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Council approves $453,646 harbor patrol vessel; debate over maritime fund use and long-term costs
Summary
The council approved a contract with North River Boats to design and build a new harbor patrol vessel, replacing an older safe boat. Councilors debated cost, long-term savings and use of the maritime enterprise fund; the measure passed 6–1.
The Newport City Council authorized the Harbor Department to contract with NW Bend Boats LLC, doing business as North River Boats (Roseburg, Oregon), for the design and construction of a new HarborMaster patrol vessel in a contract not to exceed $453,646.11.
Harbor Master Stephen Land described the vessel as a replacement for a 2006, 23-foot safe boat. He said the new craft will have a small cabin, diesel propulsion and a jet drive rather than outboard motors. Land said the diesel engine and jet propulsion are designed for continuous, professional use, and that jet propulsion reduces risk of damage and entanglement compared with propellers.
Land said the new vessel would be more maneuverable, able to turn within its own radius, and capable of towing up to 120-foot boats. He estimated the typical outboard engines they now use require replacement every three to four years and said those replacement cycles can cost about $100,000 each time. He estimated the new boat would have a useful life of at least 25 years.
Council debate focused on cost and funding source. Councilor Karl (last name not given in the excerpt) called the purchase “a half a million dollar boat” and criticized what he called rising enterprise and city spending; he said he planned to vote no. Other councilors and Harbormaster Land noted the maritime fund is an enterprise fund supported by permit and cruise-ship fees, and that the harbor has seen increased revenue tied to cruise-ship fees.
City staff said $300,000 was already allocated in the capital improvement program for the project; Harbormaster Land said the remaining approximately $153,646 would be budgeted from the maritime fund in the next fiscal year. Staff estimated an 18-month lead time for construction and delivery once the contract is signed.
The council approved the contract in a recorded vote, 6–1.
Implementation notes from the meeting: the Harbormaster proposed donating an older vessel to the police department for development of a marine policing program; training will be required for jet-boat operations and Harbormaster Land said he will provide operator training for harbor staff.
