Yacht Club could float marina plan

Officials felt managing private boathouses, as well as the public launch ramp, guest mooring and restrooms did not mesh with the agency’s mission of job creation.

Mark Roth and Garrett Boothe, officers of the yacht club, visited the port’s Nov. 4 meeting to gather information about what managerial duties would entail.

They had already requested and received marina budgets from 2012 to the current fiscal year, as well as criteria put together by the port in a prior effort to recruit new management.

Roth and Boothe were seeking to learn what the port’s expectations were and what the costs

involved in assuming maintenance duties would be.

Once they had that information in hand, the two men said it would be presented to the other 37 members of the yacht club for review.

“Are you looking for some maintenance? All maintenance? A long-term lease?” asked Roth in a series of questions.

He was told by the commission that all offers would be considered, even management of only the private side of the operation, although the agency would prefer to have the public facilities taken over as well.

Boothe said he believed it was a “doable thing” for the club to take on the responsibility if it received moorage fees to offset costs.

There are 62 boat houses on the private side and 25-30 boat slips in an area that is off-limits to the general public.

Open moorage is $62.42 per square foot monthly or $35.30 per foot annually.

On the public side, there are 12 pull-in slips for boats as well as a long dock to accommodate larger yachts. A $10 fee is charged for 24 hours of “parking.”

The port has adjusted moorage fees to ensure that enough revenue is generated each year to cover operational expenses.

“I think we could definitely improve the asset,” said Boothe at last week’s meeting.

“I can’t say we would do it any more efficiently but I think we can get way more community involvement down there.”

Commissioner Kristi McCavic was enthusiastic about the possibility of the club assuming responsibility.

“I’m thrilled you guys are here because I think it makes sense to go through the yacht club,” she said. “I think it would work well.” Commissioner Mike Courtney agreed that the club would be a good manager because the owners of boat houses had a vested interested in the property.

“I want to see it be a good thing but I don’t think it’s a place for government,” he said of managerial duties.

Attorney Bill Dick was asked by Commissioner David Griffith if the agency had to legally advertise for other proposals in addition to that presented by the yacht club.

“I don’t think there’s any expectation that you’ve made a deal here, it’s an exploration,” said Dick.

Andrea Klaas, port director, said professional services did not require a bidding process.

So, whether or not that would need to happen depended upon the direction the agency chose to take.

The yacht club was founded in 1936 and Boothe said, in the past, its members have been actively involved in

management of the marina. He believes reviving that role will result in the community being more engaged in waterfront activities.

“We’re going to talk to the members now and, if they approve this idea, then we’ll hopefully be coming back with something to show the port by January,” he said in a follow-up interview.