Jefferson County Moorage Tenants Union

The Moorage Tenants Union: An Introduction

The Port Townsend Moorage Tenants Union was founded in 2007 to provide a representative voice for the 440 marina tenants when dealing with the Port of Port Townsend. At that time, rates were increasing at 8 % a year and boat ownership for the average citizen in Jefferson County was in jeopardy. Happily, over the last three years, the Tenants Union has successfully cooperated with the Port to limit moorage rate increases. As the Union has evolved, however, its relationship with the Port has extended beyond that of simple rate issues, and has able to effect a number of accomplishments.

Along with the marine trades and the trailer boater community, we have become a viable member of the Port’s group of Boat Haven stake holders. We were active members of the Port’s strategic planning committee. During the 2 years of that process, we were able to redraft the mission statement of the Port to include vital issues to the tenants, including maintenance of the facility and affordable access. The participation of the Union in the planning of the A and B dock replacement project helped to ensure that adequate moorage for smaller vessels is provided. Entering the realm of electoral politics, we helped elect two outstanding Port Commissioners who better understand the concerns of marina tenants. Through letters to the editor and in other forums, we work to counter the common misperception that tax revenue subsidizes moorage. As we well know, the truth is quite the opposite.

We have worked with the Commission and staff to amend moorage policies and for a brief period were able establish a moorage – haul out exchange program. Lastly, the Tenants Union successfully lobbied the Port Commission to annually dedicate $250,000 from moorage revenues to fund the Boat Haven reserve fund, which will reach 1.2 million dollars by the end of 2011. These funds are identified for the maintenance and repair of C, D, and the commercial dock, in order to enhance public safety and to extend the life span of those docks.

Nevertheless, there still remains a large philosophical divide between the Port and marina tenants. The Port continues to believe that its main mandate is economic development, narrowly defined, and that the primary purpose of the marina to provide funds for economic development. This long-held position has made moorage tenants the “cash cow” for many expensive Port projects. Historically, the revenues from the moorage tenants have been used for the construction of the heavy haul out, the shipyard, the airport, and the administration offices. None of the above projects have any direct benefit to the moorage tenants, who nevertheless have provided much of the funds for them.

In addition, none of these projects have been able to financially sustain themselves and moorage funds continue to be needed to support these projects. It has become clear that if the moorage tenants are to control rates, we must oversee Port finances. As a result, the Moorage Tenants Union has become the only public watchdog of Port spending.

The union will continue to represent the interest of the members and to provide a source for information on Port activities. In addition the union will be surveying its members to establish profiles and trends that can be used to define and preserve the integrity of the marina community.