On September 10, 2024, staff presented business case options for the ownership and governance of Norfolk County’s two municipally-owned Marinas.
The report identifies opportunities to reduce or eliminate the capital expenditures needed to maintain the marinas through alternative governance and operating models, or divestment:
OPTION 1: Public Ownership and Operation
- Option 1.A – Municipally Owned and Operated
- Option 1.B – Municipal Services Board
- Option 1.C – Municipal Development Corporation
OPTION 2: Public Ownership and Private Operation
- Option 2.A – Operating Contract
- Option 2.B – Public-Private Partnership
- Option 2.C – Cooperative
OPTION 3: Private Ownership and Operation
- Option 3.A – Sale of Both Marinas
- Option 3.B – Sale of One Marina
- Option 3.C – Sale of Marinas, Retention of Waterfront
The reason for considering alternative ownership and governance options is that the marinas' current annual revenue is not sufficient to offset the capital investment they require over the next 10 years.
Under Norfolk County’s current ownership and operation model, it will be difficult to raise our fees to the level needed to cover our forecasted capital costs and operate the marina as self-sustaining while remaining competitive in this marketplace.
Staff project that an average annual user fee increase of 12-15% will be needed to offset the marinas' capital requirements.
The alternative is that the county would be responsible for financing over $21 million in capital improvements, up to $18M of which would need to be financed through debt.
This could be difficult to justify when weighed against competing priorities and the broader interests of our community, particularly given that marinas are a non-core service and that 13 privately owned marina businesses operate in our community.
As noted in the report, each option has varying levels of complexity, and any option that results in retention of the marinas will require municipal resourcing, including those that staff identified that could increase marina revenues and public access. Some will require further investigation and engagement to determine feasibility.
Share your feedback
Attend an in-person engagement event
September 25, 2024, from 7 to 9:00 p.m.
Vittoria & District Community Centre
35 Oakes Blvd, Vittoria ON N0E
Provide your comments online
Provide your comments about Norfolk County's marinas below. Online comments close on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
On September 10, 2024, staff presented business case options for the ownership and governance of Norfolk County’s two municipally-owned Marinas.
The report identifies opportunities to reduce or eliminate the capital expenditures needed to maintain the marinas through alternative governance and operating models, or divestment:
OPTION 1: Public Ownership and Operation
- Option 1.A – Municipally Owned and Operated
- Option 1.B – Municipal Services Board
- Option 1.C – Municipal Development Corporation
OPTION 2: Public Ownership and Private Operation
- Option 2.A – Operating Contract
- Option 2.B – Public-Private Partnership
- Option 2.C – Cooperative
OPTION 3: Private Ownership and Operation
- Option 3.A – Sale of Both Marinas
- Option 3.B – Sale of One Marina
- Option 3.C – Sale of Marinas, Retention of Waterfront
The reason for considering alternative ownership and governance options is that the marinas' current annual revenue is not sufficient to offset the capital investment they require over the next 10 years.
Under Norfolk County’s current ownership and operation model, it will be difficult to raise our fees to the level needed to cover our forecasted capital costs and operate the marina as self-sustaining while remaining competitive in this marketplace.
Staff project that an average annual user fee increase of 12-15% will be needed to offset the marinas' capital requirements.
The alternative is that the county would be responsible for financing over $21 million in capital improvements, up to $18M of which would need to be financed through debt.
This could be difficult to justify when weighed against competing priorities and the broader interests of our community, particularly given that marinas are a non-core service and that 13 privately owned marina businesses operate in our community.
As noted in the report, each option has varying levels of complexity, and any option that results in retention of the marinas will require municipal resourcing, including those that staff identified that could increase marina revenues and public access. Some will require further investigation and engagement to determine feasibility.
Share your feedback
Attend an in-person engagement event
September 25, 2024, from 7 to 9:00 p.m.
Vittoria & District Community Centre
35 Oakes Blvd, Vittoria ON N0E
Provide your comments online
Provide your comments about Norfolk County's marinas below. Online comments close on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
