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Letter to the editor

Now, how to sell the slips

The city wants a marketing plan in place to make sure the 129 spaces will be filled.

By MIKE DONILA, Times Staff Writer
Published December 4, 2007

CLEARWATER - City officials say they need a marketing campaign to help fill the 129 boat slips built as part of an $11-million project near Coachman Park.

Construction crews won't begin work on the voter-approved slips until at least April, but on Monday, city leaders said they want the marketing plan in place well before then.

They also want to begin collecting deposits to make sure those on the waiting list will commit.

The proposal, discussed during a City Council work session, was spearheaded by the unlikeliest of members - Paul Gibson, who earlier this year campaigned against the project.

But Gibson now says if the city is going to spend $11-million to build 129 boat slips, a boardwalk, promenade and fishing pier near Coachman Park, then he wants to make sure people know about the slips and will use them.

He said the city should attend local boat shows and advertise the slips, which could be up and ready by July 2009.

In addition, Gibson said the city should begin collecting deposits or enter into contracts with potential boat slip renters.

"I'm not a Field of Dreams kind of guy - if we don't work now, we're not going to fill those slips," Gibson said.

Voters in March narrowly signed off on the project. City leaders say it's a key piece to revitalizing downtown because the slips and pier will lure more visitors.

Opponents questioned whether revenues from the slips, as well as roughly 1,200 feet of linear side ties, would be self-supporting despite assurances from the city that the operation would actually make a profit.

Bill Morris, director of the city's marine and aviation department, said the city currently advertises and promotes the Clearwater Beach marina in five national trade magazines. He said upcoming ads will address the possible availability of the downtown slips.

However, Morris said he's not worried about a lack of interest. He said the project already has a waiting list 400 names long "and I anticipate filling those slips."

But he did say the list may decrease as rental prices increase.

The city initially would allow boaters to rent 117 downtown slips annually at $15.50 per foot per month. That price would rise by 25 cents a foot each year. Twelve "transient" slips would cost boaters $2 per foot per day. That price would go up 5 cents per foot each year.

These prices will be comparable to what the beach marina will charge by mid 2009, Morris said.

The council briefly debated whether to wait until construction starts in April to collect deposits or to start collecting now - before the project's design is even finalized.

The city plans to hold a lottery with the names on the list and give winners the chance to make a deposit.

A majority of the council agreed the lottery should take place soon.

"I'd rather know today what the situation is before we build it," Mayor Frank Hibbard said.

Officials in the city's marine, communications and finance departments are expected to put together a more detailed plan to market and allocate the slips in the next month or so, and bring it to the council for review.

[Last modified December 3, 2007, 22:30:42]