Council raises marina dredge fee to help fund dredging and breakwater projects
Summary
The council amended the marina master fee schedule to increase dredge fees, a change estimated to raise $90,000–$100,000 annually to help pay project debt service alongside the new local B&O tax; the change was adopted unanimously.
Oak Harbor’s City Council amended the marina master fee schedule Sept. 2 to increase the monthly dredge fee for berths, a change intended to help fund planned marina dredging and a breakwater project.
Deputy City Administrator and Finance Director David Goldman told council the dredge‑fee adjustment (Scenario 5 in the staff materials) was estimated to generate about $90,000–$100,000 per year. The revenues will be used together with local business‑and‑occupation (B&O) tax collections adopted earlier to service debt for the marina projects. Goldman noted the fee change increases a typical uncovered 32‑foot monthly rate by about $25 per month (roughly 7%).
No public comments were received on the fee change. Councilmember Stuckey asked whether the Marina Advisory Committee had weighed in; staff said the MAC had been present at the B&O discussion and had no comments about the modest dredge‑fee increase. Councilmember Arms moved to adopt Resolution 25‑34 amending the Oak Harbor master fee schedule (Schedule D: Marina); council approved the resolution unanimously.
Staff said the new fee will take effect per the master fee schedule and will be used, along with B&O tax revenue, to meet planned project debt obligations.
