With the harbor losing slip holders, and with revenues down over $65k from last season, the town is exploring the possibility of using a management company to take on marina operations. Tuesday, Annapolis based Oasis Marinas gave a presentation to town council. While managing infrastructure such as parking garages has been the company’s mainstay, Oasis is fairly new to the marina management business, now in its second year of service.
Currently, Oasis boasts two upscale clients, the elegant Yards Marina in Washington, DC, which resides on the Anacostia River between the Washington Navy Yard and the Nationals Baseball Park, and Harbor East Marina in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. In Baltimore, Oasis states that in its first year of management, it increased slip occupancy from 30% to 60%.
Oasis provided three methods of operation:
1. They would write a check to the town at the beginning of the fiscal year, and then keep all the profits.
2. They would take the town’s harbor budget number, match it, and then engage in 50% profit sharing.
3. Purchase the harbor outright
Oasis noted that they would like a three year contract with the town so as to provide some level of growth and continuity. The company also said it would take over the town’s harbor staff, so no one would be losing a job. Instead, staff would be trained by the firm, as well has having opportunities to work at other marinas Oasis manages.
According to a discussion with one member of town council, selling the harbor is not an option, and while the professional management of the harbor asset provides some advantages, more discussion and analysis will be needed before a decision is made. If council decides to move forward, an RFP will have to be advertised. No clear time frame has been established at this time.
What is the cost to purchase the town harbor? Before we consider selling another town asset, Cape Charles should look into local investors rather than sell off our valuable resources to outsiders. One reason the harbor is losing revenue is that they increased the slip fees substantially last year. The harbor offers few amenities yet the Town Council wants to base rates on upscale marinas around the bay. The harbor could be turned around and all slips filled if we lower the rates and slowing increase them over the next few years based on demand. This is a no brainer.
If you clean up the railway yard from Mason
Avenue to the water front, that will help Mason Avenue and the harbor. Looks like a train junkyard now.
As I see it, the railroad yard and high rates are the problem. The easy changes were made and failed. I also suggest the smaller rate changes, take the lumps and never give up the waterfront.
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