Commissioners of the Oak Harbor Marina Advisory Commission reviewed five years of financials and pressed staff for clearer detail on fuel pricing and margins during the commission meeting.

The commission discussed a summarized asset, liability and net-position report compiled by Dave Goldman and an expanded 2024 detail staff produced on request. The report shows transient and guest moorage revenue rising: the marina recorded an increase in moorage revenue and an uptick in guest moorage that pushed overall moorage occupancy up in July.

Nut graf: Commissioners said the revenue gains appear real but warned expenses are rising more quickly than expected — particularly insurance (up about 45% since 2022) and wages and benefits (up about 22% since 2022). That combination prompted a detailed conversation about fuel pricing, the marina’s largest point-of-sale service, and whether the marina’s transient moorage discount for fuel buyers is still justified.

Harbormaster Elise (first name only in the record) told the panel staff had produced month-over-month figures when requested and could add a prior-year comparison column to make trends clearer. Elise also said the marina switched fuel contractors in April and staff are still learning the contractor’s billing and delivery practices. “As we got a new fuel contractor this year in April, we're also learning how to work with that fuel contractor and how their pricing has changed,” Elise said.

Commissioner Byron pressed for a clearer calculation of whether the marina is covering direct costs of fuel sales and the staff time it requires. “I think we're making a very minimal amount on our fuel sales total,” Byron said, arguing the commission should determine whether the transient moorage discount tied to fuel purchases (a 20¢/gallon discount) produces any net margin after labor and other costs.

Elise walked the commission through the fee components that staff must pay on delivered fuel (federal excise, several federal and state environmental fees, and a per-load tank-wagon fee), and she said staff’s internal price calculator accounts for those costs plus a markup. Using recent delivery figures discussed at the meeting as an example, commissioners estimated a delivered diesel cost roughly in the $3.42–$3.45 per gallon range before the commission’s per-gallon markup and sales tax. Commissioners and staff then discussed that a 76¢ per-gallon markup plus 9% sales tax would produce an effective pump price near $4.59 per gallon in the example used on the floor.

Commissioners asked staff to return with a clearer, audit-ready calculator showing the line-item costs, the per-gallon markup, the effect of the transient-moorage fuel discount, and an estimate of the staff time (and cost) required to deliver fuel. Commissioner Louie requested the month-over-month comparison be retained in future reports. Byron said he would also research margins at comparable marinas and work with staff on a recommendation.

Ending: Staff said any change to the moorage discount or the master fee schedule would require formal fee-study work and a future council action to amend the master fee schedule; commissioners asked staff to return with the requested calculations and market comparisons at a future meeting.