Long Beach : Deadline for Our Marina

The Long Beach Harbor Commission, which had given boat owners at the dilapidated Our Marina until Tuesday to leave or face stiff fines, held to that deadline this week.

But commissioners made it clear that they will not attempt to collect $210 a day in mooring fees and fines if the 70 remaining boat owners, including 28 who live aboard their vessels, leave soon.

After a last-minute plea from the boaters, the commission also agreed to assist with safety and health improvements at the storm-battered marina it wants to demolish to make way for a shipping terminal.

“We’re certainly not looking to make money off the hardship of these people. . . . We will cooperate with them in every way possible,” commission President David Hauser said after a closed session Monday with port attorneys.

Port officials say they were left with a marina full of old boats this summer because an independent marina operator failed to live up to a 1986 agreement to clear the docks by June 30.

The port paid $14.4 million for the marina and 72 surrounding acres last year, and officials said they gave marina operator William Melamed of Los Angeles 16 months to evict boaters.

Melamed, however, has said the port verbally agreed to allow the marina to stay open until construction was imminent. Melamed gave the boaters a 30-day notice to leave in July.