Fresh start for marina contract
Five years after the last attempt to find a long-term operator for Skaha Marina ended with a $200,000 bill to taxpayers, city staff has unveiled the proposed terms of a new request for proposals from businesses interested in running the facility.
The 39-page document was presented Tuesday at a special meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
After just 45 minutes, the committee voted unanimously to give the RFP its stamp of approval and recommend council do the same.
Key terms allow for a contract of up to 25 years that would permit the successful proponent to operate the 94-slip marina much as it’s set up now, with moorage, gas dock, boat rentals and a licensed restaurant. There are also provisions for mandatory performance reviews every three to five years.
Everything else is on the table, from facility upgrades to the rental fees underpinning the agreement.
Bids will be scored based on four main criteria: financial contribution and viability; benefit to the city and community; proponent team; and proponent plan.
Public comment on the proposed RFP will be open through Aug. 31, after which staff will present a finalized RFP to council for approval. Bids will be accepted until Nov. 30 with a winner selected Jan. 15, 2022.
View the draft RFP and submit comments by visiting www.shapeyourcitypenticton.ca.
The marina is currently being operated under a three-year licence that expires March 31, 2022.
The last city council in 2016 inked a 29year lease with Trio Marine Group to build a waterslides development over the splash pad in Skaha Lake Park, plus upgrade and operate the marina.
That lease was signed without gaining public assent, leading to protests, rallies and lawsuits, culminating in 2017 with a $200,000 payout to Trio tear up the deal.
The current city council has tried to avoid those same mistakes by handling the Skaha Marina file more cautiously, even using a referendum attached to the June byelection to get the public’s approval for a long-term lease.