PORT TOWNSEND — Port commissioners approved a 4 percent moorage rate increase on Wednesday in a split-decision despite opposition from dock users who spoke out at the meeting.
The Port of Port Townsend rate increase is intended to be congruent with the cost of inflation.
Commissioners Dave Thompson and Herb Beck voted to approve the rate increase while Commissioner John Collins opposed it.
Collins moved to postpone the decision until March 26, but the motion received no second.
Collins wanted to postpone the decision so that staff could find a rate based on actual cost of operations rather than on market comparison.
“To hold until next year and find a correct rate would seem prudent,” Collins said.
Thompson disagreed.
“We have always gone with the market, and I am in favor of the raise based on inflation because it will help us in the future.”
Commissioners Thompson and Beck said that the increase would help with much-needed renovations and repairs to the AB dock in Boat Haven.
Commissioners unanimously agreed to allocate $250,000 from the port’s general fund to AB dock for repairs, and told staff to begin action required to move toward repairing AB dock.
Taking the steps to fix AB dock is one of my top priorities,” Beck said.
“The repairs are not directly related to the raise,” Thompson said.
“But the raise will help with the repairs.
“It will be going into the general fund and it will be allocated for expenses — including the AB dock.”
