Moore Haven council keeps dockage at $2 per foot and monthly marina slip at $800 in 3-1 vote

Moore Haven — The Moore Haven City Council voted 3-1 on Aug. 19 to keep daily dockage at $2 per foot and to retain the $800 monthly long-term marina slip rate, with a five-night maximum for daily dockage.

City Manager Larry Tibbs summarized recent rate changes and said dock usage has declined since the council’s earlier increases. “I don’t know if the Council would like to consider reducing the rate to $1.50 per foot,” Tibbs said, noting the city previously raised rates from $1 to $2 per foot and that an intermediate $1.50/foot would still represent a 50% increase over the original rate.

Vice Mayor Marcus “Marc” Decker moved to keep the daily rate at $2 per foot and the monthly long-term marina rate at $800, with the five-night limit for daily dockage; Bradley Smith seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-1, as recorded in the minutes. The minutes do not list individual roll-call votes by name, only the overall 3-1 tally.

Councilmember Alisha Beck said she agreed with maintaining the $2-per-foot daily rate but asked that the council revisit the long-term stay monthly rate in future discussions. Tibbs noted the city’s long-term marina rate had been raised previously from $500 to $800 and said lowering it to $600 would represent a $100 monthly decrease but may still leave the marina less competitive compared with other facilities that offer additional amenities.

Discussion touched on neighboring municipalities’ practices: Decker said when he checked, he was told Labelle charges $50 per day for certain stays and that some towns limit how long boats can remain because of limited slips. Tibbs clarified that the city limits front-dock stays to five nights and that the marina normally has a three-month maximum for long-term slips unless the council approves an exception.

Votes at a glance: the motion to keep dockage and slip rates as described was moved by Vice Mayor Marcus “Marc” Decker and seconded by Bradley Smith and carried 3-1. Other routine motions at the meeting (approval of minutes and approval of bills) were recorded as carried in the minutes; specific roll-call tallies for those motions were not provided.

What happens next: Beck asked the council to revisit the long-term rate, which suggests staff may return with additional competitive-rate analysis at a future budget or council meeting. The council did not set a deadline for further rate review and made no formal direction to staff in the minutes beyond the vote to retain the current rates.