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E-mail: letters@heraldnet.com

Mail: Letters section The Herald P.O. Box 930 Everett, WA 98206

Fax: 425-339-3458

Have a question about letters? Contact Carol MacPherson (cmacpherson@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3472).

MARINA LIVEABOARDS

New fees unfairly implemented

Regarding the April 10 article, "Port hikes moorage and liveaboard rates:

I am very dissatisfied by the way the new $50 monthly liveaboard fee for Everett Marina boaters was implemented by the Port of Everett Commission.

Please take into consideration:

Power to impose fees was granted by port commissioners to the marina director (dictatorship?).

This arbitrary fee was not discussed with boaters!

The public meeting was scheduled after the fee was implemented!

Port commissioners did not attend.

The marina director acknowledged the value of liveaboard boaters, yet the fee was non-negotiable!

The fee was disproportionately levied on only 5 percent of boaters.

The marina director did not provide sufficient evidence to support the need to levy a fee on only the live-aboards.

Proposed expenditure:

Upgrade docks and facilities used most by liveaboards.

Facilities: showers and laundry, water supply and garbage disposal.

Obviously these improvements would be enjoyed by all!

It's evident to everyone that most garbage is deposited on weekends by 95 percent of non-liveaboard owners and non-tenants. Some liveaboards don't use marina facilities. How do scattered marina improvements benefit liveaboards?

This doesn't add up.

Liveaboards are closely monitored for ecological reasons, though there is no evidence they create most pollution.

Clearly, 5 percent of tenants have been singled out. Another word: discrimination.

Liveaboards are frustrated, angry, insulted. With this economy, who wants a $50 monthly "tax"? How will it increase in the future? This leads to people moving; we're still reeling from demolishing of fishing fleet facilities.

A fair way to levy fees is to apply them to all tenants (increases per tenant become insignificant).

The marina director has carte blanche to raise fees!

I trust the port commissioners will do what is just in the execution of their commissions.

Colin Payne
Everett