North Whidbey could be home to the newest port, a type of district that hasn’t been created in nearly four decades.

The Oak Harbor City Council unanimously decided to move forward with the decision on Tuesday.

Launching a port district, which brings state funding for economic growth, requires a petition with 10% of the voter population to appear on the ballot. After that, it needs 51% approval.

It will be a long process, but city staff think it may be an answer to some of the city’s pressing needs such as the declining marina.

“We use the old adage, ‘the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now,’” said Brian Smith, parks and recreation director.

But Oak Harbor did “plant a tree” over 20 years ago, and it never grew.

According to Chris Sublet, harbormaster, Oak Harbor ran a port district campaign in 1990 that received only 40% of the vote.

The second best time is perhaps the best option.

“We are on borrowed time,” Smith said. “None of the (funding options) are silver bullets.”

While the city will simultaneously pursue other funding options to restore the marina, the development of a port would ultimately eliminate the need for the city to find grants, legislative support, taxes, bonds, private partnerships, Navy assistance and more, as the district would be its own entity with its own funding to pursue.

In the last round, $126.5 million in legislative funding went to Washington’s ports.

One thing was made clear in town halls regarding the marina’s failing infrastructure: the public overwhelmingly wants to keep the marina, Smith said.

The Port of Oak Harbor would essentially have the same boundaries as the Oak Harbor School District. With the Port of Coupeville ending south of Oak Harbor and the Port of Anacortes ending on the north side of Deception Pass, theoretically the Oak Harbor Port would be everything in between.

Port development strives to make public resources accessible, said Eric Fitch, executive director of Washington Public Ports Association.

While the discussion sometimes surrounds the marina, the port would provide a whole suite of economic opportunities.

“When I think about closing the marina, I think less public access to public resources,” Fitch said.

According to Ken Hulett, a marina tenant for over 25 years, the port district won’t be fast enough to fix the failing marina.

“We get a strong westerly wind and a high tide, it could all go away,” he said.

While Councilmember Jim Woessner said he supports the public to decide on a new tax, he had a bit of hesitation passing on control of the marina.

The Oak Harbor Marina is one of two city-owned marinas in the state. By developing a port district, it would be one of 76 competing for funding.

“Are we passing our baby for the good of the baby, or are we passing it off because we don’t want to deal with it anymore?” he asked.

Developing a port will be a long, difficult process that in the end will still be “a huge longshot,” said Councilmember Bryan Stucky.

Because of this, he supports the effort through grant funding but not if it were to come from the general fund, he said.

The city will then hire a consultant to advise the city through the process, and a citizen advisory group will be formed.