Down at the Port

The NBA is done, hockey is over, the Mariners – we’ll see – and the 2003 boating season is officially underway. Our own little Kingston Cove Yacht Club made quite an impression on the “Big Guys” over at Seattle Yacht Club on May 6. They took second place overall in their category of decorated boats. I think that story is being covered elsewhere in this edition so I won’t elaborate.

On May 14, yacht club members got together down at the port, hoisted all of their flags and pennants, and paraded around the bay to celebrate Kingston’s opening day. The flotilla made a stop in front of the home of our dear friend Bud Meredith where each vessel cast flowers into the Sound in his memory. We will all miss Bud.

It will be interesting to see what effect the high fuel prices have on the boating activities around Puget Sound this year. The marina has been filling up to near capacity over the past few weekends and the launch ramp has been very busy. I noticed that on Mother’s Day there were a few people unable to launch for a while because we were experiencing a minus two-foot tide.

It’s always a good practice to check the timing of the extreme low tides when planning your boating activities. There are also a few places near our harbor that get quite shallow when the tides are very low. It is easy to run aground when leaving the launch ramp area at the end of “A” dock and also over by the point at the end of Brigantine Lane. That’s the first point south of our breakwater. Of course you always want to stay away from the area between the red buoy and the breakwater. It’s kind of rocky there.

The committees of the Kingston Fourth of July Celebration are busy preparing another great festival. I have heard rumors that the Kingston Junior High Band will march in the parade this year. It is always great to have a marching band here on the Fourth. It has been a couple of years since they have joined us. Speaking of the band, I understand they were a major hit during their visit to Disneyland. People who were fortunate enough to see and hear them couldn’t believe that they were “just a bunch of junior high kids.” Way to go Mr. Haag and the band!

Our long-range planning process down at the port is moving along. The first rough draft of the document should be ready by the time you are reading this. In one or two more meetings, we will have it all put together and drafts will be available for public review and comment.

Our situation with Washington State Ferries has not changed and we are still working on getting a lease finalized with them. As the planning documents near completion, the funding of planned projects is the next step. One of the key elements in the funding of major capital improvements is our ability to bond against future income. If we do not have the secured cash flow from the WSF lease, our funding ability will be quite limited. While we are working on that aspect of the future, we are proceeding with the fuel tank relocation and kayak facility. Funds are already available for those two projects.

Is it just me or does it seem like spring and summer go by much faster than fall and winter? Please be safe and have a great month and don’t forget to get those donations in for the Fourth of July. I get real nervous when it is the middle of June and we are only half way there. As always, thanks for reading this stuff.

Pete DeBoer, Port of Kingston Commissioner, can be reached at pete@petedeboer.com.

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