A recent letter to your newspaper has misrepresented the most recently approved City of Des Moines Marina Master Plan. Here is some information that hopefully corrects some of those errors:

The City of Des Moines has been working on the recently passed Marina Master Plan for over a year. Numerous public meetings of the council and Municipal Facilities Committee were held where this plan was discussed in 2006 and 2007. There was ample opportunity for public comment and some residents availed themselves of those opportunities.

The Marina has been a separately budgeted fund in the city with revenues coming from Marina operations including regular moorage, guest moorage, and fuel sales. The sling launch has become a financial drain on the Marina and would require replacement if this service were to continue, resulting in operational losses, replacement cost, and debt cost estimated to be at least $60,000 per year.

Even with elimination of this service, the City will soon need to start augmenting Marina revenues with other municipal revenues in order to complete the next phases of repair, maintenance, and development.

The Marina facility will continue to lease space to boats of many sizes and recent rate increases have actually been hardest felt by those with larger slips. New capital improvements planned at the Marina include ADA-compliant sidewalks, access ramps, and slips, none of which currently exists in the Marina.

Other improvements are being planned in order to improve the financial stability of that facility. The next major project will be replacement of a portion of the retaining wall, which has been carried over from previous Marina Master Plans. Upgrades to electric service and new security measures have already begun or been completed.

The city has an obligation to manage the Marina in a business-like manner and this includes maintenance, repair, and capital improvements with minimal or no cost to city residents who do not require the services of this facility.

Beyond the pure business function of the Marina, it has become an important part of the recreational activities of non-boaters, especially with the special events of more general interest held there, the presence of the fishing pier, the location of dining establishments, and the proximity to the Beach Park. The city believes this facility to be a significant part of the Des Moines identity and daily life and plans to keep it that way.

Dan Sherman

Des Moines Councilman

Chairman, Municipal

Facilities Committee