Oak Harbor Marina guests, hoist users to pay more

The Oak Harbor City Council approved an increase in rates for the use of guest moorage slips and boat hoist at the council’s Tuesday evening in a 5-0 vote.

Council members Danny Paggao and Beth Munns were absent from the meeting.

The increase will earn approximately $5,000 to 7,000 in additional yearly revenue for the Oak Harbor Marina enterprise fund, Harbormaster Mack Funk said.

This latest round of rate increases does not apply to long-term moorage.

In December 2009 the City Council approved an incremental rate increase for permanent and guest moorage, storage units, parking, and electricity in the amount of 5 percent each year for 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Following the City Council’s December decision, Marina Advisory Committee members, some marina customers and members of the City Council questioned whether the rate increase for guest moorage was enough, Funk said.

Oak Harbor city staff surveyed guest moorage rates at neighboring marinas and found that Oak Harbor’s guest moorage costs were a comparative bargain, ranked at 84 percent of nearby marinas.

The rates will be charged for in-season and off-season in addition to a flat rate $3 per night for electricity.

The new in-season rate, from May 1 through Sept. 15, is 80-cents-per-foot; the new off-season rate, from Sept. 16 through April 30, is 60-cents-per-foot. The marina formerly charged 72-cent for guest moorage, electricity included.

New rates for the boat hoist are $25 per use when performed by marina staff, or $40 for a monthly hoist contract where boat owners provide the labor. The new rates will increase “approximately 6 percent in 2011 and 2010,” according to city documents. The old charge was $15.75.

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