PORT TOWNSEND — Facing many of about 40 Boat Haven marina boat owners during a special meeting Monday, Port of Port Townsend commissioners voiced support for a “progressive” moorage rate increase.
While Commissioners Bob Sokol and Conrad Pirner expressed outright favor for the Port staff’s controversial proposal, commission Chairman Herb Beck said he would support their positions if future revenues generated from a rate increase were earmarked for Boat Haven improvements.
“I will support whatever is taken into consideration, but I want to see the revenues 100 percent locked up to go to rehabilitation of the facility,” Beck said.
Sokol said he saw the progressive moorage rate increase as “the way to go.”
Pirner agreed saying, “We’ve got to go with progressive rates. . . . You’ve got to pay for what you use.”
The Port commissioners scheduled a 1 p.m. meeting next Tuesday, Nov. 30, at the Point Hudson Marina Room to take action on the proposal.
Poor maintenance alleged
Much of the criticism the Port commissioners and staff heard Monday morning centered around decrepit and poorly maintained facilities, such as listing docks, an unpaved parking lot and filthy restrooms.
The special meeting was called Monday, Beck said, to give more boat owners renting marina slips a chance to voice their concerns before the commissioners made a decision.
It was the third meeting conducted to allow public comments.
Proposed is a 14.8 percent cumulative increase in linear foot rates on boats 20 to 50 feet long for 2005, with increases to 30.6 percent in 2006 and to 48.7 percent in 2007.
