LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors have given the formal go-ahead to sell the Holiday Harbor marina.

The board voted unanimously at its Jan. 19 meeting to approve a resolution declaring its intent to sell the property, located at 3605 and 3655 Lakeshore Blvd. in Nice.

The county's former redevelopment agency purchased the property in June 2008.

The recommended sale price is $1.2 million, a figure the county is basing on a current appraisal and a broker's opinion.

Deputy County Administrative Officer Josh Jones told the board that a bid opening will take place at the board's March 22 meeting, once the county has a few months to market the property. A 4-percent commission will be paid to the broker or Realtor involved with the winning bid.

He said the Lake County Planning Commission approved a general plan conformity report for the proposed property sale at its Jan. 14 meeting.

Jones said the six-acre property includes 400 feet of lake frontage, a perimeter seawall, launch ramp, docks and 65 boat slips, along with a two-story residential duplex, commercial building and several outbuildings. A vacated roadway is located on the west side of the harbor channel.

He said caveats on the property include an existing easement around the lake, from the low to high watermarks. There will be a new dedication on the east side of harbor channel, from the northern boundary to the existing public trust easement, that Jones said the county wants to retain for public beach access, so it can't be developed.

The severe December 2014 storm destroyed the marina's old wood seawall, and the land behind it started to erode. Jones said a new steel seawall with a new cap and railing over it to match the remaining perimeter seawall has been installed. In addition, the land has been cleaned up.

“It's looking pretty good now,” he said of the marina.

Supervisor Jeff Smith asked if there was any remaining wood seawall left. Jones said yes, estimating that about 30 percent of the seawall is now wood.

Smith followed up by asking how much the county has put into the property.

County Administrative Officer Matt Perry said the county purchased it for $2 million and has put another $200,000 into it.

Jones said the new seawall cost $111,000, with Perry adding that the county hoped to get reimbursed for those storm-caused repairs from the California Office of Emergency Services.

“So this is a heck of a deal for somebody,” Smith said.

Perry explained that the county had bought the property when prices were still high.

He said the county solicited special proposals from Realtors for marketing the property. According to the written staff report, Tim Vi Tran of The Ivy Group – which helped the county sell the Robin Hill lakeside property – won the contract and was paid to produce a specialized Web site and provide other services.

Perry emphasized that Tran will have no advantage over any other broker or Realtor bringing forward a bid for the property.

Smith considered it a good opportunity for someone. “Marinas have a really nice steady cash flow if they're done correctly,” he said, adding that the property, which has room for RVs, also could be used to draw in snowbirds traveling along Interstate 5.

Supervisor Jim Steele said he held a town hall in Nice and community members gave input on plans for the property. He said some people were interested in having the county run it as a business.

He said it has been an attraction for vagrants, and selling it will help alleviate that issue. Steele added that other businesses have moved into the area and it will be a great opportunity, with the price likely to draw someone who will see a potential increase in value.

With the property back in private ownership, it will generate transient occupancy tax – or bed tax – revenues, which will help the county get back what it put into the property, Steele said.

Board Chair Rob Brown recalled his concerns about buying the marina in the first place. He said it needs to be put in the category of “we shouldn't have done it.”

Brown noted, “This was not a good deal for us,” adding, “We need to stay out of the business of business.”

During public comment, Martin Scheel, a Lakeport City Council member who rents a boat slip at the marina, said he thought it was a good idea to sell it.

He said he thought the estimate of 65 boat slips was “pretty generous,” estimating that only 20 of the slips are viable.

Scheel went on to ask about what would happen if no one offered the minimum $1.2 million bid. Jones replied that the county would have to begin the sales process again.

Scheel also asked about when a magnetic locking system would be installed at the marina, as someone was cutting the locks on his boat. Jones said they planned to get that system in place that same week.

The board approved the resolution 5-0.

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