Boaters will see their bills at the Oak Harbor Marina go up by 3 percent beginning April 1, after city council members voted to raise rates earlier rather than follow the city’s Marina Advisory Board members’ recommendation to wait a few months.

City council members voted in 2019 to raise marina rates by 3 percent each year from 2019 to 2022.

In March 2020, Mayor Bob Severns delayed the rate increase at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the rate increase went into effect in July of that year.

The Marina Advisory Board, one of the city’s groups to incorporate the public into its decision making, recommended that council members wait until July to raise rates again this year.

However, staff did not feel like a pause was in the best interest of the marina and noted that the marina would lose $4,150 each month the rate increase was delayed.

“It probably would cause some projects to be canceled or shrank down,” Harbormaster Chris Sublet said, adding that projects on B and E dock, and repairs to the log boom might be canceled.

The marina is supported by an enterprise fund which means that its fees must cover its operations, unlike other city funds that can get money from the general fund.

In 2021, a 24-foot boat or slip length will cost $251.12 per month in covered moorage, and uncovered moorage for the same length will be $193.20. It is the smallest slip length on the fee chart.

If a boater is only looking for moorage for 7-14 days this summer, a 24-foot uncovered boat or slip will cost $12.89 from June 1-Sept. 1. The price rises to $16.75 for covered moorage in the same length and time frame.

The rest of the rates and updated master fee schedule can be found online.

Council members were unanimous in their vote to raise rates.