City staff recommends municipality does not relinquish marina, noted privatization has 'relatively few benefits'

The city isn't ready to just let the Barrie Marina drift away.

A staff report discussed at Monday night's general committee meeting looked into the potential privatization of Barrie Marina. The report was requested in May 2016 by the previous council to look into the possible sale or lease of the Lakeshore Drive facility.

Barrie Marina, which the city has maintained and operated since 1971, is fully self-funded and has a small annual operating surplus, according to the report.

In a survey, 82 per cent of marina users have asked for additional services such as winter storage and shrink-wrapping, hull bottom washing and winterization, but, overall, marina users indicated they were happy with the services provided.

Complaints led the previous council to ask for a report to look closer at the city's operation of the marina.

"The complaints we were hearing at that time, which were certainly very loud, were perhaps a vocal minority," said Mayor Jeff Lehman, noting the issues revolved around customer services and service levels.

The marina includes basic services such as a gas dock, waste pump-out, boat launch, potable water supply, shore power and minimal restroom/shower facilities.

"There's some good direction for us here going forward with the marina," Lehman said of the report, adding any improvements to the marina would be funded by its users and not local taxpayers.

Coun. Doug Shipley said there were some issues around the marina at time the report was requested.

"I was one of the ones looking for this report to come back and I was quite pleased to see the report," Shipley said. "It sounds like they are doing a good job down there and we'll keep the status quo."

The report noted the marina provides "limited amenities and tailored service allowing rates to be kept lower than other local marinas." On average, its marina fees are 20 to 40 per cent lower than other local marinas.

Barrie Marina slips are almost exclusively leased by city residents. The average vessel is 25 feet.

City staff, who recommended the municipality does not relinquish the marina, noted "significant potential drawbacks" from the marina’s privatization and "relatively few benefits."

"It seems like we have a significant amount of boaters, so much so that there's a waiting list," said Coun. Gary Harvey. "Everybody seems to be extremely happy with the services they are getting, the costs they are paying and are even willing to pay a small increase if need be."

The city’s Waterfront and Marina Strategic Plan also recommends maintaining public ownership and operation of Barrie Marina.

In addition to the marina supervisor, there are seasonal city employees who help residents and tourists along the waterfront as part of the Ask Me program. They also clean the majority of the city’s waterfront facilities, support the Tiffin Boat Launch and waterfront operators, along with waterfront events.

Coun. Sergio Morales said the best approach is to "stay the course."

"We've developed our waterfront a lot lately and, from what I hear from residents, that are proud," Morales said, adding it might be the appropriate time to slow down and finish the projects that have already begun, such as landscaping.

In June 2013, the city requested expressions of interest from any private companies to lease the marina, but no proposals were submitted.

Prior to 1971, the marina was leased to a series of private marina operators who were responsible for the operating and maintenance costs, with the city responsible for all capital investment and renewal.