Council hikes moorage fees

SANDPOINT - Despite vehement disapproval from many in attendance, the City Council voted last Wednesday to raise moorage fees at all city-owned docks.

The increase, which goes into effect Oct. 1,  will raise slip fees by 10 percent for residents and 15 percent for non-residents.

Parks and Recreation Director Kim Woodruff said many of the docks need a complete overhaul and argued that spending more now on quality materials will mean less upkeep in the future.

Councilwoman Helen Newton cited the marina's relative bargain prices compared with other area moorage fees - such as the Dover Bay Marina - as a reason to raise prices.

Sandpoint's David Kraisler has rented a slip at the Windbag Marina for nearly 10 years and said city moorage is not meant to compete with private moorage.

"You can't compare these two things. Number one, (Dover Bay) has a high-end marina that's controlled, has a lock, a gas pump, and electricity. Ours is just this little local thing.," Kraisler said.

The problem began several years ago, according to Kraisler, when the city decided it wanted to compete with private marinas by raising the quality of its docks and making moorage a commercial enterprise.

"We're saying, 'We don't want to bring it up to that level. Why does it have to be brought up to that level? Why can't we keep it on the most minimal level?' OK, fix the docks, but they don't have to be the Cadillac of docks. Just keep it simple."

While not a money maker, Woodruff said he would welcome a time when the city could turn a profit from the moorage fees.

"I do look at the marinas as a potential revenue source to help pay for other parks and rec. expenditures," Woodruff said.

At current rates, the marinas do not completely pay for themselves and require some general fund dollars to maintain, according to Woodruff.

Councilman Doug Hawkins Jr. voted for the increase in part because he wants the marinas to be self sustaining.

"Ultimately I'd like to get to a point where people who don't own boats aren't subsidizing people who do," Hawkins said.

Several boat owners attended the meeting, and most said they would like the city to implement a long-range plan for fee increases, rather than deciding the increase on a yearly basis, as has been the case.

If the city continues to increase fees, Kraisler said he and other boat owners could look into organizing a committee to find ways of keeping moorage prices near their current levels.