PORT ANGELES — Two new Port of Port Angeles commissioners looked at the port’s marinas and airport issues with fresh eyes Monday.
The commissioners met Monday with members of the Boat Haven and John Wayne marina advisory committees, and with users of the William R. Fairchild International Airport, to discuss what is needed for the facilities to become successful.
The answers, from both marina and airport groups, was to add marketing and more willingness from the port to offer deals and incentives, and to clean up leases to make them more attractive.
Commissioners Connie Beauvais and Steven Burke are new to the commission in 2016, while Commissioner Colleen McAleer has been on the commission for two years.
The commissioners asked to meet with the port user groups — including representatives from boaters who use trailers, commercial fishermen, recreational boaters, marina-related businesses and those affected by the airport use — to become informed of the issues of concern.
Capacity review
Seven representatives told the commissioners the port needs to review its capacity, which might be excessive, and possibly change capacity according to boat size.
They said the port might have too many of certain sizes of boat slip, and changes might need to be made for more efficient use of the port’s facilities.
One of the three main dock entrances at the Boat Haven has no bathroom access, and boaters on that dock need to walk a quarter-mile to find access, they said.
Committee members suggested changes that would make the marinas more usable, such as clearly marked long-term parking for trucks and trailers, and signage directing users to parking, ramps or shopping areas.
Pricing for moorage needs to be predictable, they said, priced in a way to attract commercial fishing vessels for winter storage and “transient” boaters, as well as reviewing the cost to resident boat users.
However, McAleer noted that the expenses of operating a marina in Clallam County cost the same as in richer counties.
“We need to run a marina that breaks even,” she said.
No decisions were made at the meeting, and the commissioners and marina committee members agreed to meet at a later date for more discussions.
No date was set for that meeting Monday.
Airport
Aeronautical businesses can be attracted to the area to take advantage of relatively low costs of land as high costs are chasing some aircraft-related businesses out of larger airports in the Seattle area, said Mel Rudin, Jerry Nichols and JD Crow, who represented airport users Monday.
There are acres of property that can be developed around the airport, on both the north and south sides.
On the south side of the airport there is no sewer line, which would need to be rectified before the land can be developed, Rudin said.
Rudin said that to attract aircraft-related businesses to the relatively isolated airport, they need to offer a package deal to reduce the cost for a business to move in, to sweeten the pot for an airport that is at the end of the supply line.
Incentives
Commissioners agreed they could consider incentives such as free rent for five or 10 years if the tenant constructs its own buildings, plus putting together tax rebate offers and other incentives.
“If they offer so many jobs, I’m willing to talk,” Beauvais said.
The “1010 Building” at the Composite Recycling Technology Center already has access to a defunct taxiway, but all it would take to restore access is to remove a fence, commissioners noted.
“There is not a need for runway access for all,” Nichols said.
Nichols said aircraft paint and custom aircraft engine repair shops can ship in an engine and do not need the whole plane.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
