City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Resolution to Increase Fees at the City Marina. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: City Council consideration of a resolution to increase the City Marina fees for City resident pleasure boat annual slip licenses; pleasure boat short-term docking; and pleasure boat overnight docking.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council: (1) receive the recommendation from staff to adopt the proposed resolution (Attachment 1) for the recommended increases of City Marina fees for resident pleasure boat annual slip licenses; pleasure boat short-term docking; and pleasure boat overnight docking effective April 1, 2013 (Attachment 2); and (2) set the recommendation for public hearing and consideration on Saturday, February 23, 2013.
BACKGROUND: The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) annually reviews program and activity fees as needed in order to stay in line with market trends and cost recovery efforts. As part of the FY 2008 budget process, City Council provided the City Manager the authority to adjust PRCA non-programmatic fees annually, with a maximum increase equal to the annual rate of inflation (CPIU). Within this authority, the actual fee may be rounded to an administratively convenient amount to assume efficient assessment and collection of fees. Increases in fees exceeding this amount continue to be considered by City Council.
DISCUSSION: In 2009, City Council adopted the current fees for the City Marina (Attachment 3). The fees have not been increased since that time, although the costs for this operation have increased as personnel, utilities and other associated costs have increased. In preparation of the budget for FY 2014, RPCA staff is recommending the following City Marina fee increases:
· City resident pleasure boat annual license fee increase from the current rate of $8 per for per month to $9 per foot per month, an increase of $1 per month;
· Nonresident pleasure boat annual license fee increase from the current rate of $9 per for per month to 11 per foot per month, an increase of $2 per month;
· Pleasure boat overnight docking fee increase from $2 per foot per night to $2.50 per foot per night, an increase of $0.50 per night; and
· Pleasure boat short-term docking fee for up to four hours increase from $15 per boat to $20 per boat, an increase of $5 for up to four hours per boat.
In order to provide additional cost recovery for the operation of the City Marina, RPCA staff will increase the number of designated marina slips for annual licenses by six (6), for a total of 54. The increase of marina slips for annual licenses will allow for reduction of the City Marina wait list while maintaining a sufficient number of slips for transient short-term use. The recommended fee increases and allocation of slips are supported by the Alexandria Waterfront Commission (Attachments 4 & 5).
City staff has notified current license holders and wait list members of the proposed fee increases and have encouraged them to forward comments to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. In addition, staff will notify the public of the City Council public hearing scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2013.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed fee increases and reallocation of slip use proposed for the 2013 boating season includes an increase of $58,000 in General Fund revenues ($37,296 pleasure boat annual license; $16,868 pleasure boat overnight docking fee; and $3,836 pleasure boat short-term docking). Marina fee comparison (Attachment 6).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Proposed Marina Fee Resolution
Attachment 2: Proposed City Marina Fee Increases
Attachment 3: May 12, 2009 City Council Approved Fee Increases
Attachment 4: Alexandria Waterfront Commission Recommended Fee Increases
Attachment 5: Alexandria Waterfront Commission Recommended Slip Allocation
Attachment 6: Marina Fee Comparison
STAFF:
Debra Collins, Deputy City Manager
James Spengler, Director, RPCA
Jack Browand, Division Chief, RPCA
James Hixon, Dockmaster, RPCA