Port reviews 2019 marina, airport rates

The Port of Camas-Washougal Commission is considering a rate increase for people who rent hangar bays at Grove Field Airport and a requirement to lease marina slips for at least nine months.

Commissioners are expected to discuss and vote on a 3-percent across-the-board airport hangar bay rate increase during their next regular meeting at 5 p.m., Monday, June 18. They also plan to discuss whether or not the Port of Camas-Washougal (the Port) can require marina tenants to stay for a minimum of nine months, instead of the current minimum of six months. The proposal would involve discontinuing a program that allows marina slip renters to sign a nine-month lease but only pay for eight months.

The Port already offers a 12-month marina slip lease, where boaters pay for 11 months and receive one month free. That offer is expected to continue in 2019.

Rick Arnold, of Washougal, has rented a boat slip on “C” Row in the local marina, off and on for two years. Speaking from the marina on June 8, Arnold said he likes the flexibility of the shorter, nine-month lease, but would be OK with a 12-month agreement.

As a marina tenant, Arnold likes avoiding the Port’s boat launch, which can get quite busy, particularly on the weekends.

Uncovered slips at the marina, located off of South “A” Street in Washougal, lease for $90 to $193.50 per month, while the cost to rent a covered slip ranges from $136 to $286.25 a month.

Moorage fees at Steamboat Landing Marina, in Vancouver, range from $165 to $290 per month for uncovered slips and it does not have covered slips.

The Port’s finance director, Kim Noah, said the airport and marina rates and fees are determined by market value and demand, among other things. The Port’s strategic plan mentions managing operations and capital facilities in a manner that strives to generate sufficient revenues to offset operating expenses.

Hangar bay rental rates at the Port-owned Grove Field Airport, located off of Northeast 267th Avenue, north of Camas, currently range from $198.75 to $364 per month. With a 3-percent increase, which would go into effect Jan. 1, 2019, the rates would vary from $204.75 to $375 per month.

Pilots who rent hangar bays at Pearson Airfield, in Vancouver, currently pay from $288 to $491 a month, while bays at Scappoose Industrial Airpark, in Scappoose, Oregon, cost $151 to $236 per month to rent.

Noah said there are eight people on a waitlist for hangar bays at Grove Field.

“Other airports surveyed were also 98 percent to 100 percent occupied,” Noah said.