The following is my letter to the Commissioners
Dear Commissioners;
Why the additional 1% increase in moorage rates undermines trust in the Port Institution
Last year the moorage tenants were presented with a huge “market rate” increase. The resulting 10 to 16% rates made Port Townsend the most expensive marina on the west side of Puget Sound (except Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge where the average home is $800,000).
At that time Sam eloquently presented the Port’s financial crisis. As extreme as the rate increase was, there was a general feeling to be good citizens and support the sincere effort of the new director. So we swallowed the bitter pill.
In an early September meeting, the commissioners indicated that they would seek a standard cost of living increase. This is within reason.
However the administration proposal to change the “market rate” by the additional 1 per cent is disingenuous. It is a bait and switch maneuver that uses our willingness to support Sam’s 2017 increase as a green light to continue to “rate adjust”.
At a question and answer session in September with the Marine Trades at the PT brewery, Brad Clinefelter had to dispel rumor after rumor after rumor. These rumors happen because the Port has a reputation as an institution that cannot be trusted. If the Commission now approves a moorage tenants rate changed while the administration gets a 300 thousand raise, it will undermine our new trust and support.
After decades of previous Commissions where the tail wags the dog, its time to offer some restraint. We have all unreservedly supported Sam for her first year but its time to ask her to tighten the administrative budget and work with what she has. Instead of increasing the moorage rates beyond the CPI , the Commission should freeze or decrease the 2017 administration budget, exercise some administration birth control, and put a moratorium on all spending of a non-emergent nature such as conferences, promotions EDC contributions CERB studies, consultants etc.
The Commission controls a moorage monopoly on those of us that want to live and recreate in this town and frankly it is degrading to have to go with hat in hand and beg for fairness.
Thanks for taking the time to consider this issue. I look forward to your comments.
Bertram Levy
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