Sausalito is moving ahead with renovating the Turney Street dock and boat ramp.
At its meeting on Sept. 15, the City Council unanimously selected a design to rebuild the public boat launch.
“It’s going to be a launch that could appeal to fishermen, people with small, motorized, shallow drafted vessels,” said Mayor Steven Woodside. “The floating dock that extends to the south would be available for people to bring their kayaks or small craft down there.”
“I do have a personal interest in being able to swim up to the boat launch safely,” said Vice Mayor Melissa Blaustein. “So I really appreciate the integration of the docks at the front of the Joinery and just a big holistic look.”
The city’s timeline entails engineering this year; lining up funding and getting state and federal permits next year; and construction in 2028.
The ramp and docks are a rare public access point to Richardson Bay. Built decades ago, the site has become run down and an eyesore — apart from a recently installed gangway leading to floating docks near the boat ramp.
The approved design includes replacing and extending the ramp into Richardson Bay and replacing the weathered bulkhead.
Several docks for up to 16 smaller shallow boats would be installed in front of the Joinery restaurant, where old piers and pontoons now sit. A new 80-foot gangway would follow the concrete boat ramp and connect to the docks.
Another gangway that connects to docks for a dozen small dinghies would be behind the Salito’s restaurant. There would also be access for kayaks, paddleboards and swimmers.
The ramp would not accommodate sailboats with deep keels. That portion of Richardson Bay is shallow and would have to be dredged, which requires federal permits.
Early construction estimates said the council’s preferred design could cost $3.1 million.
City officials have discussed renovating the site for years.
In late 2024, the city received a $170,000 state Fish and Wildlife Department grant under a boating access program. The city chipped in an additional $104,000 from its Tidelands Fund and hired a consulting firm to do the preliminary engineering analysis, environmental review, permit assessment, public outreach and design options, a staff report said.
Last winter, the City Council hoped to speed the process by seeking proposals for a public-private partnership for an entrepreneur to put a business at the site and contribute to construction costs. In exchange, the city would offer favorable lease terms. The city selected a preferred partner in the spring, but the project languished, staff said.
The consultants discussed two options at the recent council meeting. The designs were similar, although the plan embraced by the council kept powerboats to the north and hand-powered crafts to the south.
“I think it’s great,” said Alice Merrill during the public comment period. “I love the idea of people getting into the water and being able to be safe and getting their boats in. It’s something this town should be doing.”