PORT TOWNSEND – Opting to seek more comments from Boat Haven moorage tenants and Port of Port Townsend taxpayers, the port commissioners on Wednesday chose to raise moorage rates by 4 percent on Jan. 1.
At the port staff’s recommendation, the commissioners also decided to wait until after Jan. 1 to consider what rates will be necessary to raise revenues to support a proposed $8 million to $10 million renovation and reconfiguration of the Boat Haven Marina’s worn out docks
As now proposed, the port commissioners would approved the 4 percent increase to account for inflation and to achieve parity between the small boats and large yachts that permanently tie up at the marina, which has a waiting list of more than 200.
A 1 p.m. Nov. 7 public hearing on the proposal has been set before the port commissioners at their chambers in the port administration building, 375 Hudson St., Port Townsend.
Boat Haven moorage rates are proposed to increase from $5.34 per foot to $5.55 for boat slips of 20 feet at the low end, and from $7.81 per foot to $9.16 per foot for 71- to 90-foot boats at the top level.
Larry Eifert, representing the Port Townsend Moorage Tenants Union of 60 tenants, presented a letter asking that the port commissioners table an increase until after Jan. 1.
At that time, a new commissioner would be seated to succeed longtime Commissioner Bob Sokol.
John Collins, Port Townsend bed-and-breakfast inn owner and retired educator, and former Port Townsend Mayor Forrest Rambo are running for Sokol’s seat.
