The Devil Is in the Details
At our September 6 Leschi meeting, John Barber led a Q & A discussion of the moorage contract at the two Leschi Marinas and Lakewood. He invited Paula Hoff from Seattle Parks and Dwight Jones from Marina Management to answer both John’s submitted questions and questions from the attendees.
The lease is a 20-year lease, which can be extended every ten years for another ten years.
Paula began the discussion by saying there was a “soft” transition from now to January 1 when the lease actually takes effect. During that time, tenant records will be transferred and design will begin. The changes are expected to take about 1-½ years. There will be no increase in moorage rates until construction is done.
She answered John’s questions as well as she could. The Environmental Impact Statement has already been started and should be well underway in January.
King County does not test water at marinas, only public beaches.
There are four live-aboards, two in the North Marina and two in the South Marina.
They do plan to have pump out facilities on site. Moorage will not exclude speedboats. The exact number of slips is not yet known.
There will be space for transient moorage at the South Marina where folks can park and eat on shore.
Boats 30 ft. and under pay $12 per foot.
Marina Management is responsible for all maintenance.
Parks is putting in $3.8 million for the South Marina breakwater.
At this point, Dwight Jones was introduced. Dwight said he is part of a family business (Foss) that operates three marinas in Tacoma…from a fishing marina to recreational marinas. There are opportunities for public involvement and they want involvement with the boat owners. The company has won every environmental prize that is out there. They will not tolerate discharge into the water.
There will be public access and there will be security 7 days a week and at night as well.
John asked one final question before taking the attendees’ concerns: When will you meet with the community on the design?
Paula said they don’t know yet as design is not ready. The first meeting with tenants will be at the Mt. Baker Rowing Center.
Answers to audience questions
Target date for completion of the entire project is 2019/2020.
To see one of their projects without going to Tacoma, visit Pier 91 in Seattle.
Lakewood Marina’s restaurant should be open to the public. The (now) locked gate will be open to the public.
Now 78% of the boats are smaller boats. The fee structure will be capped; fees would rise gradually to that cap AFTER all repairs are completed.
The parking will remain the same despite rumors to the contrary.
There will be no gas stop.
The Virginia V may visit.
The website will be up in two weeks.
There will be racks to store sailboards, paddle boards, etc.
There was concern about building higher but there are no plans. Parks does intend to repair the roof on the bathrooms at the North marina, but no plans to build any condominiums anywhere.
In response to a question about the Dragon boats, both Paula and Dwight indicated that they are aware of the Dragon boats and will find space for them.
John ended the meeting with the acknowledgment that there is more to be learned and again stressed that “the devil is in the details.” Any follow-up meetings will be announced in the newsletter, Facebook and our website.
~Diane Snell