document emailed to Dana Swanson (dswanson@morrobayca.gov) for signature
2026-03-11 - 8:25:47 PM GMT
Email viewed by Dana Swanson (dswanson@morrobayca.gov)
2026-03-11 - 9:00:49 PM GMT
Document e-signed by Dana Swanson (dswanson@morrobayca.gov)
Signature Date: 2026-03-11 - 9:01:11 PM GMT - Time Source: server
Agreement completed.
2026-03-11 - 9:01:11 PM GMT