Following is an open letter I wrote to the Port of Olympia Commissioners urging them not to sell any of the Swantown Marina facilities. The issue of alternate marina management could surface again after review by Port staff. The letter is presented here to alert you of the need to be ready to help the Port in their continuous long range planning process.
As an extra note, Commissioner Paul Telford observed that there seems to be a public perception that Swantown moorage is subsidized by taxpayers. While the entire Port does receive tax revenue from county property owners, the marina is self-supporting and does provide positive cash flow. Boaters can help inform non-boating taxpayers that they are not subsidizing moorage at a public marina.
I have been reading the newspaper articles about the California inquiry to purchase the Swantown docks and facilities. I’m writing to you to voice opposition to the sale and to provide reasons why I do not think selling the marina facilities is a good long-term plan. No one else familiar with the marina that I have spoken to is in favor of the sale.
I respect private enterprise and investment in business ventures by those with a sincere desire to create a long-term community asset. However, I believe Swantown should remain as it is under full Port management and ownership. The presence of a Port owned marina among several private marinas and related businesses provides a certain degree of stability and standard setting in a captive market where boat owners have limited voice in how facilities are managed.
I have lived in Thurston County for more than 37 years. I became involved in Swantown by attending and testifying at numerous meetings during the proposal and design phases. I remember predicting to East Bay property owners, many who opposed marina construction, that upon its completion, their neighborhood would become even more attractive. East Bay residences are now considered Olympia’s prime waterfront. I also advocated using low profile lighting to minimize glare to the East Bay neighbors, which was done. Most marinas I have stayed at are horrible light polluters.
I am pleased with the marina layout and facility as it operates today. I can attest to that easily as I have moored in almost every marina between Olympia and Skagway, Alaska. I have also moored in many marinas south along our coast to near Los Angeles. I rate Swantown as one of the top marinas on the entire West Coast. I have been a moorage customer on G dock for the last six and a half years. Moorage is fair and predictable.
I remember the brief management of Swantown by another California Company and did not at all like how they operated. They ran the marina with excessive regulation and little regard for local ways of doing things. They even changed the name without local input or consideration for historic significance. I was relieved to see them go and for the Port to take over.
Swantown provides positive cash flow to the Port, which is likely to continue in the long term. Port ownership keeps moorage dollars local as opposed to revenue collected by a distant California firm. Employees are local and have good jobs and futures with the port. I have become acquainted with many of the present employees, and they are always helpful, accommodating, and courteous. I like to drop my moorage check off on the way to the boat just to say hi to them. I would not feel this same camaraderie with an out of town firm.
I want to see the Port continue operation of Swantown as a profitable part of its diversified businesses. However, I see the total Port operation as much more than a completely profitable dollar-oriented venture. The Port provides a stable economic and community function by supporting many in-house career and related downstream jobs and businesses. Community impact by Port supported business is significant. A Port- owned marina is a great catalyst for numerous supporting business opportunities such as those within and around the Boatworks. Swantown proximity businesses are still in infancy and the future looks bright. Hometown marina ownership provides excellent local knowledge and gives the Port better planning ability. In Alaska I have seen how the outsider operated cruise ship lines come to the towns and dictate how things shall be. Most locals do not like this outside control over their hometown affairs.
The offer to buy the Swantown facilities in the short term may not be the best for our community. Furthermore, I think the price is too low. The offered price, if accepted, is a very sweet deal for the buyer. I doubt if anyone on Puget Sound could build a marina for $6000+ per slip: $3,300,000/548 slips.
There is much more to Swantown than just an economic return. Hometown operation, local pride in the attractiveness, and future long-term potential are good reasons to retain marina ownership. The Port will be operating 100 years from now. The California company will, in all probability, be long gone.
The Port has made an immense improvement to the downtown Olympia area already and the future looks even better. In 1969 I remember mooring to the tiny, rickety public float and climbing the long, slimy ladder to street level. That lone public float was an embarrassment to the capital city. The other nearby private marinas were equally decrepit as most of their floats were falling apart and dangerous to traverse. The Swantown development stimulated the upgrading of those original funky marinas to the good quality ones along the Olympia waterfront today.
Let’s keep Swantown local. Swantown sets a high standard with its first class facilities. Please keep the long-term benefits at the forefront. I urge you not to sell.
Ken Russell, Rushwind