The cost for keeping a boat at the Oak Harbor marina will likely increase soon.
Harbormaster Chris Sublet told the Oak Harbor City Council about the proposed marina rate increases during a workshop meeting last Wednesday.
The increases will be on the March 7 council meeting agenda for approval.
Under the proposal, moorage rates would only increase by 3 percent, but other costs will jump quite a bit more.
The marina is one of just two in the state that are owned by municipalities; the other is in Des Moines, near Seattle. It’s run as an enterprise fund, which means that all of its revenues come from the fees it charges, not from tax dollars.
Sublet explained that it’s been five years since rates were last increased. He surveyed other marinas in the area and the one in Des Moines, and found that Oak Harbor is 20 to 30 percent below average for many things.
The proposed increases will bring the Oak Harbor marina’s fees to slightly below the average for most, and a couple are “at or just above” the average, Sublet said.
The marina advisory committee met three times to review the proposed rate changes and support them.
Sublet said officials should take into consideration amenities around the marina when setting prices. He noted that, at other marinas, it’s easier to walk to town or a restaurant, as compared to Oak Harbor’s marina.
“Unfortunately we’re close to town but we don’t have those amenities right at our marina,” he said. “We’re also not very close to the prime cruising area, the San Juan Islands.”
The environmental compliance fee — which is charged on moorage, sheds and dry storage — will be increased to $5. Storage shed rental will increase from $106.64 to $130 a month. Dry storage will increase from $50.72 to $52.24 a month.
Sublet said one of the biggest lures for the Oak Harbor marina is gas.
“We offer some of the lowest priced fuel in this area,” he said.
Current markup on diesel and gas is 40 cents a gallon, but the increase would raise it to 50 cents a gallon. Sublet said that will keep the price on the low end compared to other marinas.
The proposal will change guest moorage rates to $1 per foot year round. Currently, the cost is 89 cents in summer and 69 cents in winter. Guest electricity will increase from $3 to $4 a night.
The live-aboard fee will increase $61.80 a month. Gates cards will increase from $5 to $10. The hourly labor rate — which is charged if a marina user breaks something — will increase from $46.30 an hour to $75 an hour.
Late charges will increase from 1 to 3 percent.
Keeping Oak Harbor’s rates low has helped the marina boost its occupancy rates, said Sublet.
“Now we’re at a point where we do need to raise those rates to keep up with the operating budget,” he said.
