County, Marina Operator to Resume Talks

Ventura County lawyers will resume talks with the operator of the Channel Islands Harbor marina, hoping to avoid eviction of hundreds of people who rent boat slips there, officials said Tuesday.

The county Board of Supervisors “is interested in resolving the issue as quickly as possible,” said county Counsel Frank Sieh, declining to give any specifics as to what direction the board decided to take during its closed-door meeting. But he stressed that the county wishes to avoid any evictions.

The meeting came after dozens of boat slip renters were served eviction notices last week by the local family who has leased the property for more than 40 years. About 500 people rent slips at the marina.

The Farrell family and the county had reached an impasse in negotiations last fall over several monetary issues.

Several renters caught in the middle of the dispute urged the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to strike a compromise to save them from eviction.

Gary Stameisen, 50, of Oxnard said he was shocked to find the eviction notice when he and his family arrived for a sailing outing last week. Like other speakers, Stameisen said it is difficult to find slips anywhere in Southern California.

“There are just so many parking spots for these boats and once they are gone, that’s it. No mas,” said Stameisen, a Los Angeles city firefighter.

Stameisen said boat owners may be forced to drop anchor in the harbor if they lose their slips.

“If they think that tree sitter in [Stevenson Ranch] caused a problem, wait until they see 500 boats drop anchor in the marina,” he said.

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Times staff writer Catherine Saillant contributed to this report.