Why is the City retaining a firm to manage the process (as opposed to leading the process themselves) and who will be responsible for the cost of hiring the firm?

The City of San Rafael does not have dredging permitting expertise on staff, as the process is something the City has engaged in only twice in the past 25 years. A firm with expertise facilitating the maintenance dredging permitting process is necessary to ensure all permits and approvals are in place when the USACE initiates their dredging project. The cost of retaining the firm will be equally split between dock owners/tenants which participate in the Umbrella Permitting process.