Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Harbor And Marina topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harbor management reports full mooring fields, steady revenue; waiting lists top 50
Summary
Harbor management staff reported full marinas and mooring fields, growth in revenue categories and a waiting list of roughly 30–50 names for mooring assignments; staff said some dinghy and kayak storage capacity was recently doubled and additional racks might be added.
Harbor Management Director Jim (last name not specified) told the Board of Finance that Milford Harbor’s mooring fields and transient slips were full for many weekends last season and that revenue across harbor categories increased year over year.
The director said mooring fields on Milford Harbor and the Housatonic River were at capacity, transient marina slips filled many weekends, and dinghy and kayak storage at the boat ramp was full. He said the harbor has been accepting seasonal renewals and is now taking reservations for transient marina spaces.
Why it matters: High utilization and multiyear growth in harbor revenues can inform fee policy and capital investments in harbor infrastructure.
Key details - Mooring waiting list: Jim said the waiting list for a mooring in Milford Harbor averages between about 30 and 50 names at a time; the list has periodically fallen as low as about 25 and at times reached roughly 50. - Dinghy/kayak capacity: Two seasons ago the harbor more than doubled dinghy and kayak rack capacity; staff indicated there may be some opportunity to expand racks further. - Fees and governance: Harbor fees are set by the Harbor Management Commission; modest annual fee increases have been adopted in recent years and staff review fees annually. - General charges: Board members asked about a “general charges” line on the expenditure side of the marina fund budget; staff explained those are contributions from the marina fund into the city’s general fund to help pay property/casualty and flood insurance and workers’ compensation charges.
Board input: Board members praised the marina facilities and noted the harbor’s reputation in the boating community; one member asked whether fees could be increased in response to demand, and the director said fees are reviewed and adjusted by the Harbor Management Commission.
Ending: Staff will continue renewals and reservations for the upcoming season; no formal action or fee change was adopted at this meeting.
